On Becoming an Artist: RD Riccoboni on Inspiration, Opportunity, and Showing Up

Every artist has an origin story. For RD Riccoboni, it begins with a childhood fascination with painting — a quiet obsession that never let go, and that eventually grew into a lifetime career he couldn't have imagined when he first picked up a brush.

In this rare candid interview with San Diego gallery titan Patric Stillman of The Studio Door, Riccoboni shares his journey openly: the artists who inspired him along the way, the unexpected opportunities that crossed his path and helped shape who he is as a painter, and the moments of connection — with people, with places, with the energy of a city — that continue to fuel his work.

One of the things Riccoboni feels most strongly about is this: showing up matters. Showing up to the studio. Showing up to the community. Showing up to connect with people face to face. For an artist, that presence isn't optional — it's essential to building a body of work that resonates and a career that endures.

Watch the full interview below and hear the full story in his own words.

Riccoboni paints from his studio at the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, San Diego — a place that has shaped his work as much as any canvas. Explore the collection and find a piece that speaks to you.