Why Good Tattoos Aren't Enough Anymore | Liz Cook

In this episode of The Fireside, Jake sits down with Peter Mohrbacher — celebrated digital painter, character designer, and creator of the stunning Angelarium series. Peter shares how a nerdy teenager obsessed with anime and video games became one of the most recognizable names in fantasy illustration, with work spanning Magic: The Gathering, indie art shows, and a thriving freelance career built on Kickstarter and Patreon. They dig into Peter's unconventional creative process — including his use of gradient maps to find color — the evolution of the convention scene, how he got himself fired into a successful solo career, and why the most important part of a critique has nothing to do with anatomy or tangents. Peter will also be one of the headlining instructors at the Paradise Artist Retreat this October at Jiminy Peak, where he'll be leading a digital painting workshop. Join Pete and Jake at this year's Paradise Artist's Retreat www.paradiseartistretreat.com 🖌️ Peter Mohrbacher's work: https://www.angelarium.net/ 🎨 Free brushes & gradients on Gumroad: https://angelarium.gumroad.com/

Liz Cook is a tattoo artist, educator, color formulator, and all-around nerd — and this episode covers a lot of ground. We talk about how she got into education, her journey with Eternal Ink and Ever After, navigating corporate tattooing and government regulation, imposter syndrome, burnout, AI tools, and why posting only finished work might be hurting your brand. Liz also previews what she'll be covering in her upcoming Fireside Academy presentation. Join us live for Liz's presentation on May 21, 2026 at 7"00PM EST at the link below: https://firesidetattoo.com/product-details/product/jake-meeks-fireside-academy-tix

David Shavitz is back — and a lot has changed since his first appearance on the show. What started as a quiet hint about a tattoo apprenticeship has turned into one of the most unconventional learning journeys in the tattoo world. Instead of sweeping floors at a shop, David is traveling the country spending weeks with world-class tattooers like Jacob Sheffield — hand-picked by his mentor Colt of Empire Inks — all while continuing to teach painting workshops and develop his own clientele. In this episode, we dig into: What it's actually like to transition from fine art painter to tattoo artist The biggest technical challenges of tattooing coming from a painting background David's abstract composition-first approach to painting (and how it applies to tattoo design) His upcoming workshop at the Paradise Artist Retreat What makes his apprenticeship completely unlike any other David is also one of our featured presenters at the Paradise Artist Retreat this October at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Massachusetts. Early bird tickets are available now — grab them before the price goes up!  

Join us on Jesse's Live Technique Talk with the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club on 1/16/2026 https://firesidetattoo.com/product-details/product/jesse-rix-technique-talk-tix Keep up with Jesse at the links below https://www.instagram.com/jesse_rix/ https://www.jesserix.com/ Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit  

My special guest today is Alex De Pase, a name synonymous with innovation in the tattoo industry. Alex, along with Gabe Ripley and others, has been involved in transformative ventures like the Venetian Tattoo Gathering and recently the International Tattoo Federation (ITF). The ITF —a real federation, not just another association or collective. aims to set global standards in tattooing, a much-needed initiative in a world where the lines between excellence and mediocrity are often blurred. They are focused on the creation of actual standards in an industry drowning in confusion, where Instagram algorithms have convinced people that viral gimmicks equal mastery. This conversation covers everything from certification criteria and the Crystal Needle Award to Alex's new tattoo campus concept that's rewriting how we think about education in this craft. Check out the Deep Dive on firesidetattoo.com: https://firesidetattoo.com/post/building-tattooings-first-global-standard-alex-de-pase-international-tattoo-federation-ep-308  Learn more about Alex and his projects below: https://www.alexdepasetattoo.com/  https://internationaltattoofederation.com/  https://iconsandprodigies.com/ Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit  Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit  Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com  Get  10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/  Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/  Up your Tattoo Business Management skills with TattooNow Exclusive! Sign up at the link below and get a personalized 1 on 1 business consultation with Gabe Ripley himself. Or Free access to the TattooNOW Business Roundtable if your not ready for a 1 on 1 but want to learn more https://longevity.tattoonow.com/about-tattoonow-business-software?am_id=jakemeeks9626    Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/  https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/  https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/  Jake's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/ 

Welcome back to another Fireside Technique Talk, where we dive deep into the technical aspects that separate good from exceptional tattooing. In this session with Cooper, we explored the fundamentals of color layering. Cooper shared essential insights into overcoming the technical barriers that keep many artists confined to smaller scale work, providing practical strategies for confidently transitioning into vibrant large-scale color applications that maintain their integrity over time.  From understanding how machine evolution has simplified color work to mastering the 60/30/10 color theory rule, this discussion covers the core techniques that will elevate both your efficiency and your results. Whether you're ready to expand from smaller pieces to large scale projects or simply want to understand the mechanics behind lasting color tattoos, these insights will fundamentally change your approach to every piece you create. Check out the Deep Dive on the website: https://firesidetattoo.com/post/everybodys-deco-dancing-with-cooper-technique-talk-ep-306 Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit Thanks to our sponsor Tattoo Trunk. Get 10% off your order with the code "FIRESIDE" https://www.tattootrunk.com/ Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get  10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Up your Tattoo Business Management skills with TattooNow Exclusive! Sign up at the link below and get a personalized 1 on 1 business consultation with Gabe Ripley himself. Or Free access to the TattooNOW Business Roundtable if your not ready for a 1 on 1 but want to learn more https://longevity.tattoonow.com/about-tattoonow-business-software?am_id=jakemeeks9626   Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Have you ever wondered how your artistic style develops over time? Greg "Craola" Simpkins, a revered name in both graffiti circles and the painting industry, shares his fascinating journey from street art to creating surrealistic canvases. In this episode, we dive into how his distinctive style evolved, the nuances of balancing creativity in graffiti and painting, and practical insights for artists looking to merge different art forms. Simpkins will also present at the Richmond Tattoo and Arts Fest Academy, where he's set to share more of his creative process. Check out the Deep Dive on The Fireside Website: https://firesidetattoo.com/post/Tagging-the-Subconsciou-with-greg-craola-simkins-ep-305 Don't miss Greg at the Richmond Tattoo and Arts Fest.  Get your tickets below: https://richmondtattooconvention.com/academy/ Keep up with Greg Simkins at: https://gregsimkinsart.com/ https://www.instagram.com/craola/ Thanks to our sponsor Tattoo Trunk. Get 10% off your order with the code "FIRESIDE" https://www.tattootrunk.com/ Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get  10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Up your Tattoo Business Management skills with TattooNow Exclusive! Sign up at the link below and get a personalized 1 on 1 business consultation with Gabe Ripley himself. Or Free access to the TattooNOW Business Roundtable if your not ready for a 1 on 1 but want to learn more https://longevity.tattoonow.com/about-tattoonow-business-software?am_id=jakemeeks9626   Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Rich walked us through his 25-year journey from scrappy home tattooer to the artistic powerhouse he is today, sharing real insights about finding your voice in this industry. This episode covers everything from the grind of finding apprenticeships back in the day to his current process of creating multiple design versions and building that creative environment for his family. Trust me, whether you're just starting out or you've been slinging ink for decades, Rich's insights on technique, client interaction, and staying true to your artistic vision are going to make an impact. Check out the Deep Dive on Firesidetattoo.com: https://firesidetattoo.com/post/the-writching-hour-is-upon-us-with-rich-wren-technique-talks-EP-304 Keep up with Rich at https://www.writchcraft.com/tattoos/ https://www.instagram.com/therichwren/ Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get  10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Up your Tattoo Business Management skills with TattooNow Exclusive! Sign up at the link below and get a personalized 1 on 1 business consultation with Gabe Ripley himself. Or Free access to the TattooNOW Business Roundtable if your not ready for a 1 on 1 but want to learn more https://longevity.tattoonow.com/about-tattoonow-business-software?am_id=jakemeeks9626   Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Hey Friends! We just had another great conversation featuring the incredibly talented Timmy B, and let me tell you, this interview is packed with some serious tattoo gold. This new school powerhouse breaks down everything from his evolution as an artist to the nitty-gritty of color theory that'll blow your mind.  We're talking about collaboration, the challenges of sleeve composition, and why sometimes the best approach is to just wing it when you're up on stage. Plus, you'll get the inside scoop on the Richmond Tattoo Arts Academy and why educational opportunities are absolutely crucial for pushing this craft forward. Check out the Deep Dive on Firesidetattoo.com: https://firesidetattoo.com/post/Theres-No-Highlights-in-Wood-Timmy-B-EP-303 Learn live from Timmy B at the Richmond Tattoo and Arts Academy. Get tickets below https://richmondtattooconvention.com/academy/ Keep up with Timmy at https://www.instagram.com/timmy_b_413/ https://www.niteowlnoho.com/ Check out this week's sponsor Tattoo Trunk. Get 10% off your order with the code FIRESIDE https://www.tattootrunk.com/ Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get  10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Up your Tattoo Business Management skills with TattooNow Exclusive! Sign up at the link below and get a personalized 1 on 1 business consultation with Gabe Ripley himself. Or Free access to the TattooNOW Business Roundtable if your not ready for a 1 on 1 but want to learn more https://longevity.tattoonow.com/about-tattoonow-business-software?am_id=jakemeeks9626   Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/

Don't miss Yomico teaching at the Richmond Tattoo and Arts Academy this October. You can get tickets at https://richmondtattooconvention.com/academy/ You can keep up with Yomico at https://www.instagram.com/yomicoart/ https://yomicoart.com/ Thanks to our sponsor Tattoo Trunk. Take 10% off your bundle with the code Fireside https://www.tattootrunk.com/ Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit Support us while buying the stuff you need at the links below! Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout https://neumatattoo.com Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ Up your Tattoo Business Management skills with TattooNow Exclusive! Sign up at the link below and get a personalized 1 on 1 business consultation with Gabe Ripley himself. Or Free access to the TattooNOW Business Roundtable if your not ready for a 1 on 1 but want to learn more https://longevity.tattoonow.com/about-tattoonow-business-software?am_id=jakemeeks9626 Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/ https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/