Fireside Tattoo Podcast

Why Good Tattoos Aren't Enough Anymore | Liz Cook

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 [https://firesidetattoo.com/product-details/product/jake-meeks-fireside-academy-tix]

What Happens When a World-Class Painter Becomes a Tattoo Apprentice? David Cheifetz

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!

3D Tattoos That Warp Reality | Jesse Rix

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 [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.instagram.com/jesse_rix/] https://www.jesserix.com/ [https://www.jesserix.com/] Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit [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 [https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattooers-toolkit]

Building Tattooing's First Global Standard | Alex De Pase | International Tattoo Federation

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 [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://www.alexdepasetattoo.com/] https://internationaltattoofederation.com/ [https://internationaltattoofederation.com/] https://iconsandprodigies.com/ [https://iconsandprodigies.com/] Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below https://explore.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-apprentices-toolkit [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 [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 [https://neumatattoo.com] Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ [https://s8tattoo.com/] Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ [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 [https://longevity.tattoonow.com/about-tattoonow-business-software?am_id=jakemeeks9626] Links for this episode: Keep up with us at: https://firesidetattoo.com/ [https://firesidetattoo.com/] https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/ [https://www.facebook.com/Firesidetattoo/] https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/ [https://www.instagram.com/firesidetattoo/] Jake's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/ [https://www.instagram.com/pluguglyart/]

Everybody's Deco-Dancing with Cooper | Technique Talks

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 [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 [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/ [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 [https://neumatattoo.com] Get 10 % off all S8 Tattoo products with promo code "Fireside" https://s8tattoo.com/ [https://s8tattoo.com/] Get 10% off your order from Raw Pigments with code "fireside" https://rawpigments.co/ [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 [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/