Liz Cook Blog

October 8, 2026

This is where a lot of us try to chase everything at once

This is where a lot of us try to chase everything at once. But if more clients is the goal, filling those gaps is what everything points toward right now. The difference is you’re not taking whatever comes in just to eat anymore. You get to

October 6, 2026

After I graduated with my BFA, I was living week to week

After I graduated with my BFA, I was living week to week. Getting needles out of customs used all my money, so I couldn’t eat until I did another tattoo two days later. I had the calling for portraits, but what people were asking for didn’t

October 5, 2026

We want the bills paid and more aligned clients

We want the bills paid and more aligned clients. We want dream pieces and people traveling in. But getting those doesn’t mean chasing everything at once. Every one of those goals is real. They just pull your calendar in different directions

October 4, 2026

A good session starts before you walk in

A good session starts before you walk in. Here's how to get ready. 1. Get real sleep. Sitting for a tattoo takes more out of you than it looks like. Being rested helps you sit longer and more comfortably. 2. Eat a full meal. Don't come in o

October 2, 2026

Don't throw away your stencil scraps

Don't throw away your stencil scraps. Save 'em cuz you never know when a piece is too intricate for the computer (or honestly you can't be fucked) and you need to design on the fly and paint it by hand. 🙈🤪🖌 #candidcolorcoaching #tattooar

October 1, 2026

Bad and good are just steps along the way

Bad and good are just steps along the way. Great is when your choices start building toward the work you actually want to do. Which one are you stuck on right now? Want help mapping the next move? Comment or dm COACH and let's set up your C

September 30, 2026

She wasn't short on clients

She wasn't short on clients. She was short on a finish line that was actually hers. She kept looking at the tattooers around her and deciding she was behind. Meanwhile she was booked out, burnt out and coming home to her kids with nothing l

September 29, 2026

The booked-out artist isn't more talented than you

The booked-out artist isn't more talented than you. They're running a different system. Tattooing well and keeping a full calendar are two different skills. The middle column is where a lot of good tattooers get stuck, and it's rarely becau

September 28, 2026

Do you want more clients, or do you want different clients?

Do you want more clients, or do you want different clients? Before you sort your calendar or touch your price, get clear on what your goal is right now. Is it paying the bills? Getting more clients in the door? Doing specific tattoos instea

September 27, 2026

I keep a journal just for wins, not client work

I keep a journal just for wins, not client work. When I feel stuck, I go back and read it, and I realize I did more than I thought. ❤️ @theartofreese for showing us how to be the villain. #candidcolorcoaching #tattooartistlife #mindsetwork

September 27, 2026

You don't have a pricing problem.You have a nobody knows why I'm worth this problem

You don't have a pricing problem.You have a nobody knows why I'm worth this problem. Raise your price without fixing that and you just get fewer bookings at a higher number. Same problem, more expensive. Positioning comes first, price is ju

September 25, 2026

How should your deposit work for you right now?

How should your deposit work for you right now? As an apprentice, you're taking in everything. A deposit just books it for later when you can't fit it in that day. In your early years, it's about the order. Get people in for a consult first

September 23, 2026

If you want more appointments, "book an appointment" feels like a commitment

If you want more appointments, "book an appointment" feels like a commitment. That's a friction point. "Book a consultation" feels like a conversation, and that's what gets people through the door. That's why I used to have "book a consulta

September 22, 2026

Last swipe is crucial 👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼

Last swipe is crucial 👉🏼👉🏼👉🏼 The five years pass either way. The only question is what rate you're at when they do. Comment or DM COACH if you want to start moving now.

September 21, 2026

I'm going to hold your hand when I say this

I'm going to hold your hand when I say this... Your current clients are not the ceiling of what you're capable of charging. I know that feels scary. You've built real relationships with these people, and the idea of them saying no feels per

September 20, 2026

This wasn't working, so I reworked it until it did

This wasn't working, so I reworked it until it did. I spent about four years burned out and I didn't even realize it. Money was coming in. My calendar was full. From outside, everything looked fine. Inside, I was grinding through work I did

September 19, 2026

23 years in this industry, running three shops, a mom who's tired most days and still shows up

Me: 23 years in this industry, running three shops, a mom who's tired most days and still shows up. My work: color that people travel across states for. #candidcolorcoaching #tattooartist #colorrealism #tattoolife #tattooart

September 18, 2026

23 years tattooing and 10 years coaching artists taught me the difference between grinding through it and…

23 years tattooing and 10 years coaching artists taught me the difference between grinding through it and building something. Here's what changed 👇 🛠️ The craft, career, capacity method This is how you diagnose what's actually going on wh

September 17, 2026

Grinding harder was never the answer

Grinding harder was never the answer. Comment or DM COACH if you're ready to build a booked-out calendar the right way. #bookedout #tattooartist #tattoomentorship #candidcolorcoaching #tattooburnout

September 16, 2026

You probably didn’t know who I was before 2012, or how much work it took to become 2012 Liz

You probably didn’t know who I was before 2012, or how much work it took to become 2012 Liz. What you didn’t see during those early years was me busting my ass working second jobs, taking part-time non-art gigs, and living way under my mean

September 15, 2026

If you're a tattooer ready to move up a tier, comment or DM the word COACH

If you're a tattooer ready to move up a tier, comment or DM the word COACH.

September 14, 2026

You don’t have to turn tattoo work away to build a calendar full of dream pieces

You don’t have to turn tattoo work away to build a calendar full of dream pieces. If your calendar’s empty, you take what comes, and you go out of your way to get more of it, and that’s real. But the mistake isn’t taking work you need, it’s

September 13, 2026

I have a client, 16 years tattooing, who becomes friends with most everyone she tattoos

I have a client, 16 years tattooing, who becomes friends with most everyone she tattoos. Once that happens, she can’t bring herself to charge them what she actually needs to charge. But she’s not undercharging because she doesn’t know. She’

September 12, 2026

Doing multiple styles isn't automatically a problem

Doing multiple styles isn't automatically a problem. The real question is whether you're versatile on purpose or versatile because committing feels risky. Comment or DM COACH if you want help figuring out which one is true for you. #candidc