Liz Cook Blog

June 20, 2026

Ten years in and still feeling like you're playing catch up.

Ten years in and still feeling like you're playing catch up. Here's what's happening. Your craft and skill grew. Your healed work got better. But the system around your career, the pricing, the portfolio curation, the way you even present y

June 19, 2026

Say you want a calendar full of sleeves. The future version of you isn't filling her days with bangers, so you can't kee

Say you want a calendar full of sleeves. The future version of you isn't filling her days with bangers, so you can't keep doing it either and expect to get there. Here's how you actually make the shift. You're booked solid for three months?

June 18, 2026

Worst answers only. What have you learned as a tattooer?

Worst answers only. What have you learned as a tattooer? #itsnotthatserious #seriousartist #tattoolife #tattoocommunity #texastattooartist

June 17, 2026

I've been told I'm brutal. And sometimes I'm intimidating as fuck. And my favorite, you're such a know it all... like

I've been told I'm brutal. And sometimes I'm intimidating as fuck. And my favorite, you're such a know it all... like who the fuck do you think you are?" 😈 They weren't wrong. Being brutal is just refusing to quit, when someone's trying to

June 17, 2026

Honest question, seriously.

Honest question, seriously. #candidcolorcoach #tattoolife #tattoocommunity #tattooersofinstagram #tattoomentor

June 15, 2026

So I'm still in Atlanta, my flight ended up being canceled last night.

So I'm still in Atlanta, my flight ended up being canceled last night. But what's important is that I'm choosing to focus on the high from this past week at a retreat full of women entrepreneurs... coaches, tattoo artists, business owners,

June 15, 2026

So that prayer is working already. My flight is delayed. I'm in Atlanta, Georgia hanging out eating some seafood and pec

So that prayer is working already. My flight is delayed. I'm in Atlanta, Georgia hanging out eating some seafood and pecan pie at the airport. All of a sudden I'm thinking of a beautiful memory that made me call my little sister. Low and be

June 14, 2026

I'm not the same Liz from a week ago and I'm so grateful for all the beautiful ladies at this retreat that…

I'm not the same Liz from a week ago and I'm so grateful for all the beautiful ladies at this retreat that held so much loving space for me. New doors have opened and more adventures await! Thank you @theartofreese for being the villain so

June 13, 2026

Is it disappointing that the tattoo community has gotten big enough to have coaches?

Is it disappointing that the tattoo community has gotten big enough to have coaches? Honest question. Who should be teaching/ coaching? Because as much as I love the fringe pirate side of tattoo community, continued education and sustainabi

June 13, 2026

1. Duh. I've been formally coaching with my own "course" for almost 2 years (and coaching artists without a…

1. Duh. I've been formally coaching with my own "course" for almost 2 years (and coaching artists without a course for the previous 8). 2. I coach advanced academic art and business applied to tattooing based on my 23 years as a tattooer. I

June 12, 2026

23 years. Several countries. And the pricing conversation never gets old.

23 years. Several countries. And the pricing conversation never gets old. Follow for tattoo business, color realism, and the advanced side of building a tattoo career. #tattoopricing #tattoobusiness #colorrealismtattoo #tattooeducation #tat

June 9, 2026

Grateful is beautiful.

Grateful is beautiful. But somewhere along the way the tattoo industry turned gratitude into a reason to undercharge, overwork and never ask for more. And most of us never even questioned it because it was handed to us so early it just felt

June 8, 2026

A year ago I would have said no.

A year ago I would have said no. Too tired. Too much to organize. Too much money to spend when I could just save it. But I'm in Costa Rica this week on a business retreat and something shifted. Being a present mom doesn't mean putting yours

June 7, 2026

My dad used to say this to me.

My dad used to say this to me. It's actually a Lou Holtz quote and my dad meant it the way Lou Holtz meant it. As a wake-up call. A push toward personal accountability. Stop looking for sympathy and start solving your own problems. I unders

June 6, 2026

"Just tattoo more."

"Just tattoo more." Cool. Thanks. If you're tattooing and raising kids, you already know why that advice sucks. My time isn't just money anymore. It's bath time, bedtime, snuggles and being there for the moments we can't get back. So no, th

June 5, 2026

@rebelmusetattoo @rebelmusetattoodallas and @rebelmusekcmo are growing!!!

@rebelmusetattoo @rebelmusetattoodallas and @rebelmusekcmo are growing!!! And we're looking for our next artists! 14 years in, 3 locations and the most intentional direction we've ever had. 💪 If you're ready to grow and not just grind dm m

June 4, 2026

You don't need a coach.

You don't need a coach. There, I said it. You've got the whole internet in your pocket and nothing stopping you from learning every bit of it on your own. So why would anyone pay for coaching? Swipe. DM or comment COACH and let's chat. And

June 3, 2026

If this is hitting close to home, comment or dm the word WALL and I'll show you exactly how a help artists…

If this is hitting close to home, comment or dm the word WALL and I'll show you exactly how a help artists break through it. #tattooeducation #candidcolorcoach #tattoomentor #tattooartist #tattoosofinstagram

June 2, 2026

When a client tells me they've been trying to book me for years, it feels incredible that they've waited.

When a client tells me they've been trying to book me for years, it feels incredible that they've waited. Want help becoming that artist...the destination artist instead of the local convenient option? Comment COACH for the link to book a d

June 1, 2026

After 23 years tattooing, sustainability is the mission...not just a better year but a whole life you don't…

After 23 years tattooing, sustainability is the mission...not just a better year but a whole life you don't feel like burning down to survive. If your journey and mine aren't so different, comment or DM COACH and let's talk about next steps

May 31, 2026

That's the question isn't it?

That's the question isn't it? I wish I had asked it sooner. I wish I would have known to ask it. That's when the work can start. Where we start depends on where you're stuck right now. Skill, pricing, the clients, not knowing what you want

May 30, 2026

Once you start asking if a piece pays you twice, you start seeing that every tattoo is doing one of three jobs.

Once you start asking if a piece pays you twice, you start seeing that every tattoo is doing one of three jobs. A dream portfolio piece is the work you'd proudly show anywhere. It moves your style forward and pulls in the clients you actual

May 29, 2026

This is the Candid Color Coaching mission.

This is the Candid Color Coaching mission. Tattooer sustainability. If you wanna be here for a lifetime (because artists don't just stop making art), then let's talk about how we do that. Comment COACH or send a DM and we'll set up a call.

May 28, 2026

The delusion is that the fear means stop, when it actually means you've reached the edge of who you've been…

The delusion is that the fear means stop, when it actually means you've reached the edge of who you've been and the next version is right there. Comment or DM COACH and let's talk about what's on the other side of yours. #tattooartist #tatt