Tattoo Shop Tango: How Liz Cook Built a Tattoo Career She Never Planned

Liz Cook never planned to own a tattoo shop. When she started college, she didn’t even know how she’d pay for it. It worked out, and she eventually paid off that debt through tattooing. That pattern of saying yes before she had every answer has shaped her whole career. Today, she’s a world-renowned color realism Tattoo Artist with multiple tattoo shops, her own ink line, a coaching platform, and a TV credit on TLC’s Tattoo Girls. She’s also one of Ink Different’s Master Mentors. On this episode of Tattoo Shop Tango, Liz sat down with us and co-host Chico Cortez to talk about building a career she never saw coming.

Who Is Liz Cook and Why Does Her Story Matter?

Liz Cook is a color realism Tattoo Artist known worldwide, a tattoo shop owner, a coach, and one of Ink Different’s Master Mentors. She has her own ink line and appeared on TLC’s Tattoo Girls.

Her story matters because so much of it wasn’t planned. Liz didn’t set out to own tattoo shops, appear on TV, or coach other Tattoo Artists. Each opportunity came from being willing to step forward.

Her view is simple. Either you get good at something and love it, or you find out it’s not for you and move on to what you do love.

How Do You Build a Tattoo Career You Never Planned?

Liz built hers by saying yes, then learning as she went.

Owning a tattoo shop

Her husband at the time had a vision for a tattoo shop. Liz believed in him and in them as a team. Their goal was simple: a place where they could work for themselves. Then other Tattoo Artists asked to join, and they realized they were good at running a tattoo shop. It opened her eyes to an entrepreneurial side she never knew she had.

Building an education platform

About a year into owning her first tattoo studio, Liz wanted to create an education model for tattooing. She had loved her traditional academic art training. When she saw others start teaching before her, she felt jealous. Liz used that feeling as a push to build her own platform, Candid Color.

Landing on TV

When Ink Master’s second season reached out, Liz auditioned and was accepted. But producers planned to cut the cast roughly in half, the pay was about $250 a week, and her tattoo studio had just opened. She asked to be cut, trusting that another TV opportunity would come.

It did. Casting for TLC’s Tattoo Girls found her through an interview she’d done for a website about women Tattoo Artists.

Remember: Liz didn’t have every answer before each step. She trusted she’d figure it out.

What Can Liz Cook’s Journey Teach Aspiring Tattoo Artists?

A few lessons stand out.

• Know your capacity. After her first tattoo studio took off, Liz wanted to be involved in everything. She eventually ran out of capacity and had to drop what didn’t truly align with her.
• Pace yourself. Liz asks herself when it’s time to sprint, when it’s time to jog, and when it’s time to rest.
• Be patient with new things. A new tattoo machine can take 10 to 50 uses to feel right. Give new ventures that same time before deciding.
• Change your mind if you need to. Tattooing is a lifetime career, and your path can shift.
• Plan before big moves. Before leaving a tattoo shop split or opening your own, run the numbers and ask whether you have the time and capacity to sustain it.

Before you start, read about the mistakes aspiring tattoo apprentices should avoid.

How Do You Start a Tattoo Career From Scratch?

Step 1: Commit to real training

Liz loved her traditional academic art training and believes in structured education. A structured tattoo apprenticeship, like Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship, gives you that foundation.

Step 2: Learn the fundamentals

Start with drawing, line work, machine control, and safety, including the OSHA bloodborne pathogens standard. See the tools every beginner Tattoo Artist should know.

Step 3: Get outside feedback

Liz says every Tattoo Artist needs feedback from someone outside their own head.

Step 4: Say yes to opportunities

Many of Liz’s biggest steps started with a yes.

Step 5: Get licensed

Licensing requirements vary by state. Learn how to get your tattoo license in Texas as one example.

Why Does Mentorship Matter More Than Talent?

Liz didn’t frame it as mentorship versus talent. But she’s clear that education never stops, and that you need feedback from someone outside yourself to keep growing.

In her coaching, she teaches what she calls the “go-getter loop”: set goals, get feedback from yourself and others, grow, reflect, and repeat. Liz says many Tattoo Artists struggle with perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and people-pleasing. Liz did, too, and was once afraid to be imperfect in front of a coach. She wishes she’d worked with one sooner.

Chico added a pattern he’s seen many times. Tattoo Artists leave for private tattoo studios so they don’t have to answer to anyone. But many come back because they stagnate creatively, with no one to bounce ideas off.

Tattooing is a human craft, which is why Tattoo Artists are still essential.

How Does Ink Different Help You Build Your Own Story?

Ink Different helps beginners build tattoo careers through structured training, experienced Mentors, and a “Good Humans” community. Ink Different has trained Tattoo Artists for 15 years.

Liz has seen the results herself. She’s mentoring Clarice Dumas, a Tattoo Artist who came to her through Ink Different. Liz calls Clarice a phenomenal person with real passion for art and tattooing, and she’s impressed by how hard Clarice works.

It’s also a college alternative. Learn why tattoo apprenticeships are gaining ground as a solid alternative to college.

A note on timing: Seats are limited, with only two apprentices per tattoo studio per Mentor.

Get Serious About Your Tattoo Career With Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship

If Liz’s story sparked something in you, Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is built to take you from beginner to job-ready. No prior art experience is required.

What You Can Expect from Our Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship

The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship takes 18 to 24 months across four phases.

• Phases One and Two: Art and design, then machine practice on synthetic skin, online.
• Phases Three and Four: Supervised work on real clients in a tattoo studio, then building independence and preparing for licensing.
• Licensing support: Guidance through your state’s requirements.

A Career That Comes With Confidence

This is a career that comes with confidence. You’ll finish with job-ready skills, licensing support, and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios. The Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship is available at 60+ tattoo studios nationwide.

Making Tattoo Training Accessible for Everyone

Ink Different offers Spanish-speaking locations in Denver, Orange County, NYC, Miami, San Antonio, and San Diego.

Ready to Write Your Own Tattoo Story?

Liz Cook never planned her career. She said yes, learned as she went, and kept growing in directions she never expected.

She also learned to let people go. When a Tattoo Artist leaves one of her tattoo shops, Liz first asks what she could have done better. Sometimes it’s simply the next step in their journey. Liz sees it as a rising tide that raises all ships.

For aspiring Tattoo Artists: Apply now to Ink Different’s Traditional Tattoo Apprenticeship and start building an AI-proof career with licensing support and a guaranteed job offer at one of Ink Different’s own tattoo studios.  

Then for Tattoo Artists and shop owners who want to mentor: Learn how to become an Ink Different Mentor at inkdifferenttattoos.com/affiliate.

For aspiring shop owners: Explore Ink Different’s shop owner training to build the systems and support your tattoo shop needs.

To work with Liz, message her on Instagram at @lizcooktattoo or book a free intro call at candidcolortattoos.com.  

Related reading: career change tattoo apprenticeship, start your tattoo apprenticeship this spring, and why spring is the best time to become a tattoo artist.