Ink Masters & Old Timers: Tradition vs Progress in Tattoo Conventions | Jesse Smith | EP 285
Release Date: 09/18/2024
The Art of Making Art Your Way | Peter Mohrbacher
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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...
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Why Good Tattoos Aren't Enough Anymore | Liz Cook
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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:
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What Happens When a World-Class Painter Becomes a Tattoo Apprentice? David Cheifetz
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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...
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Buttery Smooth Black and Grey Tattoos | Owen Paulls
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
Owen Pauls is one of the most technically refined black and gray tattooers working today — and in this episode, we get into exactly what makes his work so distinct: buttery smooth values, a collage-based design process, and a relentless refusal to stop at "good enough." Owen shares his unlikely path from punk band drummer and DIY merch designer to world-class tattooer, why he spent two full years doing traditional and neo-traditional before ever touching realism, and the three-pass rendering technique he uses to push every piece beyond what most artists would call finished. We also get into...
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3D Tattoos That Warp Reality | Jesse Rix
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
Join us on Jesse's Live Technique Talk with the Inside Fireside Tattoo Club on 1/16/2026 Keep up with Jesse at the links below Are you a beginning tattooer or an apprentice ? Click below Are you a seasoned tattoo vet who is stuck in a rut? click below
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Building Tattooing's First Global Standard | Alex De Pase | International Tattoo Federation
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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...
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Everybody's Deco-Dancing with Cooper | Technique Talks
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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...
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Tagging the Subconscious, Surreal Worlds of Greg "Craola" Simkins
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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...
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The Writching Hour is Upon Us With Rich Wren | Technique Talks | EP 304
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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...
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There's No Highlights in Wood! | TImmy B
Fireside Tattoo Podcast
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...
info_outlineWe’ve got an excellent conversation for you today with longtime friend of Fireside, Jesse Smith! As both Jesse and Jake promote different tattoo conventions they discuss some of the difficulties in thinking about the attendees vs the tattooers, the struggles between progress vs keeping it traditional, education, and many other topics.
There’s a ton of work and a ton of love that happens trying to get all the moving parts going in the same direction and connecting the dots. We really hope you enjoy this episode and gain a little more understanding of what goes on behind the scenes at the conventions you’re visiting.
Check out the Deep Dive on Firesidetattoo.com:
https://www.firesidetattoo.com/tattoo-library/ink-masters-old-timers-tradition-vs-progress-in-tattoo-conventions-jesse-smith-ep-285~29266
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
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Get 10% off the Neuma 4 with code "Fireside" at checkout
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