Meet Liz Marie | Tattoo Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Liz Marie and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Liz, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Ever since I was a small child I’ve had a passion for art. I also come from a family full of artist, including my grandmother and cousin. My cousin would come over and give me art lessons when I was little. I also took every art class available when I was in school. Art has always been my outlet. I love how you get the freedom to create your own world with art. I love getting to experiment and not having to follow “rules”. When I was 17 I got my very first tattoo. I designed it when I was about 14 years old. While I was getting the tattoo my artist had mention that I was a very talented artist and if I had ever thought about becoming a tattoo artist. At that time in my life I was still in my senior year of high school and had never stepped foot in a tattoo studio beforehand. I was fairly intimidated being in a tattoo studio and the idea of becoming a tattoo artist was something I never thought of. I didn’t pursue it right away but the thought always stayed in my mind. As I got older and continued to get more tattoos I developed a love for the tattoo industry and decided that I did want to pursue an apprenticeship. This decision came about because I loved art and tattoos. When I was younger my grandpa told me to find a job that you love and you will never work a day in your life. Since I had a passion for art and tattoos I felt like this would be the perfect career for me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a tattoo artist at Dark Millennia Tattoo in Englewood, CO. I specialize in American traditional, neo traditional, and Japanese traditional style tattoos. I’ve been tattooing for a little over 5 years now. I started my career with my apprenticeship. Unfortunately for me I did not have the best mentor and ended up leaving the shop I was at to build my portfolio on my own. I tattooed close friend and family until my clientele grew. Getting to where I am now in my career was not easy and took a lot of hard work and determination. Being a woman in this industry comes with its own set of challenges. But I knew I wanted to be a tattoo artist and kept pushing forward. I love this industry and absolutely love that I get to be a part of it. Tattooing is my passion and I cant imagine myself doing anything else. I love art, so not only do I tattoo but I am also a painter. I paint canvases, shoes, and even murals. I’ve learned a lot over the years, with the help of some awesome tattoo artists. I cant wait to see how I grow over the years to come.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would defiantly take my friend to the mountains. One of my favorite places to eat is Mac Nation, so we would defiantly be stopping there. The next stop would be one of our beautiful hiking trails here in Colorado. My personal favorite is the royal arch in Boulder, CO. I’ve never seen a more beautiful view. Next stop would be Red Rocks, which is by far the best venue in the world! There’s so many amazing places in Colorado I would take someone too. I don’t think one day is enough to fully experience Colorado and all its beauty. I love how artsy Colorado is. From the rhino district, to Santé Fe, to Boulder. There’s so many beautiful murals all over. Depending on the time of the year A Basin is my favorite spot to go snowboarding. Estes Park is also beautiful and full of historical sites, including re Stanly Hotel. The possibilities are endless. That’s why I will always call this state home.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a shoutout to my in-laws, my family, friends, and Jason Mako who is the tattoo artist that influenced me to become a tattoo artist. I also want to give my clients a shout out because without them I wouldn’t be where I am out now. I appreciate all the love and support from these awesome people.

Instagram: @crimsonredtattoos

Facebook: Tattoos By Liz

Other: lizmarie.threadless.com