NICHOLAS PEIRCE

·What do you love about Maverick?

I love everything about Maverick, especially the marketing behind everything they do. Genius.

·What are your favorite groupings /or Maverick supplies you use while tattooing?

I have never used a better 3rl in my life than Mavericks. Hands down the liners are my favorite, but I also use the wash bottles, wash bottle bags, pen machine covers, razors, rinse cups, ink caps, and liquid solidifier. Basically everything Maverick sells, I buy.

·The penguin is the Maverick owner's spirit animal. What's YOUR spirit animal? 

I honestly don’t know what my spirit animal is, but I could easily relate to the penguin. My mom’s favorite animal is the penguin and I had a STARWARS penguin tattoo before I ever heard of Maverick. 🐧

·Can you describe your first tattoo experience? How old were you? What was it of and who was the artist? 

My first tattoo experience was terrifying. I got my first tattoo THE DAY I turned 18, and I originally only planned to get one single tattoo of a cross on my upper left arm. I had a friend whos wife was related to a tattoo artist in NW Arkansas (at a well known shop called Brainstorm), but I don’t remember the artists name — he doesn’t have social media. But the entire time (1.5 hours) all the artist talked about we’re all the people who had passed out during their tattoo appointments, and chain smoked every 15 minutes of the 1.5 hour appointment… he also told me he had his 🥜 tattooed like time bombs… I declined to see if he was lying. That’s all I remember about him and the experience…

·Top three artists you admire? Can you give us a brief description? 

1: Tim Hendrix has always been an inspiration to me, mainly because of his super laid back attitude towards everything. I met him once at a California tattoo convention.

2: Nikki Hurtado had always been an artist I strives to be like (artist wise), but I don’t know how he is as a person. I only see what he posts on social media. I also let him in California at the same convention I met Tim Hendrix at. It used to be called “Ink and Iron”, and it was on the Queen Mary cruise ship in Long Beach.

3: Andres’ Acosta has to be my favorite realism artist. I’ve never met him, but I would love to take one of his seminars and possibly get tattooed so I can really hone in on how he applies that butter smooth ink…

·What are some funny tattoo moments you have?  

I have tattooed a lot of funny tattoos and people… but I would say the funniest moment for me was a lady I was tattooing her on her ribs, I don’t remember the tattoo, she was clenching so hard from the pain she blasted a fart and acted like it was me 😂. Clearly there were two of us in the room… and I felt it rip out of her body because I was on her ribs/stomach.

·If you were to choose a band to describe your artwork, which band would you choose & why? 

I’ve never really compared myself to any bands… but I do love NF and play his albums on repeat A LOT. His style of rap is pretty legit.

·If you were to win 'Best Tattooer in the World', who would you thank?

I would thank God first and foremost… because without him I would be nothing and wouldn’t have the artistic ability to do what I do. Second I would thank my mom for giving birth to me… without her… I wouldn’t be here.

·Do you have a secret talent? What is it?

I am full of complete random facts that I sometimes blurt out like I have tourettes! Not sure if that’s a talent or not…

·What is your kryptonite?

My kryptonite is a client that can’t sit still. I’m sure I’m not alone on this.

·Any person or animal that you would like to trade places with for the day?

I would 100% trade places with a silverback gorilla for a day! I would see exactly how strong they really are! Probably the closest to being like the Hulk that I could ever get.

·What book or movie would you say everyone should read or watch? Why would you recommend that specific one? 

I’m not much of a reader, but If I could recommend a book it would be the Holy Bible, a great guide book for living, and “Passion of the Christ” for a movie. Non religious movie, Back to the future 1-2-3 hands down.

·What state are you located in? What do you love most about where you live & why?

Arkansas. I love how simple and quiet Arkansas is compared to most big city states. I love to travel and see big cities, but I love to come back home to the peace and quiet.

·What is something weird you do before bedtime? 

I’m like an old paranoid dad who roams the house checking to make sure all the doors are locked and the garage doors are closed and the alarm is set, or I can’t go to sleep.

·What would you say the best way to deal with stress that the busy tattoo life can bring on? 

I’m terrible at dealing with stress, but lately I’ve been running. That seems to be the best thing I can do to de-stress. RUN.

·Do you have a moment that changed your life? Do you mind sharing? 

Meeting my wife and having kids has probably been the greatest thing(s) that I have ever had happen in my life and transformed all aspects of where I was going and what I had planned for my future. All for the better.

·Who is the most unique client you have ever met? 

My man Butch Harris! He’s a 74 year old dude who refuses to retire from working and also refuses to quite getting tattooed. To me he’s truly someone who has been through a lot in life. And through it all, keeps the most positive attitude and gratitude. His skin is not the best to tattoo from all his motorcycle adventures getting scalded by the sun, but he’s such a cool dude! Still builds and rides Harley’s at 74.

·Does the constant pressure and challenge of promoting yourself on social media exhaust you or is it second nature? 

It 1000% exhausts me because of the algorithm that social media plays with. With the 35k followers I have on Instagram, 1% sees my work and interacts with my page. I’ve been on instagram since day 8 of the app being a thing.