OCTOBER BLOG- DAVE KOENIG
IT’S SPOOKY SEASON! ☠️ Get ready for the funky costumes and copious amounts of candy for the next month. And for some, the beginning of Christmas decorating… (if you’re that person, no judgment here). Something less spooky is our Artist Spotlight this month- Dave Koenig. As you can see from Dave’s responses, he has such a distinct sense of humor- I guess that explains his spirit animal (see below). All the way from Nebraska you can find Dave located at Tenth Sanctum Tattoos in Omaha. Not only does Dave have a long history of art itself, but teaching art was in his past also! His tattoo career began in 2001 and on his website you can find some other forms of art also, NFTs. With a past of artistic ability it is obvious that Dave is an inspiring tattoo artist and his work shows just how unique his abilities are. You definitely do not want to miss out on all of what Dave had to share below, including his movie recommendations as well as some great advice on maintaining a positive mindset.
Side note: visit his website to see some gorgeous prints- my personal fav is the OCTOPUS MERMAID.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAVERICK?
Well first off is the quality of the product. I love the cartridges they make. They are easy to use and always consistent. Maverick seems to be an on-point organized business with people with good integrity. They are beyond accommodating and very personal. Every time I get a package from them there is a positive handwritten note and extra stickers and mints that accompany my product. And might I say I am a fan of their branding. Well done Maverick. In an industry fueled by high voltage energy drinks and angry skulls, it is a relief to side with the penguin.
Be sure to check him out!
Website: dkoenigart.com (LINKED) WEBSITE
Instagram: @davekoenigart (LINKED) INSTAGRAM
Want to learn more about Dave? KEEP READING-
WITH HAVING TO PROMOTE YOURSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A POSITIVE MINDSET?
If I ever doubt because of social media or really anything for that matter I just go back to the drawing board. Not figuratively but literally. Drawing is what got me to where I am. When I am drawing I lose time without wasting time. So I know that is what makes me happy. That is where I find peace. If I can make a few people happy by sharing what I do that is a bonus too.
WHO IS THE MOST UNIQUE TATTOOER YOU HAVE EVER MET?
That is a hard one. I have met so many unique tattooers that I can’t pick one. I love it. They come in all shapes and sizes expressed in so many ways. I am fortunate to tattoo in a time with so many different personalities.
THE PENGUIN IS THE MAVERICK FOUNDER'S SPIRIT ANIMAL. WHAT'S YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
Most likely a rabbit. Or a clown. I don’t know why. They are the first things that came to mind. Generally, I go with the first thing that comes to mind.
WHICH STATE ARE YOU LOCATED? WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHY?
Nebraska. The people. They are nice. And they are tough
WHAT IS SOMETHING WEIRD YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME?
I have to win 2 games of chess against the computer. If I get too tired and start losing I will lower the difficulty level just to win 2 no matter how many losses.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH STRESS?
Jujitsu, and Nature. Everyone needs a physical release that frees them of their monkey mind and forces them to live in that moment. Everyone also needs to connect to nature, freeing them from the chaos and allowing them to breathe again.
DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? DO YOU MIND SHARING?
Every major catastrophe in my life leads to something great. I have had many. I just fail forward. There is no sense in dwelling on it. Just learn from it and proceed forward.
IF YOU WERE TO WIN BEST TATTOOER IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD YOU THANK AND WHY?
Whoever fixed that contest.
WHAT ARE SOME FUNNY TATTOO MOMENTS YOU HAVE?
I tattooed a guy's nipple off once. I was blacking out his nipple and had most of it done. He used to have it pierced and gaged so it had that larger nub to it. I was pulling up on it to tattoo the sides using a mag grouping and then pop. He didn’t even realize it just came off as he was talking to his friend. Holding it between my index finger and thumb I neatly set it on the tattoo tray. I got his attention and pointed to it. I told him he was welcome to it when we got done. It just laid there like a piece of sausage on a thin crust pizza. Kind of irks me out thinking about it.
IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE A BAND TO BEST DESCRIBE YOUR ARTWORK, WHICH BAND WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
I would like to say the Bones of JR Jones or Aesop Rock. Just because I love to listen to them while I work.
TOP 3 ARTISTS YOU ADMIRE. CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION?
Jeff Gogue. Jeff is a highly regarded tattooer and painter for me. His work speaks for itself. But how he interprets tattooing, art, and life as a whole has molded me as an individual artist/tattooer. I am fortunate to call him a friend.
Fibs would be another. By chance, I had the pleasure to share a booth with him at the San Diego tattoo convention that Bill Canales holds. He is a great guy and his work is phenomenal. No one can beat his compositions and use of tone.
Then Christian Casas. He would be my 3rd. I don’t even know where to start with that guy. His work makes me want to quit tattooing as much as it inspires me to do better. Look these gentlemen up.
26swordstattoo
Fibs_
Kasasink
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST TATTOO EXPERIENCE ? HOW OLD WERE YOU? WHAT WAS IT OF AND WHO WAS THE ARTIST ?
I was 5 years old. It was the first and only time I met my grandfather Roland. He was a towering deep-voiced man that had 6 well-trained dogs that stood by him in full attention. I remembered his bellowing laugh as he picked me up. He had a skull on his arm accompanied by crosses of some sort on his hands. Later I found out they were gang tattoos from his rowdy past.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GROUPINGS TO USE FOR YOUR TATTOOS?
5 curved bug pin mag. 3 tight liner. 13 curved bug pin mag, 27 curved bug pin mag
MAVERICK'S GOAL IS TO HELP OTHERS WHERE WE CAN. AS PART OF OUR 'GIVE BACK' PROGRAM, $1 FOR EVERY CARTRIDGE BOX SOLD GOES TOWARDS THIS PROGRAM WITH A CAP OF 1K MONTHLY. WE TRY TO TARGET FOOD, ART, AND MUSIC (FAM) BASED NONPROFITS OR THINGS RELATED TO THE TATTOO COMMUNITY AND ARTISTS (LIKE SPECIFIC GOFUNDME PAGES FOR ARTISTS). IS THERE A SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN? FOR YOUR SPOTLIGHT MONTH WE ARE GOING TO DONATE MONEY FOR AN ORGANIZATION OF YOUR CHOICE. PLEASE PROVIDE THE WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE WE GET THE CORRECT ORGANIZATION. WHAT MAKES YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION?
MENDING THE SACRED HOOP
SECRET HIDDEN TALENT? WHAT IS IT?
I can do a great smeagol voice.
WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE?
Alice in wonderland tattoos without a doubt. Everyone wants every single piece of subject matter from that story in their stupid tattoo.
ANY PERSON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRADE PLACES WITH FOR THE DAY?
Oh, Harrison Ford. You know he lives in the mountains in a beautiful home. I bet he sips on coffee while sitting on his porch remembering how fucking badass he is. I mean the man was two of cinema's most influential badasses. Asides from Bruce Lee Indiana Jones and Han Solo taught me what it is to be a man.
WHAT BOOK OR MOVIE WOULD YOU SAY EVERYONE SHOULD READ OR WATCH? WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT SPECIFIC ONE?
I have many books to recommend. But everyone asks about what literature you read. So I am going to go with the movie this time. And that movie is Snatch. It is the perfect balance of true gentleman grit and humor accompanied by witty responses I only wish I could deliver on the regular. I love how every character’s outcomes are directly related to their simple fuck ups.
