SHOP TALK

ALEX HAMILTON

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAVERICK?

First off, you Always have all of the needles I use , in stock .I usually bought from multiple suppliers before switching to Maverick. You guys have solid, consistent products. I can tell that you guys are very passionate about your company and your brand. You always go the extra mile with everything. You guys are dependable and I feel well taken care of! Your packaging is cool. The shipping is the fasted I’ve had. And the notes and stickers are always awesome too! I’m super stoked to be part of the crew! ❤️ (We love you Alex!)

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GROUPINGS TO USE FOR YOUR TATTOOS?

Tight 3s and 5s. 15 curved mag.

THE PENGUIN IS THE MAVERICK FOUNDER'S SPIRIT ANIMAL. WHAT'S YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL? & WHY?

Roadrunner! In Az we see them all the time. Hunting rattle snakes and lizards . They’re a raptor species , so they’re actually pretty brutal lol.

TOP 3 ARTISTS YOU ADMIRE. CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION?

My top 3 - Chris Primm @Primm - Bobby Johnson @glendalebully Those 2 are really close, but I’m constantly inspired by their drive and passion for crispy clean, super readable, bold tattoos. I’ve been getting tattooed by Chris for a couple years and we just started tattooing my entire back. Last but not least I Admire @RB.tattoo and his amazing efficiency and color saturation. He’s truly changing the game.

WHAT ARE SOME FUNNY TATTOO MOMENTS YOU HAVE?

One time a 9 year old came in with grandma and was gonna have her sign off on him getting Tattooed . Grandma said she was ok with it because other 4th graders at his school were tattooed. We unfortunately had to turn him away.

IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE A BAND TO BEST DESCRIBE YOUR ARTWORK, WHICH BAND WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

“Squid” because it’s just , the right amount of weird.

IF YOU WERE TO WIN BEST TATTOOER IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD YOU THANK AND WHY?

Who would judge that! Lol Well , I would have to thank my parents for making me. Also, Kenny , Tony , Jake B , TA , and Mario for opening the doors for me .

SECRET HIDDEN TALENT? WHAT IS IT?

I was a Sax man in a jazz band once.

WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE?

Water color tats. I’m super grateful for them because in the beginning they helped me learn color but If I didn’t have to do another one that’d be cool too.

ANY PERSON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRADE PLACES WITH FOR THE DAY?

My first thought was Pete Davidson . So I’m gonna go with that.

WHAT BOOK OR MOVIE WOULD YOU SAY EVERYONE SHOULD READ OR WATCH? WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT SPECIFIC ONE?

“Jobs” is a movie that inspired me. “ How does somebody know what they want if they haven’t even seen it?"

WHICH STATE ARE YOU LOCATED? WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHY?

Arizona. it’s the Wild West. Well, I’m from here. But everyone seems to be moving here so there must be something about it!

WHAT IS SOMETHING WEIRD YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME?

Scroll Pinterest.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH STRESS?

I need answers for this as well! Lol

DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? DO YOU MIND SHARING?

My last day at my part time job before taking the Leap into full time tattooing. Scary , but exciting because I could finally give it my all.

WHO IS THE MOST UNIQUE TATTOOER YOU HAVE EVER MET?

Jack Mosher . If you know ,you know.

WITH HAVING TO PROMOTE YOURSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A POSITIVE MINDSET?

I stay positive because social media allows you to be who you want to be. You set your own tone and your own vibe. And people can take it or leave it a they choose. Social media is a beast tho for sure.

KEEP UP WITH ALEX:

https://www.instagram.com/_hamiltontattoo/

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GROUPINGS TO USE FOR YOUR TATTOOS?

3LT, 5LT, 7R, 11r, 5M, 11M, 17M

THE PENGUIN IS THE MAVERICK FOUNDER'S SPIRIT ANIMAL. WHAT'S YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?

Rabbit

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST TATTOO EXPERIENCE ? HOW OLD WERE YOU? WHAT WAS IT OF AND WHO WAS THE ARTIST ?

I was 18 and had to wait because my father made me.  He was going to be the one doing it. I was just starting out but was kind of cocky thinking I could tattoo better than him. So we had a Nautical star contest, spoiler alert he won, and mine is for ever blown out lines, and the green nice and bright haha! So I have a Nautical star tattoo as my first!

TOP 3 ARTISTS YOU ADMIRE. CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION?

As of right now Tim Biedron ( @onlythedeadaresmiling ) , Ian Bederman ( @wonkytiger ), Emmanuel Mendoza ( @sacred_crow), GG( @ggtattoos ).... Find myself wanting to spew out more. They give me inspiration of producing art that I wanna see for myself.

WHAT ARE SOME FUNNY TATTOO MOMENTS YOU HAVE?

Not necessarily funny in the moment.. buuuttt. It was crazy none the less. Sister Jessica was tattooing a young lady, while I was tattooing next to her. The client started to lean back slowly as if she wasn't trying to mess her up.. turns out she was passing out, and slowly falling off the bed. Without hesitation, and with a running tattoo machine in my hand, I reached over to catch her by the shirt to slowly let her down. Was nuts to just think so quickly, and save this girl from a bruise I guess. 

IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE A BAND TO BEST DESCRIBE YOUR ARTWORK, WHICH BAND WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?

Bring Me the Horizon why you may be wondering.. Well as a band they have taken a journey of being crazy grind core heavy, and then switch up sounds, and styles of direction to a point that it seems they don't care what people think and make what ever they want heavy or soft and anything in between. Also their sound reflect that I cannot stay in one lane.

IF YOU WERE TO WIN BEST TATTOOER IN THE WORLD WHO WOULD YOU THANK AND WHY?

My Mom & Dad cause no matter what they did everything they could to make sure I did what I wanted to do and discover things in my life without having to grow up to fast. 

SECRET HIDDEN TALENT? WHAT IS IT?

Idk if its a talent but I ride a mean longboard, and test the boundaries of my balance without injuring myself.

WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE?

Cheese

ANY PERSON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRADE PLACES WITH FOR THE DAY?

Jim Carey

WHAT BOOK OR MOVIE WOULD YOU SAY EVERYONE SHOULD READ OR WATCH? WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT SPECIFIC ONE?

The Power of Habit - You'll find yourself being aware of the fact that we all have habits, some deep, and some silly. Just that awareness you can do a better job breaking and making new habits. 

WHICH STATE ARE YOU LOCATED? WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHY?

Minnesota all the seasons, and the type of environment I live in very lush and full of life

WHAT IS SOMETHING WEIRD YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME?

I pray for Yezus you know Kanye West

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH STRESS?

Meditate.. Get your self back to the present and rest from your thoughts. Work with them not against them. We are human, everyone including me struggle with it and its easier said then done in some cases.

DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? DO YOU MIND SHARING?

Think some of the best moments that change something are the smallest things, and sometimes without a big movie moment realization. A lot of small things seem to make the biggest changes. So no I don't have a moment that comes to mind off the top of the dome.

WHO IS THE MOST UNIQUE TATTOOER YOU HAVE EVER MET?

Idk.. I think the one that sticks out to me was Noah Moore. Think it was watching the processes of a guy making something.

WITH HAVING TO PROMOTE YOURSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA, HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A POSITIVE MINDSET?

Know that social media isn't the only tool and it is isn't the only way. Ask yourself the question (like Banjo, a tattooer I've met recently) "do they know you down the street of your own town? Is this a Yes or no? if not, then you got to start tattooing your local people.

All I am trying to say is.. don't be hard on yourself, its all the little piles of building that make a big pile. Stay consistent as best you can.

⬇️ Check out an exclusive interview with Chance Gomez ⬇️

Is this your first solo art show? 

It is not haha. But the last one I had was around 2008 so it’s been a hot minute. 

Any specific motivation behind taking on this body of work?

I love to show people what I do. If my paintings can bring people some happiness or any type of emotion, then I feel I did my job. When my buddy Frank opened up Screaming Demon Art Gallery and asked me if I’d like to be a part I already had 20 paintings ready to go for him to put up collectively so when he asked if I wanted to do a solo show the answer was obvious. I feel very humble to be in there with some amazing artists. I look at it like this … some people run marathons, some people protest in the streets … I paint and tattoo. It’s what I can add to this world. So whenever an opportunity comes to do something like this I’m always gonna take it. 

You're a very talented artist that seems to have attacked and executed so many styles of tattooing so well including Black and Grey, American Traditional, along with Traditional Japanese. Are you focusing on one particular genre and or medium used in this show?

It’s true I have done a lot of different styles respectfully but in recent years have really fallen in love over and over again with the Asian/Japanese style. This show will be 100% in Japanese style including some sumi-e (ink and brushstroke) that I got into and studied during the pandemic. There will also be tattoo flash paintings and acrylic paintings as far as mediums go. 

With as busy of a schedule you have with not only tattooing, but family, business owner and being a husband, How'd ya seem to find time to execute this project? 

That’s a great question haha! I’m a very disciplined person I realize. When I set my mind to do something I’m gonna figure out a way to persevere through. I’m not ever willing to sacrifice time with my family so that wasn’t an option. Honestly I set a goal of two paintings a week and I stopped scrolling social media and playing video games for a few months and got it done. It’s amazing how much time you have when you cut out all the bullshit haha. 

You're a very talented artist that seems to have attacked and executed so many styles of tattooing so well.

I appreciate that buddy. You are as well! I’m just a dude doing my thing. I wanna keep learning and growing indefinitely. I see it like this .. we’re all climbing this mountain. Some people have stopped because they think they’re at the top (but they’re obviously not). Others have turned around and started climbing back down because it’s to hard. Me, I’m just cruising along climbing a little bit every day. Is there a top? Probably not but I’ve realized that doesn’t matter. It’s all about the journey.