• IG: @austinsbrain
• Shop: @studio21tattoo Las Vegas, NV
• Eyes: Behind the glasses! 🤓
• Hair: WILD 💇🏻‍♂️

Hello! I'm Austin Spencer, I tattoo out of las Vegas NV @ Studio 21 Tattoo Gallery. I'm also a small part of this amazing company, Maverick Supply Co.

What do you love about Maverick? 

I love our community and Maverick Family vibes. We all have a deep love and interest in tattooing and what it takes to connect and provide all the things we need as tattooers to do the best tattoos we can.

What are your favorite groupings to use for your tattoos? 

I personally love the tight 3, tight 11, and 15 curved open mags!

The penguin is the Maverick founders spirit animal. What is your spirit animal and why?

I happen to be the "Penguin" of Maverick! It's me! lol. After taking a spirit animal test at this cute lil hotel in LA, I learned that my spirit animal was a penguin and my wifes was ironically a crocodile haha. Once it became time to build Maverick my wife and I decided that we needed a mascot and the Penguin was it!

Can you describe your first tattoo experience? 

I guess some of my first tattoo experiences are watching my dad get tattooed in a an old biker shop. I loved it. I really enjoyed the characters, the sketchy environment and all the stories from the owner and tattooer. I later got to design and watch my dad get tattooed on him a design i did. It ruled. Later in high school got paid $50 to draw a tattoo design in class and see it get tattooed on him the next day. I was hooked.

Top 3 tattoo artists you admire? 

Too many to list but my favorites definitely include Adam "Honkey Kong" Hawthorn

What are some funny tattoo moments you have? 

Yikes, so many haha. Dayumn. I've been tattooing since 2000 and the amount of crazy stories go deep. I've seen it all. Gang shit, Naughty Party girls trying to live it up in Vegas, tattooers fight their clients, drugged out co workers, I've had to fire heroin addicts on the first day of my job, all the weird shit. I've had clients sneak drink in the bathroom so much that they fell off the chair, passed out in the lobby passing gas so loud the other clients had to leave the room haha. Illiberally had to strong arm the guy to get his keys away from him.

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

Blink 182 fun and bubbly and full of color

If you were to win best tattooer in the world, who would you thank & why?

Not too sure that would ever happen lol but I'd say I would be thankful that anyone ever even paid attention to my silly style of art..and supporting me and giving me the ability to continue to express myself.

Secret hidden talent. What is it?

I'm a pretty good at body rolling haha

What is your kryptonite?

Dark chocolate and a bottle of wine!

Any person you would like to trade places with for the day? 

Nah, but being a dolphin would be kick ass for a day!

What book or movie would you recommend? Why would you recommend that specific one?

Elf, best movie ever.

With having to promote yourself on social media , how do you maintain a positive mindset? 

Social media can be a bit much at times. I don't waste much time comparing myself, just try to have fun and be consistent. Just have fun!

Which state are you located in? What do you like most about where you live and why?

Las Vegas, Nevada. Love that people from all over the world come to my city and get as weird as possible.

What is something weird you do before bedtime?

brush my kids teeth...its exhausting.

What would you say is the best way to deal with stress? 

Long walks, yoga and lots of wine.

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

That day I did my first tattoo. It really did get me fired up and gave me direction for my creative juices.

Who is the most unique tattooer you have ever met? 

Lars Lou out of Berlin. Hands down. The most interesting character I've ever met. A really really wild human. 

TOM HAUBRICK

• IG: @haubs & @haubscomix 
• Shop: @bigtroubletattoo 📍San Diego, CA 
• Eyes: Gorgeous, duh! 👀
• Hair: FRESH 💇🏻‍♂️

What do you love about Maverick? 

What's not to love? I love the consistency in needle groupings, the quality of products, the fast shipping, and the personal hand written notes. Always a pleasure.

What are your favorite groupings to use for your tattoos? 

The ones I use the most are 7 liner loose, tight 3s, 9 and 15 mags.

The penguin is the Maverick founders spirit animal. What is your spirit animal and why?

I’ve always loved sloths. They always look happy and take their time with life. Seems like a good time.

Can you describe your first tattoo experience? 

My first tattoo I did on myself during my apprenticeship. It’s a star on my ankle that i lined and shaded with a five liner I made. It took forever and hurt like hell.

Top 3 tattoo artists you admire? 

I admire artists that do art for the love of it and don't need anyone's opinions or acknowledgment.

What are some funny tattoo moments you have? 

Oh man too many to count. I've worked with some funny people over the years and the best jokes are the long running inside jokes. Am I right?

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

I guess Pink Floyd? they write pretty weird stuff.

If you were to win best tattooer in the world, who would you thank & why?

OK, we’re going full fantasy now eh? haha. I'd probably thank friends and family for the encouragement.

Secret hidden talent. What is it?

If I told you it wouldn’t be a secret ;)

What is your kryptonite?

I don't like loud noises very much.

Any person you would like to trade places with for the day? 

Maybe an Astronaut? I think it would be pretty awesome to see outer space.

What book or movie would you recommend? Why would you recommend that specific one?

I recommend you watch the movie Predator, because it’s the best movie ever made. The end.

With having to promote yourself on social media , how do you maintain a positive mindset? 

I'm trying to be creative with it , and not let it be a complete burden. I'm actually horrible about putting out media on a regular basis and don't really care about it. I'd rather make art that I'm proud of rather than jump through continuous hoops for every algorithm update. That keeps me happy.

Which state are you located in? What do you like most about where you live and why?

I’ve lived in California my whole life. Whats not to like? Great weather, great people, great times. 👍

What is something weird you do before bedtime?

Should I be doing something weird beforehand? Is that a thing? I usually just read comics before I go to bed. Is that weird ?

What would you say is the best way to deal with stress? 

Still trying to figure that out. Once I do I'll let you know.

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

The one that comes to mind is the first time I saw a wolverine comic at a baseball card convention as a kid. I knew then I didn’t care much about sports any longer and only wanted to collect comics.

Who is the most unique tattooer you have ever met? 

Definitely Myles Karr. Love him and his work. He has a vision like no other. His creativity is so far beyond what i can comprehend.

PRESTON

Hello October!🍂 As we embrace the cozy charm of fall and the vibrant colors of the season, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on the incredible Preston Schooley! 

Get to know Preston: "My name is Preston Schooley, AKA Pdude. I’ve enjoyed art since I was a kid but found my true love for oil painting in 2010, right after my daughter was born. 6 years later landed a tattoo apprenticeship right before my 31st birthday. Shortly thereafter, I had a silly tattoo go viral that really helped get my name out there. 8 years later, a few laughs and a few cries, I’m still committed to growing and being the best artist I can be. Outside of tattooing, you’ll find me with my family, on a lake or by a campfire watching the stars. @pdudetattoo @pdudesart"

• IG: @pdudetattoo
• Shop: @27tattoo
• Eyes: Mesmerizing 👀
• Hair: Lucious 💇🏻‍♂️ 

What do you love about Maverick? 

I love the consistency of the product. I also love the fact that Maverick carries environment friendly supplies. Tattooing is terrible for the environment, so it’s nice to see companies that care. I’ve always been treated with kindness, and who doesn’t love goodies and thank you cards with every order. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ company 

What are your favorite groupings to use for your tattoos? 

Tight 5,9,14 Round Liner Loose 7 Round Shader 5, 15, 23 Open Curved Mag 

The penguin is the Maverick founders spirit animal. What is your spirit animal and why?

Oh man, I’m a trash panda. Snacks and more snacks, feed me and don’t get on my bad side. Did someone say snacks?

Can you describe your first tattoo experience? 

 One week after turning 18 I went to a shop called LOST ART. It was “The place to go”. I was more nervous driving there than I was waiting to be tattooed. I showed my lame drawing to the front help and Luis Flores wanted the idea. I sat there for a few hours waiting for him to finish a tattoo and draw mine. I chose my inner bicep and it took him about 2 hours. He was super polite and had such solid work (still does). He completed a black and gray chain and sprocket with a tattered banner that says “Dedication”. I rode BMX heavily between 13 and 23 (I thought I would go pro). After that, I was addicted to the tat life.

Top 3 tattoo artists you admire? 

 Thomas Carli Jarlier- I love how smooth and saturated his work is. Very readable at a distance. I find myself really analyzing his work.

Steve Moore - His color palette is amazing. His work tells a story which I think is incredibly hard to accomplish in tattooing.

Alina Gokk- I really just love her style, and smooth solid blends.

What are some funny tattoo moments you have? 

One of the dudes (Nick) I work with was raving about this yellow ink he started using and told me to try it. I borrowed it and shook the hell out of this bottle. To my surprise, the lid was barely screwed on and I whipped an entire bottle of ink everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE.  I ruined a favorite shirt and a brand new pair of shorts. It was all over my station, my chair, and the wall.  Somehow I missed my client, and they got to watch me spend the next 30 min trying to clean yellow off everything. I still think Nick did that shit on purpose, even though he swears he didn’t. 

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

Toto- hold the line. Or Devo- Whip it. See what I did there? Fun fact: the original lead singer of Toto was kicked out of a ROCK band for doing too much cocaine. That’s impressive. One might even say he was a pro at holding the line.  

If you were to win best tattooer in the world, who would you thank & why?

First and foremost, my clients. They’re the reason I’m here doing what I love. I’d like to thank my wife (Jessica) for dealing with all the tatt daddy shit that comes with the job. Vic Back for welcoming me into his studio and treating me like family. The crew at 27, they’ve become family and I’m constantly inspired by the insane talent.

Secret hidden talent. What is it?

 My ability to insert “your mom goes to college” in any conversation.

What is your kryptonite? 

 Chicano script. I admire things I’m no good at.

Any person you would like to trade places with for the day? 

 Neil Armstrong. Space exploration has to be one of the coolest experiences, let alone setting foot on a foreign rock. Settle down conspiracy theorists, your government wouldn’t lie to you.

What book or movie would you recommend? Why would you recommend that specific one?

Dune 1 and 2. The books were ok but the films are awesome. The cinematography, and composition of scenes are incredible . As a visual species we get excited when we see something new for the first time. This film was that way for me.

With having to promote yourself on social media , how do you maintain a positive mindset? 

I just post and walk away. I try not to get too caught up in what Instagram wants me to do in order to be relevant. Fancy cameras and funny content can help promote me, but giving my client the best experience possible will bring me the clientele I want. Your work in the wild will speak louder than a silly TikTok video.

Which state are you located in? What do you like most about where you live and why?

I’m in Salt Lake City, Utah. I love that I can drive an hour any direction and be in a completely different landscape. We have one of the most incredible mountain scapes right in our back yard. There’s plenty to do here if you like the outdoors.

What is something weird you do before bedtime?

I lay my neck on an ice pack. Supposedly you fall into a deeper sleep when your brain cools off by 3 degrees.

What would you say is the best way to deal with stress? 

Paint, go for a drive, put your feet in the grass and read a book.

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

Divorce changed my life immensely. It was a punch in the gut even though we weren’t compatible in the slightest bit. It helped me grow closer to my daughter. I quit drinking for 5 months to focus on art. My friend moved in (he was going through a similar situation) and we stay up every night drawing and painting. He talked me into seeking out an apprenticeship. I quit a career of 14 years to start tattooing full time. I met my wife, bought a house together. We travel a bunch. Life is good.

Who is the most unique tattooer you have ever met? 

DJ Tambe. What can’t he do? Is he even real? I watched him tattoo a tiger up the back of this guys leg. It was huge and he had it done in 4 hours. It made no sense how he moved so quickly. I completed something the size of a softball in that time frame. Oh, he’s also a rad, super humble, and a kind person.

"There's so many Cartridge Types! what kind should I get and what should I expect?"

"Are your needles long tapered?"

"What diameter are your needles?"

"I'm new to using Cartridges- which ones are best?"  

"What's the difference between Curved open and closed?

"Do your tattoo needle cartridges have a silicone membrane?"

"What's a bug pin?" 

These are just some of the many questions we get from tattooers looking to purchase tattoo cartridges. In an effort to help you make the best decision, we came up with a fun guide that may help you find the perfect fit for your style of work.

Tight Round Liners: Great for tight, clean lines, script lettering, stippling, and fine line tattoos and all the details. The diameter of pins/needles is this particular grouping is known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube. Pictured above.

Loose Round Liner/Shader: Ideal for Bold Lines along with using as a super small round shader for filling in tight small spaces, details in portraits and any other unique uses.  The diameter of pins/needles in this particular grouping are known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube.

Curved Open and Curved Closed Mags: Ideal for shading/packing color or pigment with a soft edge. Curved Open mags allow you to view needle visibility better via an open viewing window in the top of the housing while tattooing. This is all a matter of personal preference. There is no advantage using the closed versus open housing cartridges. The diameter of pins/needles in this particular grouping are known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube. Pictured above.

Flat Open and Flat Closed Mag Shaders: Ideal for shading and color packing with a hard edge. Great for getting packing ink close up into those tight spaces against your line work. These are commonly used with more traditional tattoos and by American traditional artists. The diameter of pins/needles in this particular grouping are known as a #12, featuring a long tapered and polished pin. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube. Pictured above.

Bug pin Curved Open Mags: These needles/groupings  have a  smaller in diameter pin/needle, also know as #10 and used for soft shading typically found in Black and Grey work and or a softer more smooth fades. These are as smooth as it gets! Super comfortable to work with. All of our cartridges feature a state of the art silicone membrane to prevent back spill and or contamination to machine or tube.

Let us know what you guys think about our needle groupings and if you use them differently by commenting on this blog.  We love to hear from you 🫶🏼

VALL

Hello September! As we embrace the changing seasons, we're excited to feature one of our most talented artists, VALL. With his remarkable tattoo skills and warm, inviting personality, VALL is here to show you his skill & some sass.. keep reading! ⬇️

• IG: @valliant_arts
• Shop: Quill & Talon Tattoo Syndicate IN Virginia Beach, VA
• Eyes: Killer 👀
• Hair: Not as good as his cat's 😸

Tell us about yourself:

I've been tattooing since '07, worked with some incredible people throughout my career, trying my best these days not to take opportunities for granted, love my fam and crew, i'm only slightly more interesting in person, and i only look "ok" naked. i own Quill and Talon Tattoo Syndicate in VA beach VA with my stud-muffin, Ande chambers.

You can find me on ig- @valliant_arts , webpage- quillandtalon.art .

What do you love about Maverick? 

The mascot... and also the cartridges are pretty swell. good team over there, they never forget a Christmas card. 

What are your favorite groupings to use for your tattoos? 

Liner's i use 9's, 5's, and 3's. shading and coloring i go for 11mags & 15curved.

The penguin is the Maverick founders spirit animal. What is your spirit animal and why?

My cat; he's lethargy personified. or catified? he's the epitome of "living the life..." he's large, he's fluff, he rules.

Can you describe your first tattoo experience? 

 I tattooed myself on my waist (back when i could see it). i was 19 and more of a dirtbag than i am these days.

Top 3 tattoo artists you admire? 

 - tim biedron - a true giant in terms of humility, creativity, and execution -

ande chambers - humble but critical, constantly elevating the standard, virginia's best tattooer 😉 -

i'd list a 3rd but there's a massive swath of artists i admire: kevin dickinson, harrison out of melbourne, the tex's, steve moore, my dudes at the studio mondo and gonzo constantly stepping it up, etc etc.

What are some funny tattoo moments you have? 

Sheeeeeeit... anything during a convention i suppose. but you can only hear those stories at conventions, not reader appropriate.

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

Somewhere amidst deftones and christopher cross probably... just the sense i get. pretty subjective honestly, but always leans one way or the other.

If you were to win best tattooer in the world, who would you thank & why?

I'd have to thank all of the formerly mentioned "admired artists" for dying, otherewise i'd have no shot at the opportunity.

Secret hidden talent. What is it?

 I can sleep through absolutely anything. a-ny-thang.

What is your kryptonite? 

Cats; it's a little alarming how much i've grown to like a cat.

Any person you would like to trade places with for the day? 

My kid maybe? just to relive youth for a blip.

What book or movie would you recommend? Why would you recommend that specific one?

Book -princess bride

Movie- princess bride why- if you don't like either, then you've been judged accordingly and we probably won't be hanging out anyway so piss off. 

With having to promote yourself on social media , how do you maintain a positive mindset? 

I don't. 

Which state are you located in? What do you like most about where you live and why?

VA beach VA. i like it here because of the people honestly. and as much as i hate people in general, i've managed to find the good one's around here that are able to put up with me. and my clients are fantastic (also good people able to put up with me).

What is something weird you do before bedtime?

Beat up the cat. 

What would you say is the best way to deal with stress? 

Oh, i take meds for that man.

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

Too many, too sappy, not enough pages. next question.

Who is the most unique tattooer you have ever met? 

Man there's a lot, they're all unique. if i had to pluck one out off the brim, i'd say my friend and colleague, Mondo Felton. a true inspiration of creativity and left-field-thinking.