MAVERICK FAMILY SPOTLIGHT ARTIST
BEN OZ
2023 is halfway over! (Where does the time go.... nah mean?) for the mid-point of 2023 it's time to meet one of our OG artists - Ben Oz. He's an amazing tattooer, part of the Rad Dad club and great Husband (that's not easy)!
Ben is originally from New Jersey, but currently lives in Florida...talk about a fish in new waters 🐟!
Ben has definitely encountered some life struggles, but he's come out the other side stronger and more vibrant than ever!
Please keep reading about Ben to see just how much his life experiences has shaped the Ben we see today! Something that Ben said in his interview which really resonates with all of us here at Maverick, "I’d have to say the thing that causes my stress is my stress relief, tattooing drawing and painting." For artists and non artists, this seems to be true for a lot of of us.
Make sure to check out Ben on his socials:
INSTAGRAM: @benoztattoos
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAVERICK?
I obviously love the needles they are beyond awesome! Their staff is great too I love getting my boxes with a funny note written inside with some stickers or pins!
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GROUPINGS AND OR MAVERICK SUPPLIES YOU USE WHILE TATTOOING?
I use tight 3 liners every day I also use 13 curved mags and 17curved mags I also use their razors ink cups bottle bags and clip cord covers
THE PENGUIN IS THE MAVERICK FOUNDER'S SPIRIT ANIMAL. WHAT'S YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL? & WHY?
I’d have to say a wolf , I’m very pack oriented I rely on my family and without them I’d get lost . I’m very loyal especially to my friends and family and would do almost anything for them .
CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST TATTOO EXPERIENCE ? HOW OLD WERE YOU? WHAT WAS IT OF AND WHO WAS THE ARTIST ?
My first tattoo was probably 12 years old and I did it myself with a electric toothbrush tattoo machine my friends and I made . The next 15-20 tattoos were done similarly
TOP 3 ARTISTS YOU ADMIRE. CAN YOU GIVE US A BRIEF DESCRIPTION?
Bret rosepiler his neotrad is insane the simplicity I. The designs yet they are so detailed and amazing everything he does is magic. Next I’d say rob goodkind he’s a legend he’s mixed Japanese and dark elements and it’s so rad his stuff is constantly inspiring me to do more . Lastly I’d say The Sepp I don't know his name or what country he is from but his stuff is so wild his prints and tattoos are constantly pushing the limits and he’s just a really good artist
WHAT ARE SOME FUNNY TATTOO MOMENTS YOU HAVE?
I don’t think I can pick one I think every day at our shop tops the last we are like a big disfunctional family
IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE A BAND TO BEST DESCRIBE YOUR ARTWORK, WHICH BAND WOULD YOU CHOOSE AND WHY?
I’d say it’s a mix. It Dies Today is like a metalcore band I think it’s the angry bloody dark side to my work then maybe like the deftones or tool also representing the dark creepy sad part of my art and the. A stoner metal band called Windhand and they are like my psychedelic weird side of my art
IF YOU WERE TO WIN "BEST TATTOOER IN THE WORLD" LOL, WHO WOULD YOU THANK AND WHY?
I wouldn’t but if I did I’d thank everyone , from the people that hate me and have tried to hurt me they constantly push me to keep going and get better . To my family without them I would have been lost along time ago
SECRET HIDDEN TALENT? WHAT IS IT?
I can juggle
WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE?
Myself
ANY PERSON OR ANIMAL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRADE PLACES WITH FOR THE DAY?
My two dogs elsa and Trinity, they are 2 year old cane corsos, they have the best life they just get fed run around play and sleep
WHAT BOOK OR MOVIE WOULD YOU SAY EVERYONE SHOULD READ OR WATCH? WHY WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT SPECIFIC ONE?
I am a movie guy and I love books I don’t read a lot anymore I listen to audio books while I paint and draw but if I had to pick I’d say the matrix , I don’t know why but I live the first 3 movies
WHICH STATE ARE YOU LOCATED? WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE AND WHY?
I’m from New Jersey but I’m in south Florida right now. I personally don’t like the heat I’m more of a cold and snow kinda guy so that part of where I live I don’t like but the sky here whether it’s sunrise or sunset or thunderstorm like right now the sky is always so crazy and beautiful
WHAT IS SOMETHING WEIRD YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME?
I don’t have anything really weird but I draw myself to sleep every night and I usually stay up till 5-6 am I don’t sleep much and I feel more creative at night for some reason so I usually stay up for most of it
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH STRESS' THAT THE BUSY TATTOO LIFE CAN BRING ON?
I’d have to say the thing that causes my stress is my stress relief, tattooing drawing and painting
DO YOU HAVE A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE? DO YOU MIND SHARING?
I was in prison for a few years when I got out I was homeless and very down and out I ended up meeting my wife and she got pregnant and I started tattooing all in like 6 months without all those things happening I’m not sure I’d be here . I was definitely on a downward spiral up till that point
WHO IS THE MOST UNIQUE CLIENT YOU HAVE EVER MET?
I don’t think one comes to mind I’d have to say if you like my art your a unique person. I have a niche style and it’s not for everyone but most every client I tattoo whether they are silent the whole time or talk the entire time they are all very good and interesting people!
DOES THE CONSTANT PRESSURE AND CHALLENGE OF PROMOTING YOURSELF ON SOCIAL MEDIA EXAUST YOU OR IS IT SECOND NATURE?
It’s brutal I hate the social media aspect , after I had been tattooing a few years I wasn’t getting anywhere on Instagram I was t growing and had only a few thousand followers, so I decided for a whole year I’d post everyday no matter what I did that and I went from a few thousand to like 60-70k almost a year and a half later I hit 100k and I thought we’ll I reached 100k I can stop posting it will grow on its own. That didn’t happen my account stopped I started to post again and I started to grow again. I hate social media I really have to force myself but without it I wouldn’t have clients they mostly all find me on Instagram so I have to keep up with it!