SHOP TALK

NOVEMBER BLOG- STEVE OKER

I hope ya’ll had a great Halloween! It's that time of year to get prepped and ready to go for the Holiday season approaching, love it or hate it, you gotta admit, the cooler weather and warm lattes turns any day into a great day to be alive :) 

Something else to celebrate is our November artist spotlight- Steve Oker. Steve has been tattooing since 2008, and spent most of his life fulfilling his artistic side through this form of expression. He grew up outside of Chicago but then made the decision to pack up and move to Florida! (talk about a fresh start- am I right?) Not only is he a father, but he strives to have a strong family focus- it shows through his studio Moth & Flame collective being co-owned by himself and his fiance Kayleigh. When Steve isn’t tattooing, he’s enjoying the outdoors and/or spending time with his family.

Keep reading below to learn more about Steve, you might be surprised at how much it will resonate with you. I’m sure a lot of us have a similar ‘before bed’ routine lol..I know I do. 

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAVERICK?

I love that you guys are a small family owned operation. You don’t find that very often in tattooing anymore. The hand written cards you provide adds that extra love that is so often left out. Not only that, the quality and consistency of your products are top notch.

Be sure to check him out!

Website/Shop : https://www.mothandflameco.com 

Instagram: @steveokertattoos IG

Want to learn more about Steve? KEEP READING-

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

Truthfully I just want to make cool tattoos and stay busy. Social media is definitely bitter sweet. It’s best to not let it define who you are or take control of your life. It helps in connecting with people and providing inspiration, but it’s also very easy to hide behind.

WHO IS THE MOST UNIQUE TATTOOER YOU HAVE EVER MET?

My buddy Ryan @eternaltattooing. We met at a shop in Orlando that we worked together at. Dude has so much heart and is the life of any place you go to. 

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

There’s been a few. Biggest one was getting arrested when I was younger. I was at the lowest point in my life then. Positive to that was becoming a dad. Wouldn’t change it for the world. 

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

Weed 100% Can I say that? 🫣

Being out on the water is definitely second in line. 

WHAT IS SOMETHING WEIRD YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME?

Snack, which I know I shouldn’t. #dadbod4life 

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

Florida. It’s nice to not have to deal with snow, but damn does the humidity get spicy. 

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

Back to the Future. One of the greatest movies of all time. I’m also bias 😂

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

Travis Pastrana, despite all the broken bones I would prefer to not have that dude is living his life to the fullest. 

WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE?

All things outdoors.

SECRET HIDDEN TALENT? WHAT IS IT?

Money Origami 

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

I don’t know if I would ever get to this point, but if I did I would definitely have to thank my fiancé and my friends and family for always being there for me. Supporting me and driving me to be a better artist. 

Without them who knows where I would be in life. Probably an auto mechanic or something haha.

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

Honestly, this is another hard one.

I would have to say Dirty Heads is one of my go to bands. They always put me in the right mood and mindset when I’m creating art. 

WHAT ARE SOME FUNNY TATTOO MOMENTS YOU HAVE?

Conventions, ALWAYS. There is never a full moment that’s for sure. Probably the most memorable one I have though was the Atlanta when we all went to the Clermont. If you know, you know 😂

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

This is such a tough one. The list of artists I admire is never ending. There are so many good artists. Just to name a few though: 

Chris Primm

Karlos Lloyd

Daniels Bauti 

Bobby Johnson 

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

Awful! I was in my apprenticeship at the time and my mentor made me and another apprentice trade tattoos. It was a cherry creek koi fish and I hated it the second he was done with it. I got it covered a couple weeks later. 

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

As cliche as it is, I've always had an affinity for tigers. A lot of times though I feel like I match up with a Panda 😂

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GROUPINGS TO USE FOR YOUR TATTOOS?

Loose 9 liner paired up with a tight 3 or 5 liner and a curved 17 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?

NRDC 

Act.nrdc.org

It’s so important for us to protect the planet we live on. We can either save it or destroy it. All living things depend on how we care for Earth.  Please see below to view the donation made on behalf of Steve Oker. 

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.          

WELCOME TO OUR MAVERICK'S SIDE HUSTLE PAGE

Maverick FAM- GUESS WHAT?

We’re working on a new fun project over here called “SIDE HUSTLE”. You may have seen us calling out to the community via IG.

Being A Tattooer Owned Business- Maverick Started out like most things… as an initial Side Hustle with Austin having a passion, strong interest, in expanding creatively and sharing more with the Artist Community.

With Austin being an Artist (as all of you may relate) it's gravitated Maverick towards a new “Side Hustle”. Showcasing the amazing work that we come across within the Tattoo and broader Artist Community.  What people create and have to offer is something TRULY AMAZING, INSPIRING and just overall down right IMPRESSIVE.

We wanted to have a lane to share some of our favorite Artists with extraordinary talent, sharing their gift with the world. These “GEMS” we have mined through Social Media, Word of Mouth, and coming across them as we journey through our every day lives.

From machine building, painting, ceramics, and all sorts of other rad hustles, we’ve been reaching out to see who's who. 

Here's how it works:

Each month we will be teaming up with a selected talented artist to showcase their art through our Maverick Featured "Side Hustle" by purchasing a tangible item of their work. Whether it's a print, painting, pottery etc..we want it! 

Each month on the Maverick Site/App you will be given the option to purchase a Raffle ticket OR you can find our raffle ticket listed as a featured product on the home page. At the end of the month Maverick will randomly pick a ticket and the winner will receive the amazing gift of that month’s chosen SIDE HUSTLE Artist. 

Our hopes are to help educate, support and expose us to new artists and their talents.If you’d like to submit yourself or another talented artist, please email us megan@mavericktattoomercantile.com

SEPTEMBER BLOG- MELISE HILL

Is it Fall yet? Well, almost.. but it is time to fall for our Maverick Family Artist for September! (haha I make myself laugh!) With a sense of humor that is like no other, let me introduce you to Melise Hill. She is from a small town in Ontario Canada where she began her tattoo career. After moving to the states in 2015, she started working at Ironclad Tattoo Co. directly out of Detroit, Michigan. Melise also just opened a private studio in the Great City of Detroit, CONGRATS! You can currently find her there today. Melise specializes in full color and illustrative work usually incorporating natural and botanical elements. Her personality is extremely relatable and she has some great advice on how to deal with stress. We’re so happy to share her interview with all of you, we know you’re going to love her work! 

Check out what Melise had to say about being part of the Maverick family below:

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT MAVERICK?

I love how personal the interactions with Maverick have always felt. It doesn’t just feel like a brand, but more like friends. The communication is always quick and helpful, and of course, they make pretty solid needles!

Be sure to check her out!

Instagram/TIKTOK: @melisehilltattoo

Website: www.melisehill.com

Want to learn more about Melise? KEEP READING-

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

Social media is just a part of the job! I think as long as you can separate it from real life, it’s not too bad. There’s so much inspiring content on there, I just have to remind myself not to spend too much time scrolling!

WHO IS THE MOST UNIQUE TATTOOER YOU HAVE EVER MET?

Oh man, this whole industry is made up of unique characters! I’m going to go with my good friend, Kurt Ross. I’d definitely watch him on reality tv!

Ohhhh, probably something super basic like a golden retriever. Who doesn’t want to be a family dog?

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

I’m in Michigan. I haven’t been here that long and haven’t taken much time to explore the state, but I really do love the city of Detroit. There’s so much history and character here, and a strong sense of community, which is what drew me there in the first place. 

I grew up in the country though and I’d like to move back to Canada eventually, it was a great place to grow up. I really appreciate trees, water and open space. 

WHAT IS SOMETHING WEIRD YOU DO BEFORE BEDTIME?

Well, I just had a baby, so I’m sure I’m about to get into some weird baby bedtime rituals… I’ll keep you posted. 

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

If we’re talking specifically tattoo artist related, I think it’s important to have a life outside of tattooing. There can be a lot of pressure to be a certain way, or produce a certain quality of work and it can sometimes be overwhelming. So I think it’s helpful to have something else to be able to step away from all of that when it gets to be too much. 

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

Honestly, this whole pandemic has really changed my perspective on things. I used to be very busy all of the time and thought I had to do everything. Being forced to slow down has helped me to enjoy the moment a lot more and it’s a mindset I’ve maintained, even as life has started to pick back up.

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

So many people! My mentor, Kris Kani for taking me on as a scared little apprentice with hardly any tattoos, the guys at Ironclad for taking a chance on this rookie from a foreign country, and of course all of my amazing clients who have trusted me artistically and allowed my career to develop in the way it has. Wouldn’t be here without you guys!

WHAT ARE SOME FUNNY TATTOO MOMENTS YOU HAVE?

I don’t want to put anyone on blast here too bad! But I did have this client one time, as I finished up the tattoo, I looked down and realized that he’s peed all over the floor, and I was like, is that pee?! And he just looks at me like yeah? So? Like what, you don’t pee your pants every time you get tattooed?

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

Something with pretty, ethereal lyrics like the Shins. Although, my actual work playlist is more along the lines of Shania Twain and the Backstreet Boys. 

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

This changes fairly often, but most recently I’m really into an artist from the UK named Eli Gander or @eliluciitattoos on Instagram. She does these beautiful recreations of vintage botanical prints that end up healing in a way that looks painted on the skin. 

Kelsey Ellis or @honeybasiltattoos has been a big inspiration of mine for a while too! She has definitely perfected her style of illustrative botanical.Third, but always my biggest artistic inspiration is British painter, Jenny Saville. Her use of color and creating texture with paint never ceases to amaze me!

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

My first tattoo wasn’t until I was 19, moved away to college, and got my student loan. That’s what student loans are for, right? I got the Eiffel Tower on my side by a guy named Ralph at Perfect Image in London, Ontario. I was a really annoying client, you know, brought my own drawing and said it had to be exactly like I drew it, size and all. I think I’ve improved as a client since then. 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE GROUPINGS TO USE FOR YOUR TATTOOS?

I use cartridges primarily for shading. It’s cool to work with a brand that offers such a variety, so even though the 13 mag is my go to, I dabble with any size 11-19, curved or flat. 

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?              

Not exactly art related, but an organization that’s personally dear to me. My sister has some developmental challenges and the Windsor Family Network has been a staple for my family as long as I can remember. They support families of children with disabilities. https://windsoressexfamnet.ca

SECRET HIDDEN TALENT? WHAT IS IT?

I’m really good at spelling, which has been helpful to have never made a spelling mistake on a tattoo!

WHAT IS YOUR KRYPTONITE?

Tequila shots …. gets me every time. 

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

Someone who was a professional at some sort of extreme sport like wingsuit flying or volcano surfing, you know, assuming I inherited their skills for the day too. 

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

I can’t come up with an answer for this one, sorry! My taste in books is more for entertainment rather than anything too moving or educational.