Art enthusiast with an impulsive streak? Flash tattoo trend is thriving in Bellingham

As he walked into a tattoo and piercing shop to pick up a pair of earrings recently, Jamie Winters saw a flash sheet on display and thought: “Well, I mean, I’m already here.”

About an hour later Winters, a frequent visitor of local tattoo artist’s flash sales, walked out with a new addition to his nine tattoos.

“Most of the time, I saw an ad for them on Instagram or [X],” Winters said. “Pretty much every time I saw one that I liked, I would end up going and getting it pretty quickly.”

Flash tattoos are pre-made designs that can be done quickly and often cost less than a custom design. Even if someone has never gotten a tattoo or entered one of the many tattoo shops that line the streets of Bellingham, they have probably seen a sheet displaying flash designs.

Flash designs feature simple line art, which makes them easy to replicate and has made such tattoos a recognizable staple in the industry.

“Flash tattoos usually reflect the tattoo artist’s style,” said Beeker Wagner, a tattoo artist at X. Tattoo. “There’s a lot along the lines, too, of what we would call traditional flash — a lot of traditional imagery that’s been around since, in our case, Western tattooing started.”

As tattoos become more mainstream, flash has extended from the traditional tattoo shop to events like art markets and festivals. Flash is alive and well in Bellingham, with many shops hosting themed flash events: a selection of bat tats, tribal tats or maybe a floral theme.

As the culture around tattoos changed, tattoo artists began making custom flash sheets that represent their style and appeal to their community.

“I usually ask my clients and my following what they are interested in, and I take that into account, or I have a general vibe that I’m following,” said CJ Malone, a tattoo artist at Songbird Tattoo Studio. “Recently, it’s been a lot of ornamental work and very flowery, ornamental stuff. People have been into that.”

Flash events have become popular among the younger generations in Bellingham.

“I think back to our flash event, most of the demographic that we get for flash tattoos is going to be younger folks,” Wagner said. “I would say maybe under 30, who kind of want to do something impulsive.”

Younger people seeking tattoos, especially Western Washington University students, tend to be drawn to fine-line silly tattoos or “something with a cowboy hat on,” Malone said.

Flash tattoos, with their simple designs, lower cost points and pre-set concept, appeal to people looking for a stepping stone into tattoos and people who want to be spontaneous.

“Sometimes people feel like they overthink something, and they can’t really make the jump to actually get it,” said Naomi Burdick, a tattoo artist at Chameleon Ink tattoo shop. “They see something that they like, that speaks to their interests, and they’re already here. It’s a lot easier to get.”

While pop-up flash sales at events can entice people who get tattoos on a whim, artists posting their flash sheets online draw in customers that are unsure what they want.

“I think the main appeal is just, smooth brain with no thoughts like you just walk in,” Malone said. “But lately, with [the ability to] search and private studio spaces and things like that, flashing is a little bit different.”

Now people can check out an artist’s social media or website to browse designs before committing to one, Malone said.

Vanessa Maisonpierre spent hours looking for the right tattoo to memorialize her late cat before picking one from a flash sheet by Beverly Russell at Ink Drop tattoo shop.

“I thought about making a custom one, but I just didn’t really know exactly what I wanted until I saw the design,” Maisonpierre said.

Getting to pick from the 12 different designs offered in the flash sale gave her confidence she was picking the right one, Maisonpierre said.

“It’s nice to give variations of a general theme,” Maisonpierre said. “That helped me a lot.”

Flash tattoos often start at $100, although prices vary based on the artist’s rate, size and creative additions. Tattoos of custom artwork often start around $170, Burdick said. Prices vary based on design and location.

“You can get a pretty solid tattoo that won’t have any imperfections or some of the things that come from custom art because it’s their first time drawing that,” Winters said.

Most tattoo shops have flash sheets displayed in the shop for anyone looking to make a spontaneous decision. Those who prefer more planning can seek out their favorite artists on social media and see if they have shared any flash designs.

Chameleon Ink is currently offering a Studio Ghibli-themed flash with designs by Burdick. Many local shops promote upcoming events on their social media. Art markets, like the Wonderz Market, offer pop-up flash events.

Tattoos provide creative expression for many people. It’s a way to memorialize moments, even those made on a whim, in someone’s life.

“[Tattoos are] about body liberation. It’s about celebrating the economy of choice,” Malone said. “It’s just magical what can change within you when you get a tattoo, and you learn to really appreciate a body part or fall more in love with your own image and your own aesthetic.”