Inside My Flash Friday Process — From Concept to Finished Tattoo
By Frankie Sketch — Athens Tattoo Company, Bel Air MD
Every tattoo starts the same way — with a spark.
Sometimes it’s a story someone tells me.
Sometimes it’s an image that jumps into my head during a meditation.
Sometimes it’s me scrolling through references at 6AM thinking:
“This would make a sick tattoo.”
Flash Fridays are where those sparks turn into something real.
If you’re new here, Flash Fridays are my bi-weekly drops of one-of-a-kind tattoo designs that are available at a discount, only for a short time. They go up in my Instagram Stories. People claim them through DMs. And when a design is taken:
That’s it. It’s gone. Not repeated. Not reprinted. Not copied.
Here’s how that idea turns into a final, tattoo-ready design.
Step 1: The Concept — Where It Begins
Flash tattoos start with a theme or a vibe.
Could be:
A character
A mood
A joke that visually slaps
A realism mashup someone would never expect
The main rule at this stage:
The design has to connect emotionally.
I want you to feel something when you see it — nostalgia, laughter, excitement, or that instant “I need that on my arm.”
Step 2: From Idea → Elements → Blueprint
Once I choose the concept or the main subject, I start unpacking it.
I ask myself:
What feelings do I get from this?
What visuals or objects show up when I hear this name or see this character?
What story should the tattoo tell at first glance?
I write down every idea that hits me — props, emotions, colors, supporting imagery.
Then I funnel it down.
I take all the chaos and narrow it to 3–5 strong elements.
I usually finalize at three.
Enough to tell a story.
Not enough to clutter it.
From there, I decide two things:
The best size to support the idea
The best placement on the body for movement and visibility
Placement isn’t random.
I design based on:
how the tattoo will sit on the muscle,
how it wraps around the shape of the limb,
how the viewer’s eye flows through it.
I want the tattoo to feel alive — not just placed.
Step 3: Sketch → Reference → Flow
With the elements and placement locked in, I start sketching.
The first sketch is fast — just:
flow lines
shape organization
composition movement
I make sure the tattoo uses the available real estate.
If we’ve got space — I’m going to fill it. Why not?
Then I gather references for:
lighting
anatomy
textures
These help me refine accuracy and realism.
My goal here is simple: layout a tattoo that moves the viewer’s eyes through the design from entry to exit.
When the flow feels right, I tighten shapes, dial contrast, and push depth.
Step 4: Final Rendering
This is where the realism kicks in.
I shape edges, dial in highlights, and carve contrast.
Then I refine:
shadows to give depth
negative space to add breathing room
crisp detail to make the subject pop
I stop when I hit that moment where I look at the piece and think:
“Yep — this belongs on skin.”
If it doesn’t spark that feeling?
I don’t post it.
Step 5: Drop Day
Friday hits.
I post:
The final flash design on a clean white background
Price + size + recommended placement
“DM to claim”
Sometimes people claim them within minutes.
Flash tattoos are one-and-done.
You get a custom-level design without the custom-level price, and nobody else gets it.
Frankie’s Final Thoughts
Flash Fridays are pure creativity — no rules, no limits.
It’s me chasing the idea that hits hardest and turning it into something someone connects with instantly.
The best part?
Watching someone see a design and say:
“That’s the one.”
That moment makes every late-night sketch worth it.
Want to Claim One?
If you’re reading this before the next drop, here’s the bonus:
📣 NEW CLIENT NOVEMBER — 20% OFF ANY CUSTOM DESIGN BOOKED IN NOVEMBER
(You can book for a future appointment — you just have to reserve the spot this month.)
➡️ To claim a Flash design, send me “FLASH” on Instagram
➡️ To book a custom tattoo with the promo, send “TATTOO”
We’ll talk concept, placement, size — and make something fresh.
Thanks for the support, the feedback, and the hype.
Flash Fridays wouldn’t exist without people who appreciate art, trust the process, and let me create freely.
– Frankie Sketch
Athens Tattoo Company — Bel Air, MD
