www.SharpTattoos.com
So you're looking for a new tattoo...
Are you looking for something personal? Something that no one else has?
Something different?

If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, but you haven't found anything yet then you may want to question where you are looking. While you're at it, ask yourself why you are searching tattoo websites? What are you hoping to find?

My intentions for this website are simple. This is my online gallery and I put it here so that people can get an idea of what type of tattoo work I do and the styles that I am capable of working in. This makes it easier to judge whether or not I'd be able to do a tattoo to your liking. :)
Some of the pieces in the tattoo gallery are flash, but many are custom. I get asked more and more frequently to design custom work, which I am happy to do if I'm the chosen artist to do the tattoo.
If you are searching for the perfect tattoo, something uniquely yours, chances are you won't find it on the wall in the tattoo shop. You won't find it already put together on someone else on a tattoo website. I mean, honestly... who wants a tattoo that's done exactly the same as one that someone else is already wearing? Where will you find it? The answer is simple... inside your head and heart.
I've had so many people walk into the shop and start talking about all these wonderful ideas that they have... only to pull out a photo of a tattoo - on someone else - that they printed out online, or swiped from a magazine... and tell me they want it 'exactly like that'. *sigh*
My only question is WHY? It's already on someone else which means it's not personal to you... If it's flash, it's one thing... I mean, you can walk into almost any shop and find the same flash over and over... That, in itself is ridiculous enough; again, who wants to wear art that a few thousand other people are wearing? That is what happens when you pick 'off the wall' in a tattoo shop. The point to body modification is to be an individual.
In other words: Stealing a person's tattoo, duplicating it exactly as it is on another person is extremely insulting to the person who wears the original design. It shows a great lack of creativity and imagination. Think I'm kidding?
I'm not alone in thinking this. A professional artist will use an idea for inspiration but will never duplicate another persons tattoo exactly.

So, how do you get a custom tattoo? How do you get something that no one else has?
First- figure out why you want a tattoo. A piece that will be treasured forever is usually one that has some deep-seeded meaning behind it. Getting an idea of what you want is sometimes the hardest part. An idea, nothing more. What are you looking to achieve with your body art? What message are you trying to convey? What feelings do you want to express? Tattooing is self-expression in it's finest and most personal form.
Once you have the idea it needs to take form. If you're an artist, you can draw it yourself. If you can't draw, you'll need someone who can do it for you. A friend, a relative or *gasp* your tattoo artist! Yes, that's right... they're sitting in shops all over the world waiting for someone just like you to come in the door with a good idea! Of course tattoo artists can draw! That's what we're in this business for. You won't believe how many people don't realize that most tattoo artists were artists long before they ever picked up a tattoo machine! 0.0
If an artist cannot draw to suit your standards, style or taste, then by all means, find another! Everyone views art differently. Art is pure expression and no one can say what is or is not good art. Doing so is only expressing a personal opinion.
The artist that you pick to do your tattoo should be able to compliment the piece they'll be working on. This is where some people go wrong... they assume that every artist works the same. Believe me, you can ask ten different artists for a drawing of a flower and you'll get ten completely different flowers! Even if they're all daisies every one of them will be different! Try to match the style of the artist and their artwork to the style of the work you want done. That makes it easier to get what you want.
If you have certain things in mind for the tattoo and they are ideas that you can't explain verbally (yes this does happen) feel free to use photos or other items for inspiration. No, it isnt' right to use a photo of another persons tattoo and copy it exactly... but you can use parts of the tattoo or parts of the piece of flash or parts of the picture to inspire parts of your own piece. Take them along as samples to your artist so they can better understand what you're looking for.
When doing a search online for images remember that anything can be turned into a tattoo whether it be a poster, a photo, a necklace charm, a picture or pattern on a shirt or any number of other sources... if you want different, try to avoid using the words tattoo, flash, tattoo flash, or tattoo art, in the search... you'll get more options that way. My favorite places to go searching for inspiration are Google (<--try the image search feature), Corbis, GettyImages and sometimes you can find some really good stuff in Webshots. If I find more good image searches I will definitely list them here... :) If you want, there are some very good links to even more artwork among other things in the LinkCenter, so check that out too, while you're here.
You may hear people exclaim that everything that is being done in the tattoo world has been done before. I have heard people say that everything going on in the art world now has already been done. If a person thinks this way then in my eyes they have absolutely no creativity. I know that is a rather harsh thing to say, but it's the truth. As previously stated, no two artists work the same.
Be picky when you choose your art and your artist. A tattoo isn't something to be worn for a few months or years and then discarded. It's there forever and you're going to have to live with it. It's your body, your life... and you only get one chance to do it right. Well, sometimes two... ;) Removal is expensive and can sometimes leave extensive scarring.
Please note:
I will not give out sketches or line drawings for designs you find on this website, nor do I design or sell custom tattoos over the internet. My schedule can be hectic at times so the only people I really design custom work for are clients who will be coming to me to have the work done. I'd have no clue how to price an original piece that I'd never be able to do on someone because I will not duplicate custom work.
My tattoo flash is available at LiquidSkin.com and SkinU.com.
With all of that being said...
Go Forth and Live as Art!

All images contained within this website are ©Stacey Sharp & Sharptattoos 2002-2008
Photos, artwork and icons are not to be used without permission.