Shelly is a tattoo artist living in Olympia, Washington. Her interest in fantasy, fairy tales and outsider art comes across in the images she chooses for her flash as well as the way she works with the medium of tattooing.

A woman with curly hair blowing in the wind, smiling, wearing a white scarf with black checkered pattern, on a windy day outdoors.
Close-up of a shiny, iridescent, blue-gray pearl with a teardrop shape.

Shelly

Two large seashells and one smaller yellow shell arranged on a black background.

With a background in realism painting and drawing, the tattoo quality is more loose and handmade. Though she works in both color and black and grey, color itself is a motivator and sparks inspiration as she mixes the ink like paint.

An ornate silver cross pendant with intricate designs and embedded gemstones, featuring a large red gemstone at the center.
Close-up of a decorative metal cross tattooed on a person's chest.

The hunt for the image is akin to foraging or thrifting, finding something unique to repurpose and give new life to as a tattoo.