Anyone can draw some pictures and try to sell them, but that method isn’t going to get you very far. There’s a standard that tattoo artists look for when buying flash, so this article will teach you what that standard is and how to make your drawings marketable
Medium – Typically, the standard size for flash sheets is 11x14. A smooth but heavy drawing paper that comes in individual sheets (not spiral bound or punctured) will give you a good foundation for your art.

Media – Quality drawing pencils, markers and coloring pencils are the standard for most flash artists. Colored markers don’t usually allow for blending and shading the way pencils do. Prismacolor makes some of the best colored pencils that are highly favored by flash artists. Fine point markers in black, blue, or red are typically only used for outlines. Sharpie makes excellent fine point, permanent markers that work great for this purpose. You’ll also need a good eraser that doesn’t tear up your paper – plastic and vinyl erasers are much more effective than rubber. Other supplies you may need will depend on your style and preferences, but those are the basics.

Mapping
Before you start putting your drawings on your professional sheets, you need to plan them out on regular paper. Know exactly what you’re going to put on the sheet and where you’re going to put it by sketching your ideas first and having a solid plan laid out. Once you’ve mapped out a plan, you can create your actual flash sheet.

Some flash pages contain several images that all share a common theme like vintage, new school, skulls, or animals. You can create your flash sheets with a theme or without – it’s not required, but you don’t want such a random mixture that it’s confusing to look at. Think of the entire flash sheet as a compilation of multiple images that all work together to create a single unit. The more pleasing to the eyes your flash is as a whole, the more likely it will sell. Flash sheets are typically sold in sets, not individual sheets, so you’ll want to create at least four full sheets of flash to put together as a set. I’ve seen sets as large as ten sheets, but keeping the number a little smaller (and therefore keeping the price of the set more reasonable) will make your flash more attractive to artists on a budget. I wouldn’t recommend going over six sheets per set.