Amazing atmosphere, great personalities, was an exciting and fun experience with amazing tattoo work! The shop was decorated great, and I watched one of my favorite movies while getting a tattoo. Best experience I've had getting a tattoo. Very caring people! I'll definitely be back! Read Less

Elijah did a fantastic job on my first tattoo today. Everyone in the shop was wonderful and make you feel very comfortable. I highly recommend Elijah or any of the guys to do your tattoo. Will definitely be back for another one. This tattoo was exactly what I wanted and more. Thank you so much!!! Read Less

From shop Manager - Nina, to all their resident artists, everyone in the shop is excellent in what they do! After sitting through a 6 hour session, you'll know that the atmosphere and the artists are all very laid back but still professional and not intimidating at all. I love that they all help each other when talking about different design ideas. Really good group of talented guys here! My artist (black and grey photo realism expert)- Terry Darkman is amazing and I love my new tattoo even though it's still in progress! Terry is super humble! I love that he doesn't feel entitled and still show excitement when you give him a tattoo idea! I had a schedule conflict 4 hours into the session and Terry was cool with me leaving for 30 minutes (still wrapped up my tattoo and everything) and then finished the remaining 2 hour session after. Thank you Sink or Swim Tattoo for bringing quality tattoo art to Matthews NC! - Gerard "Jad" Hernandez Read Less

I got a tattoo at Sink or Swim earlier today and it was my first tattoo experience. The staff was extremely helpful and accommodating with recommending ideas and were eager to give me exactly what I was looking for. The tattoo looks amazing and if I ever need another tattoo, I know exactly who to go to. Read Less

Amazing shop,with some if the best tattoo artist around! Very passionate about what they do and most deff. Put 100% into their work! Elijah I ♡ you bubba and I'm so glad that you made you dream come true. Keep pushing you have so much more to achieve! Read Less

I went yesterday and spent most of the day there . my tattoo session lasted 5 hours and Jon did an absolutely amazing job. Everyone at the shop made my wife and myself feel at home . I will recommend Sink or Swim to my friends and anyone who is looking to get a tat. Great atmosphere, great artist, and great time . can't wait to finish my cover up and get the rest of my back piece started . Read Less

Our family have 5 have been here for their first and subsequent tatts. The entire experience was 5 Star from idea to design, to actual ink and final piece. Yes, you pay for what you get but this is a lifelong investment, don't be cheap or impatient. Start with this place and you will not want to go anywhere else! Read Less

I had the best experience ever. Chris went above and beyond anything I could have imagined for my tattoo. The design was perfect and I love the free hand he did. Never been so happy with any work as I am this tattoo! Thank you again Chris! And remember people you honestly do get what you pay for! #Excellence Read Less

The shop is gorgeous, clean, and inviting! The artists are hilarious and make you feel like you've known them forever. The work....untouchable! I moved home to Memphis, but my next piece I will be flying back to get at Sink or Swim! Read Less

Awesome tattoo shop, filled with incredible talent. I had a piece done by Jon Ronzka, and I couldn't be any more proud of it. The piece represents more than meets the eye, and has depth beyond perception that I'll carry with me for life. He took my idea, and completely revolutionized it. Willingly, I'll be bringing new business into this place, including more of my own. Thanks again guys, I couldn't be any more satisfied! Read Less

It was my first time getting at tattoo at this shop, but I've been getting tattooed by Chris for awhile. But besides my awesome artist. The environment was awesome. The other artists I met were nice and kept the whole shop laughing while either tattooing and getting poked a thousand times. There's a great comraderie going on between the staff. Read Less

I've waited twenty years to decide on another tattoo. I was introduced to this shop through a friend. I decided on Trrry as my artist, because of his style of tattooing. To be honest, I couldn't be happier with the results. I would definitely refer this place to a friend, and I'll will be back as soon as I decide on what I want next. Read Less

I've been in many tattoo shops and walked out artless... Friday on a whim my sister was like let's go... normally I make every excuse known to man not to go bc i truly don't like needles! I've watched her go to chris for a few years and finely said let's do it! Chris is awesome and every few minutes until he knew I was absolutely comfortable, asked me if I was ok or if I needed to take a break because he knew this was indeed my first! The other guys were hard at work as well however they made you feel like you belong in their shop rather than you just being a stranger off the street! I was already wanting another one before I walked out the door and I must say it was almost painless! Thanks Chris for the awesome work and to everyone else for being you! Read Less

Went in with my wife for her custom piece, Chris listened to what she wanted, drew it up, she loved it..... I was so impressed with the finished piece I scheduled me a session on the 28th to get mine done. Oh, btw, the atmosphere is awesome, with great vibe! Will update after my session. Read Less

I was in the shop yesterday to finish an octopus tattoo. Jon did an amazing job. It took three sessions to complete the tattoo. Jon free hand drew the design on the first visit. He was great to work with and the pricing is what you would expect for custom work. I will definitely go back to the shop for my next tattoo. Read Less

I've been getting tattooed by various shops and artists from coast to coast for the last 25 years.  In fact, I've even been on the TLC show Miami Ink to get my largest piece to date.  Needless to stay I speak from experience and have had some really good experiences and some not so good with the shops I've visited.Long story short, this is hands down the BEST tattoo shop in which I've ever received ink.  They are extremely friendly, laid back, and still incredibly professional.Recently I was on a mission to get a badly needed cover-up (ex-wife's name) and  after trying almost every shop in the Charlotte area, I found Sink or Swim.  The other shops were blowing me off with excuses like they're weeks out on cover-ups or they're totally booked for months.  Bottom line is that most shops are scared to do a cover-up.  This shop specializes in this area.Let's start with Blake who manages the shop.  He took my call and patiently listened to me rant and rave about the other shops in the area that were causing me grief.  Although they themselves are booked well into May and June, he immediately began to tell Elijah my situation and asked me to come in that evening to talk with him.  He was straight with me, completely professional, and extremely helpful.  I got a sense from our conversation that he really cared about making sure I was treated fairly and with respect.I arrived about 30 minutes after speaking with Blake and immediately felt at home.  The shop is incredibly clean and comfortable.  I really dig the old school nautical theme of the shop and all of the art on their walls is really cool.  Blake chats with me for a minute or two and then lets Elijah know that I had arrived.  Elijah comes right out to meet me and we begin discussing options on the cover-up.  After talking through several options we both decide that a Japanese Koi with a Peony or two is the way to go. He promptly goes to work on tracing my existing ink and then he asks me to hang tight for a bit while he draws something up.  At this point, I have a really great vibe about this place and I'm starting to get really stoked about how excited and interested that Elijah is about tackling this work.  Fortunately he had a couple of cancellations so I didn't have to wait any longer than it took him to sketch up the artwork.  He's a bit of a perfectionist so he came out several times to try out positioning of the artwork and to make minor adjustments.Three hours later I have the start of a killer tattoo.  Elijah knocked out a first pass at covering up a heavily saturated piece with a striking blue Peony and finished the outline of the koi including some shading.  It was thoughtful of him to take the extra time to color in the major cover-up work.   I'll be back in a month to finish out the best work I've had applied to my body ever.I'm all about setting the right expectation and this is one of Sink or Swim's greatest strengths.  The camaraderie and collaboration between the artists while they were each independently giving tattoos is impressive. If you are looking for a great tattoo new or a cover-up,  please give Blake a call.  They may be booked out a month or two but they have the best shop and artists in Charlotte so it's worth the wait.  You will not be disappointed. Read Less