Okay, so you’ve been to the art gallery. Very talented people created those objets d’art with blood, sweat, and tears, but another group of people fall into the blood, sweat, and tears contingent. This group lives for body art and modification. Their bodies are the canvases, but needles replace brushes, and ink replaces paint.

While tattooing started out as a rite of passage into manhood for native people of the Pacific Rim islands, today’s images are typically much more colorful and not limited only to men.

If you have to ask someone why they got their tattoo, you just won’t understand the answer. The draw is primal, passionate, and deeply personal. Once someone gets one, the odds are around eighty-five percent they will get another one. There’s something about getting ink in your blood that makes it so very addictive.

When you see someone walking around with their own personal art show displayed on their body, admire it, but don’t gawk. If you’re truly interested in their tattoos, introduce yourself and ask them about their art. Not only will they be flattered that you noticed, but the fact you were considerate enough to talk to them about it will speak volumes about you.