A tattoo is made by inserting coloured pigments into the skin using needles. For many of us that description is enough to stop us experimenting with this art form. Some brave individuals have tattoos to keep up with the latest fashions, but the wearers of the masterpieces featured here have taken the idea to the extreme.
This Pacific Islander is sporting the ultimate in traditional body tattooing. Designs like this were often marked using sharp sticks to pierce the skin and insert the colour.
This Japanese gentleman has every inch of his body covered in this beautiful Japanese Samurai art. The effect is like the designs painted on ancient Japanese porcelain vases and many of the symbols here are thousands of years old.
You should have no trouble viewing this man's back as his html text has been carefully executed to make him browser compatible.
This floral artwork is proudly displayed at the 2006 New York Tattoo Competition. I wonder why he didn't get his feet and hands tattooed as well.
This one is really weird. It's the eyes and lips that make this tattooed face so distinctive. He might have to be careful that his clothes don't clash with his face though.
If I had spent all those hours and all that cash getting tattooed like this, I would wear halter-neck tops all the time. I think this one is amazing and strangely beautiful.
This one must have taken many hours. It is very dark and dense and every little dot of ink had to be applied with a needle. I can feel myself cringing as I look at this. What if she ever wanted to have it removed? But, then again, why would she?
This one is fake. It is done with film make-up and it doesn't look any where near as convincing as the others in this collection. If your friend shows off tattoos like this don't be impressed!
Look carefully at this one. This man has two faces (many people do!) This second face is tattooed on top of his bald head.
This character looks quite scary. I think it's the patterns around his eyes that do it. His own features are almost lost under all that ink and those piercings.
