Not long ago, when tattoos had yet to sprout like crabgrass on the bodies of our friends and loved ones, publicized photographs of tattoos and tattooed folks were scant at best.

Tattoo magazines were few, the Internet was still learning to walk, and tattoo photos that did surface were typically flat and featured poorly inked, head-banging youth or old-school aficionados whose once discernible, pectoral sailor maiden had since turned into a smudgey, re-entry club stamp.

But times have changed. Sure, there are …

Designer John Galliano unveiled tattooed stockings for his spring 2004 collection for Christian Dior.

Lucien Pellat-Finet offers cashmere sweaters and diamond watches brandishing tattoo skulls in NYC for $1,200-$3,500.

The exploitation of a counter-culture, when its monetary value is discovered, is painfully inevitable - but, the sole blame is not always on the hoitey-toiteys. Legendary tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy said of designer Christian Audigier, “This guy is at ground zero of everything that’s wrong with contemporary civilization. However, if he …

For centuries, the tattoo industry has been dominated by men - for both the pitcher and the catcher, if you will. Body art has certainly undergone a modern renaissance, and some of the best tattoo artists in the world are now women. And many a tattoo collector attest that there is nothing sexier than having an incredible female artist penetrate your skin with her ink stick.

The following 25 women, in no particular order, are some of the most …

Taylor Reeve is a San Diego native now living in Long Beach, California. She is just 23-years-old, but has already accomplished more than many artists do in a lifetime.

From her expanding personal ink style to her graphic canvas paintings, coveted slip-on shoe fashions, extreme sports gear designs, and new steel artistry, Taylor overlaps the tattoo industry with fashion, art, and lifestyle - all while keeping her cool, looking good, and never, under any circumstances, stopping the parTAY.

I say, she …

Kat Von D of Miami Ink

She’s the queen of portraits, and quite possibly one of the most talented artists alive today. She did her first tattoo at age 14 and started working as a tattoo artist at the young age of 16. Just take a look at her work…it’s absolutely phenomenal.

Miami Ink’s Kat Von D is the one who sees the realism behind the …

So what does it take to get the word out about your artwork?

Alive and booming in the 21st century, thousands of tattoo artists across the world are making their mark in their clients’ skin, and technology has pulled through to the aid of their work.

With the help of Myspace.com, Rankmytattoos.com, inkednation.com, inkedmag.com, and bmezine.com, artists are getting the word out on their work in more ways than one. Many artists even have their own personal websites …

Fred Giovannitti works with love under the lights of Las Vegas.

Fred Giovannitti doesn’t like the word “tattoo.”

“It brings a stereotype to mind,” he says. “There’s a huge difference between tattoos and skin art. Tattoos you get by a tattoo technician. Skin art you get by an artist.”

Giovannitti believes “skin art” is not always meant to be a tattoo, and can be just as beautiful whether on a canvas or skin.

“You wouldn’t see a Harley logo on a canvas,” he explains….

While celebrities get all the credit for art performed in front of the camera, many of the hardest working artists in the industry prefer to hide behind the scenes, deep within the shadows of a makeup trailer away from the chaos of Hollywood.

Artist Tom Berg is one of those, as he has combined the buzz of his tattoo machine to the scratch of his pencil and the wisp of his paintbrush. Today, he not only etches his artwork …

You can guarantee losing a wager if you bet you’d ever catch Shanghai Kate Hellenbrand crocheting frilly poinsettias into lavender quilts with GOP grandmas in the muggy rural South. She detests Bush and the retirement capital of Florida.

But if the enterprising 62-year-old ever did decide to begin quilt making, she would create ominous demons, commemorative eagles, oriental-designed cherry blossoms or creepy, crawly insects akin to her style detailed in her extensive portfolio.

“I’m too adventurous to stay working …

Thomas Pendelton talks about the life on “Inked” he left behind and the new family atmosphere he embraces.

Hundreds of miles away from the illuminating Las Vegas atmosphere surrounding Hart and Huntington Tattoo Company, Thomas Pendelton’s eyes light up. He grabs his wife’s hand, flashes a huge smile and explains an idea he and his business partner had a while back.

“Anthony and I had an idea to sell holes,” the artist laughs. “You know, like holes in the …