if, like anything else, it's done artfully and tastefully, a tattoo is an enhancement to what i consider a "blank canvas." a lot of tattoos resemble amateur attempts and look rather cheap and trashy, and i've never understood the desire to permanently advertise someone else's product for free (thinking harley-davidson here).... some - even though they're done well - are rather common (butterflies) and look nice but don't seem to add anything to the human body in the way of individuality or uniqueness, so i don't see the point except to say "i have a tattoo" (which may just be the point the individual tattoo-ee wanted to make?...or that she likes butterflies)

the rise in women getting tattoos is a result of a subtle marketing ploy designed to broaden the consumer base, much like the marketing genius who realized that if he could get women interested in harley-davidson motorcycles he automatically increased the number of potential customers by 100%. then we started seeing more women in HD's commercials and advertisements, and it seems to have worked.

a young, dark-complected lady friend recently got a big tattoo of a peacock with the concomitant colors draped from the outside of her left thigh across the front of her leg above the knee, with tail feathers trailing down the inside of her calf. the colors were especially vivid and striking against the backdrop of her skin, and obviously the skill it took to accomplish such a piece can be appreciated. aside from that, it gives me an excuse to admire the shapeliness of her leg without seeming too much of a perv.

if i were to get a tattoo, it would have to be one of very high quality and uniqueness to show my individuality and appreciation of well-crafted body art. so far i haven't seen or thought of anything i would want to wear on my body permanently for the rest of my days.