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Ink on skin has got to be one of the scariest mediums of art out there. The stories about the pain that people feel are legendary, and the errors of the ink artist remain forever—or at least until another artist comes to patch things up. In other words, it's a painstaking process to create a tattoo, not to mention a good one. And so, ink artists have this weird-but-universal aura of respect from other artists, as they're the ones that have to work under the highest of pressures, an environment that artists of other mediums just wouldn't endure.

There are ink artists, and there are ink masters. Ryan Ashley DiCristina (Malarkey) is quite definitely, and literally, the Ink Master. She was the host of the Ink Master show, so it's hard to argue with that. What's even harder to argue with are her skills. Today I want to show you one of her specialties she excels in, and that's ornaments and jewelry. Just take a look at them, and maybe you'll see that it's probably one of the more sustainable roads to high fashion that's out there. And it looks wonderful!

More info: Instagram | ryanashley.bigcartel.com

It inspired me to create this poem:

Diamonds are forever

Tattoos are not

But the latter is better

For it makes you look hot.

Ryan Ashley is a Pennsylvania-born tattoo artist, entrepreneur, and a cultural figure. Aside from her main gig, which is etching badass tats on people's bodies, she also owns two antique and oddity stores in Pennsylvania. She won the eighth season of Ink Master and moved on to host another few TV shows after that.

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Id row
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If only they didn't fade over time. Too bad they can't look this good forever.

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Ryan is mostly focused on being a mother these days. She married tattooist Arlo DiCristina, and they had a baby in May 2020, named Atheus. Their pregnancy photoshoots in Ink Magazine and other publications received quite a positive uproar, and Ryan's Instagram feed quickly became populated with more warm and lovely family photos.

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Tattoos have been a taboo for a long time in Western culture. They were primarily boasted by sailors and criminals, and have always lingered in the underground culture. There hasn't been a solitary event that changed this, but over years and years, it coalesced into a sign of rebellion, independence, and freedom from cultural norms. Though some still have very sensitive opinions about tattoos, many have accepted it as a form of expression that has nothing to do with social status, economical standing, or criminal record.

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Annie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazingly realistic! (Actually looks similar to a necklace I have)

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But no matter what the West thinks of it, tattoos have been around for quite a while. The oldest known tattooed person, named Ötzi, was found frozen in the Alps, and is dated at 3250 BCE. The art of tattoos in the ancient times was most practiced in the Austronesian region, where they developed advanced tattooing techniques at around 1500 BCE. In other words, the art of ink has got to be one of the oldest forms of art. Some things that we would think came earlier than tattoos, like theatre, literature, and many other artforms, are much younger. So, thinking that tattoos are a "recent phenomenon" would be a mischaracterization.

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Holly Noel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Her knee bends and I can visualize her belly moving lol. This is just crazy good.

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Steven Chaloux
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is one of the top 5 artists for sure, the diamonds are so crazy

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Annie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Flawless beauty! I'm mesmerized by the details and flow of this design!

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Brittani Robinson
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is pretty and boy I know it had to really hurt. I've got one on the front side of my thigh and boy did it hurt

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Laura Probst
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would so get this - with aquamarines, since that's my birthstone - and turn this design into an entire shoulder cape tattoo. Of course, I'd need to win the lottery first... 😳🤪

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Oddly Me
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An earlier piece by the artist? Seems lackluster in comparison to the others.

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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American Tattoo Artist Creates Amazing Tattoos That Imitate Jewelry On The Body

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Miriam L
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The one upside down on their wrist translates to "Hope", just in case anyone was wondering. Unless the fading or the new tattoo has obscured the bottom of the first ו . It's also a common Israeli name

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Note: this post originally had 64 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.