>>> THIS ARTIST HAS BEEN RECEIVING NATIONAL RECOGNITION OVER THE LAST DECADE, HE USES A COMMON TOOL, INC., AND HIS CANVAS, SKIN.

WE HAVE AN UP CLOSE LOOK AT THE ART OF TATTOOING.

>> I BEGAN TO GROW AND EXPAND MY BRAND AND I WAS HELD NOTABLE AND RESPECTED IN THE INDUSTRY.

I WAS ABLE TO CREATE STUDIOS AND GO INTO THE DROP SHOP, NOW I'M HERE AT THIS SHOP FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW.

>> HE IS ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH HIS 14 YEAR CAREER THAT HIS RECOGNITION WENT NATIONAL.

WHEN HE AND HIS ARTWORK WERE SHOWCASED ON THE NEW VH1 SHOW , THE CREW IN CHICAGO.

>> THE LAST 15 YEARS HAS BEEN SO MUCH MORE SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY INDUSTRY .

NOW, IT HAS BEEN MORE ACCEPTED, NOW WITH THIS NEW GENERATION, PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT IS JUST ARTISTIC EXPRESSION.

>> SO, I DID A THING AND IT WAS A PRETTY BIG THING.

I GOT MY FIRST TATTOO.

IT DEFINITELY DIDN'T HURT AT ALL.

OKAY, THAT IS A LIE, IT DEFINITELY HURT A LITTLE BIT.

OKAY, I'M LYING, IT TOTALLY HURT.

>> IT'S AN ENTIRE CULTURE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETTY MUCH JUST EXPRESSING THEMSELVES.

WE HAVE AN ENTIRE CULTURE OF ARTISTS BUT GOING ALONG WITH THAT, YOU HAVE ART CONNOISSEURS.

>> THAT IS WHY THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE HELPING TO EXPLORE THE CRAFT AS A MAINSTREAM ART FORM.

>> IT'S THE SAME THING AS YOU BUY A PAINTING AND PUT IT ON YOUR WALL, YOU ARE PUTTING IT ON YOUR BODY, AND WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> IT WASN'T UNTIL AFTER I FINISHED THE FIRST AND ONLY TATTOO THAT I BETTER UNDERSTOOD THE DESIRE FOR THE ARTFORM.

>> THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS RYAN HENRY WORK WITH INCLUDE RED BULL, THEY HAVE A NATIONAL CONTEST DESCRIBED TO BE PERFECT FOR TATTOO ARTIST.

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