Bell Sleeve

January 29, 2013

Today's tattoo would have been a challenge even BEFORE my time-out, but to do it today so soon after returning to work, well, let's admit it, I am seriously STOKED. The client came from far away, and absolutely insisted that I do it all in one day. I promised him I'd give it my best, if HE could handle it. 7 hours later, he has been transformed from a guy with just an armband I did 6 years ago on the other arm to >>> a heavily tattooed guy with a half sleeve.

A complex full-coverage half sleeve in a bell shape that follows the contours of the shoulder and ends at the elbow. A bold statement of integrated Celtic knot work that covers all visible sections of the upper arm and has the appearance of chain mail armor.

Celtic Bird Foot

January 19, 2013

I am pleased to say that today I did this extremely complex piece, a knotwork starting with two birds and knots on the top of the foot that all weave into a band around the ankle. The client is an Irishman who came by way of Thailand for this, and we planned it out yesterday afternoon, I got it drawn up overnight, and then today installed it in a marathon 6 hour session. He was a tough guy getting so much on a highly sensitive body part, and I felt wonderful that I was able to do this much only 9 days after returning to work. I AM BACK.

Brotherhood of the Arrow

January 13, 2013

It took a couple of days for me to get the hang of how I need to adapt moving my arm to help out the shoulder as it continues to heal, but I am quite happy to be back at work and had no trouble tattooing at all. This is the tattoo I did today. The Brotherhood of the Arrow tattoo symbolizes the bonding together of men as brothers, whether by blood relationship, in war, or in unity to succeed in life. Representing virility and power, the arrow is the point of intent sent straight to the target to achieve the win.

Brotherhood of the Arrow Tattoo by Pat Fish

Scythian Animal Designs

January 11, 2013

When I returned to work last month it was my great pleasure that the first tattoos I did fulfilled a long held ambition, to recreate some of the 5th century tattoos from the Scythian tombs in Russia.
In 1993 the undisturbed 5th century tomb of an "Ice Princess" was found in the Altai peninsula of Siberia. This deer was one of her many beautiful stylized tattoos, that remained clearly visible despite centuries in the permafrost. It is one of the finest examples of Scythian Pazyryk tattooing.

On this second dynamic tattoo taken from another 5th century mummy, a snow leopard pulls down a giant elk and gives its neck the killing bite. Found on the body of a Chieftian, it survived being buried in the permafrost for centuries.... waiting to reveal the power of the hunt to us now.

My thanks to this couple who now wear ancient art. Married in life, now sharing matching representations of ancient beauty.