Stag, Salmon, and Goose Celtic Tattoos

The dispersing Celts, the diaspora of the Irish in particular to the far-flung corners of the globe, has long been referred to as "The Wild Geese." As a result the image of the goose has been a favorite one in Celtic art, as in this design copied from a charming 1920's silver brooch.

Celtic Goose Tattoo by Pat Fish

A second piece that is part of the leg with the goose in the previous posting. This salmon is a simplification of a design originally drawn by the esteemed Welsh artist Jen Delyth whose popular images make splendid tattoos. We have had a handshake agreement for decades by which I am honored to replicate her designs as tattoos and pay royalties, and with this image I have reached the milestone of 1500 images for sale online. 28 of them started life as a piece drawn by Jen. Translating the work of others into tattoos is always a challenge, crediting the original artist as well as serving the aesthetics of the client. 

Celtic Spiral Salmon Tattoo by Pat Fish

The third animal that completed the Celtic animal themed leg on a woman from the East Coast, whose decade living in Ireland left her with a yearning to reconnect with that faraway homeland. This is another design adapted from art by the Welsh artist Jen Delyth. Her stag is more complex, with knotwork I could not hope to replicate at this size, so the stag is softened and simplified, with internal spirals and one triquetra replacing woven knots. In each of these views a maelstrom of La Tene style double and triple spirals, rendered in three colors, binds the creatures together into one whole that covers the calf of the leg. Having the animals rendered in black line and dots brings them to the foreground, and the colored spirals are done in dotted lines of pure color to form a background matrix.

Celtic Stag Tattoo by Pat Fish

Journey Cross

A Celtic high cross is the timeless choice when people think of a Celtic tattoo. I encourage my clients to get something custom, to make each design their own, so this lad put me through my paces by selecting the knot work pattern from one cross, the shape of another, and then choosing a glyph based on the Jerusalem cross worn by pilgrims to be the center point. They all tied together nicely, and he wears it proudly on his forearm.

Journey Celtic Cross Tattoo by Pat Fish

A high cross tattoo that combines the beauty of traditional Celtic knot work and the holy symbol of one who has made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem as its center point. For a seeker, a wanderer, and for one who has found The Way.

Santorini Swallows

Nothing pleases me more than the opportunity to bring ancient art to life again in skin. These birds are from a fresco in Akrotiri, Santorini, known as the Minoan Pompeii. A Bronze Age civilization on the island then called Thera was destroyed by a massive volcanic eruption in 1600BC, and some speculation says that this was the origin of the Atlantis story. They lived in beautiful homes with walls covered with fabulous decorations, and a room painted with spring lilies and birds has been carefully preserved in the National Archeological Museum. These birds fly again on a shapely leg.

Santorini Swallows Tattoo by Pat Fish

The Santorini fresco the birds came from - it is always good to encourage people to look for something in the world of art that they feel a resonance with as the inspiration for their tattoos, instead of just thinking to look for a "tattoo image" that has already been done in this medium.

Full Knotwork Calf

This is the first Celtic knot work wrap on a leg that I ever did, begun way back in 2008. I was THRILLED to have the chance to do it, and then he never came back UNTIL THIS WEEK to have the shading done. Imagine the thwarted ambition I felt, the yearning, and how often I would look at the photo of it just as lines and wish for the chance to finish the job and take THIS PHOTO and feel like I had brought the project to fruition. Now, ahhhhhh, sweet accomplishment.

To read more about how this kind of custom sleeve tattoo is accomplished, visit the Full Knotwork Sleeves page.

Custom Full calf Celtic Knotwork Tattoo

For the truly ambitious, one piece of knotwork that will cover the leg from knee to ankle.