Celtic Zoomorphic Chest Plate Tattoo - right side

A returning client with ambitions for extensive tattoo coverage made a special request. Inspired by the full-body Japanese tattoos with upper chest piece panels, we marked out a space to fill, and decided on an eagle, a dog, and an eel to fill it. Hours of drawing last night turned led to hours of tattooing today, and now the cross and spirals on his arm are complemented by the zoomorphic flowing onto his chest. 

Celtic Zoomorphic Chest Plate Tattoo by Pat Fish

One of two complementary chest pieces,this one incorporates in Celtic knotwork an eagle, a hound, and an eel. Symbols of fierceness, loyalty, and cleverness.

Check out the other side here: http://www.luckyfish.com/blog/celtic-zoomorphic-chest-plate-tattoo-left-side

Pictish Father and Daughter Tattoos!

Today in celebration of affinity with the Pictish Painted People of Europe, a father and daughter came and both got enigmatic ancient symbols. The best thing about this kind of tattoo is that you can make up whatever "meaning" you wish..... because the academics can speculate all they want, but no one really KNOWS what the people who created them had in mind. 

Custom Pictish Z-Rod and Double Discs Tattoo by Pat Fish

This z-rod and double disc is from the Dunnichen Pictish symbol stone, currently on display in Forfar, Angus, Scotland. The pattern appears on many carved stones found across Scotland, and this one was probably carved in the 7th century. The way it is rendered, with a combination of line and "woad blue" dots on a blue-eyed girl, makes it come alive in skin.

Pictish Beast Tattoo by Pat Fish

The most charming of all the Pictish animals is the Pictish Beast, also known as the Pictish Dragon, or Swimming Elephant. Some people even say that it might be the Loch Ness Monster!

This version is from the Strathmartine Castle stone, now on display in Dundee, Scotland. I chose to render him in pointillist dots, to mimic the hand-pecking tapping technique that would have been used to create his image in sandstone so many centuries ago. 

This animal makes up forty percent of the Pictish animal carvings, so he did once have great importance to my ancestors. And now, he lives again on this man's leg.

Visit the PICTISH TATTOO PAGE to read more about the Picts and the imagery that inspired these tattoos.

'Dark Knight' Celtic Sleeve Cap Tattoo

A success story about modern internet marketing. This man had been looking at my website for years, thinking that someday he’d come to Santa Barbara and get a tattoo…… but when he saw the Dark Knight pattern on the blog he just knew, it was the one. His customization request was to change the pattern to be a sleeve cap, covering the front of his arm, and not have it make a full band under the arm. A bit of re-drawing, and then hours of installation, and he can return home to the envy and appreciation of his peers.

'Dark Knight' Celtic Sleeve Cap Tattoo by Pat FIsh

Celtic 'Entwined Dog and Wolf' Tattoo

A client with several surgical scars on his shoulder came with a request to make a pattern to cover and distract from them. The spirits of dogs and wolves are inextricably entwined, and Celtic art with all its turns and twists is perfect for expressing the unity and balance of their dual natures.

Celtic 'Entwined Dog and Wolf' Tattoo by Pat Fish

This striking pattern of an entwined dog and wolf is an ideal shape for the shoulder as shown here. It is based on a grave rubbing done from an ancient high cross in Ireland.

The pattern for this tattoo is available for purchase and immediate download at

http://www.luckyfishart.com/enwo.html