Nordic Dragon Head Tattoo

This evening I bend my head in homage to Colin Dale, the Dot Lord of Denmark, whose style I imitate with this dragon head. I study his style, and work hard to honor it with derivative work when my clients see photographs of his superb tattoos and ask for something similar. In a few weeks this piece will expand into a full dragon body flowing onto the arm, but for this first session it was fun to complete the head and send the client off with a solid beginning.

Nordic Dragon Head Tattoo by Pat Fish

Cancer Ribbon Memorial Tattoo

Today a woman who lost her sister to stomach cancer came in to have a memorial ribbon placed on her wrist, where she will see it every day and it will serve to keep her sister's memory alive. Last month we had used something her sister had written to pull the letters in her handwriting to construct the text "Calm" on her wrist. Today we added the ribbon like a charm on a bracelet. In this instance the tattoos fulfill an ancient purpose, marks upon the flesh to memorialize the dead.

Cancer Ribbon Memorial Tattoo by Pat Fish

'Three Loves' Celtic Animals Tattoo

Dedication tattoos are a special part of a tattoo artist's work, a poignant role we play in preserving memory and love. Today a husband and wife came for a tattoo dedicated to their children. The dogs are the boys, one of whom passed away in infancy and is represented by the dog with wings. The pink cat is their little girl. By bringing all their children together in one design they celebrate the living, memorialize the angel baby, and it will help them in their process of moving forward as a family.

'Three Loves' Celtic Animals Tattoo by Pat Fish

Celtic Nordic Dragon Tattoo

The other day a young woman planning a career in an intellectually demanding academic field asked for this melding of Nordic and Celtic elements in a dragon, to be her image of strength. A creature from the land of ice and snow, from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow!

Celtic Nordic Dragon Tattoo by Pat Fish