Yesterday a chivalrous gentleman returned for the third and final session on this Celtic knot half-sleeve. It is bold body armor, fitted to his musculature, worthy of a knight. Today we begin a new pattern, continuing a similar custom knotwork all the way down to the wrist. He flies in from far away, so he is toughing out two sessions in a row to maximize his time here. Brave and strong!
Celtic 'Valiant Sleeve' Tattoo by Pat Fish
Celtic 'Valiant Sleeve' continuation by Pat Fish
Today I was pleased to do this heraldic badge for a member of the Scottish Highland Clan Stewart. The Latin motto VIRESCIT VULNERE VIRTUS translates to "Courage grows strong at a wound" and is represented by the pelican stabbing at her own breast to feed her young with her blood. The heraldic pelican is represented in this manner in ancient texts, this bird and her young are copied from a woodcut reproduced in a book published in 1909.
Scottish Clan Stewart Badge Tattoo by Pat Fish
Today a man requested a symbol to express his commitment to his upcoming nuptials. This Celtic knot symbol is two hearts intertwined, joined with an infinity symbol, a perfect union of two lovers joining forever in holy matrimony. His hand-fasting ceremony will be will be held later this month at Stonehenge, with laces of these three colors binding him to his beloved. Blue for the eternal sky above, green for the Mother Earth, and the purple of passion in its infinite variety.
Celtic Hearts and Infinity Tattoo by Pat Fish
Recently I have been invited to give a presentation at a conference on illuminated manuscripts in Philadelphia this Fall. As a result I have been perusing their archives and this is the first image I have tattooed from a book in their library. In a 13th century French Bible this tiny winged fish flies across the top of a page of Ecclesiastes. Illuminated manuscripts often have drolleries, little illustrations in the margins placed there by the monks creating the books. The Bible this especially charming one is in is part of the collection of medieval manuscripts at the University of Pennsylvania.
13th Century Flying Fish Tattoo by Pat Fish
To see more examples of tattoos taken from historical books, check out my ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT TATTOOS PAGE.
And visit the CELTIC LETTER TATTOOS page at LuckyFishArt.com for illuminated letters from Celtic manuscripts.
