Today a favorite brewmaster client returned to finish filling in the background on a tangle of hop vines. This sleeve has been evolving over several years, and began with just a tiny Scots lion he got in youth. Today marks the finish of two full sleeves ..... and ink ambition will bring him back for more !
Celtic Hops Sleeve by Pat Fish
Today a Navy medical corpsman came for a cuff of Celtic knot work which will form the end of a full sleeve. He traveled far, so we accomplished it in only one session, a bit ambitious and requiring stamina towards the end.
Celtic 'Hold Fast' Cuff Tattoo by Pat Fish
A woman leaving California to study in Scotland wanted a tattoo fusing multiple styles, the golden poppy of her native state with a crescent of Pictish knotwork for her ethnic heritage and the new adventure ahead.
Father's Dedication Celtic High Cross Tattoo by Pat Fish
This man chose to honor his children by adding their names to the four arms of this large Celtic Cross - a powerful symbol of paternal devotion.
Celtic 'Skeleton Hands Claddagh' Tattoo by Pat Fish
Everyone has seen the traditional Irish claddagh, hands holding a crowned heart, but has there ever been one before with skeletal hands?
Zebra-tailed Lizard Tattoo by Pat Fish
Hey guys, ColinFraser here. When Pat and I were discussing tattoos to feature in the 2016 wrap-up, this one immediately sprung to mind. You see, I took a B.S. in Zoology at UCSB, and Herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians) has always been a particular passion of mine. This woman shared my enthusiasm for the reptiles of the Mojave Desert, and chose to express that with this tattoo of a Callisaurus draconoides, the Zebra-tailed Lizard.
13th Century Flying Fish Tattoo by Pat Fish
This flying fish pattern dates back to the year 1250, when a monk doodled it on the edge of a French bible page. Once it flew on calf skin vellum, now it comes to life again on the calf of a leg!
Viking Sleeve Tattoo by Pat Fish
Three separate Nordic patterns are joined here to create a Viking half-sleeve. The Vegvisir compass on top guides a traveler home, a serpent dragon from a standing stone adds a motive element in the middle, and a band of chain link from an ancient memorial stone form a band around the bottom.
Hungarian Violin Tattoo by Pat Fish
A fiddle decorated with traditional Hungarian embroidery patterns connects this client to his father's family.
Full Sleeve Celtic Knot 'Body Armor' Tattoo by Pat Fish
Continuous Celtic knotwork that achieves the look of chain mail armor was first placed on the top of the arm, then later extended all the way to the wrist. An unusual look, worthy of a warrior.
Two complementary elemental half-sleeves represent a balance of both fire and water for this woman. The knotwork is traditional Celtic, the flames are Tibetan, and the water a Celtic triskele. Together they are a union of opposites.
Today a very pale lady came in for this Celtic luna moth done in shimmering pastel colors. The aerial queen of night, the gossamer beauty of the bug is translated to a graphic knotwork pattern. To fill out the design we placed a crescent moon filled with Pictish spirals and simple 5 pointed stars.
Celtic Luna Moth and Lunar Crescent Tattoo by Pat Fish
