Cross of Truth Celtic Knotwork Tattoo Design

Easter is an appropriate time for this man's third and final marathon session to finish this large custom cross on his back. At his request we included the Alpha And Omega symbols in the arms of the cross, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet referenced by Christ in Revelations 1:8.  At the top of the cross is the Chi-Ro symbol, a Christogram, superimposing the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ. And in the center is the IHS, another Christogram abbreviation of the Greek name for Jesus.

Celtic Knot Quarter Sleeve Tattoo

Today a collector of tattoos came in to expand on a pre-existing small circular Celtic pattern on his upper arm. I added a custom knotwork pattern to begin the process of transforming this arm into a Celtic sleeve.

Celtic Knot Quarter Sleeve Tattoo by Pat Fish

Sutton Hoo 'Saxon Dragon' Tattoo

Today I was excited to do a second piece in what promises to be my first ever Saxon sleeve. I love Celtic, and Pictish art, but Saxon is comparatively unexplored territory. This sea dragon was found on the shield of King Raedwald, one of the greatest of the early English warrior-kings. He ruled over what is now East-Anglia and was also overlord of all the English kingdoms. When he died in around the year 625 he was placed in an Anglo-Saxon war ship along with his armor, shield, weapons and other fine treasures. He was covered by a burial mound where he lay undisturbed until the site was excavated in 1939.

Sutton Hoo 'Saxon Dragon' Tattoo by Pat Fish

Here is a photo from 2011 of the Saxon 'Bird of Prey' Tattoo on the same client:

Saxon 'Bird of Prey' Tattoo by Pat Fish

Shamrock Claddagh Ring Tattoo Design

Today a man requested of his family that his seventieth birthday gift was to come with his son and get his first tattoo. The simple elegance of the shamrock fills the claddagh ring to form a perfect Irish tattoo. And now both he and his son wear it with pride.