As we prepare for a holiday break, ColinFraser and I have been discussing many of the unique, challenging, and interesting projects that have come through the door in the past year. We thought it would be fun to name award winners in a handful of categories - no prizes, but bragging rights for sure! We have decided on 7 awards and will be revealing one category winner each day for a week. Check this page again tomorrow to see another one.
If you were a studio client this year and don’t see your tattoo featured here, know that we are deeply grateful for your patronage. Thanks to all of the clients who helped to make 2014 a success!
Occupational Tattoo Award
Occupational tattoos expressing the wearer's dedication to their life work and the fulfillment they find through it make a noble personal statement. In this first category we have a tie! The Celtic HazMat Symbol and the Celtic Star of Life both do an excellent job of representing their bearers' heritage and vocation. Click the images above to see their individual blog posts and learn more.
Total Coverage Award
For sheer stamina and dedication, the Most Total Coverage award goes to this man who had two half-sleeves done previously and then this year added the back piece of Saint Brendan in the waves and two chest pieces of Celtic animals. Click the images above to see the tattoos in their individual blog posts and learn more.
Most Improved Award
Here’s appreciation for the loving wife who was so sick of the cruddy spiders and amateur anarchistic tattoos done during her husband’s high school years that she bankrolled his transformation. Now he has two matching highly colored Celtic knotwork forearms, strangers aren’t scared of him, and he gets the Most Improved Award! Click the images above to see the blog post about this project and learn more.
Unusual Concept Award
Celtic Knotwork Pumpkin Tattoo by Pat FIsh
A Celtic pumpkin was a strange enough request, but when she insisted that it be a BLUE Celtic pumpkin this client was a clear choice for the Most Unusual Concept award. Why blue? You’ll have to ask her! Click the image to see the blog post and learn more. I confess that when I posted it to the blog I used a photo taken when it was just black and grey - I couldn’t explain the blue!
Interesting BackStory Award
Celtic DNA Family Tree Tattoo by Pat Fish
The Celtic Tree of Life is a popular tattoo image and a frequent request at my studio, but this man came in with a very interesting reason for the custom elements in the design. The trunk is formed of a DNA helix, because DNA testing revealed to him that he had a sister he never knew of! He gets the Most Unusual Backstory award for commemorating this shocking life event with a tattoo! Click the image to see the blog post and learn more.
Zero-to-Sixty Award
This client came in early this year completely a blank, and picked a nicely sized Celtic spiral in red and black for his first tattoo. A few months later he was back, adding an extension to it. Then, predictably he felt unbalanced, so we did a lion from the Book of Kells on the other arm. Undaunted, he then decided to expand them both into half-sleeves by putting a matching arch of Celtic knots behind them both, making them into a set. From no tattoos to two half sleeves in a year, he earned the Zero-to-Sixty award for tattoo acceleration! Click the images above to see the images’ individual blog posts and learn more.
Largest Knotwork Award
Before this man came in I had never even considered designing a single piece of knotwork that covered the whole leg up to mid-thigh. Working in the conceptual idea of body armor, this continuous knot was a challenge for both artist and enthusiast, requiring much stamina from both! He completes our award week by earning the Largest Knotwork award. Click the images above to see the blog post and learn more.
Thanks again to all of the patrons who have helped to make 2014 a great year; see you next year!!