Illuminated Letter Half Sleeve

Today I finished a big half-sleeve that started 3 years ago with an illuminated letter E from the Book of Kells. He got back in touch, and wanted to make the whole upper arm into one solid piece. So last month we added the crescent above and the band below. Finally today I added a knotwork to fill all the sides and under the arm, and shaded them all with dots to make it all into one cohesive presentation. It takes a lot of time to design such work, most especially because it is one thing to draw them on paper but quite another level of difficulty to then adapt the pattern to make it fit the body. I especially appreciate the level of trust the client puts in me, as I slowly transform their skin dot by dot. They can see the pattern on the page, and agree that they like it, but I know it is a big act of faith for them to get the hours of work done hoping for the best! So I give it my best every time to live up to their expectations!

Celtic Letter Sleeve Tattoo by Pat Fish, side view.

The illuminated text pages in the Book of Kells frequently featured one magnificently complex letter beginning a Bible passage. This is the letter E at the start of one such page. It features the head of a lion and three snakes, as well as a full body of a lioness, Celtic knot work, and Pictish key patterns.  The central letter in this sleeve is available for purchase and download HERE.

Celtic Letter Sleeve Tattoo by Pat Fish, front and back views.

Eternal Vigilance Cross

Sometimes I draw custom designs for people at a distance who can't come to get them done by me. I did a LOT of this while I was unable to tattoo last year. This fireman hired me last week to draw up this design and then was so pleased with the result he sent a deposit and today drove out from Nevada to have me put it on. It is a combination of the Maltese cross, the shield that represents firemen, and an eternity knot, and a Celtic cross.

Eternal Vigilance Cross Tattoo by Pat Fish

The Maltese Cross, symbol of Firemen and their vigilant spirit, combines with the eternal knot and a knot work Celtic cross to make a tattoo designed for and worn proudly by Firemen. Their strength inspires us all.

Flaming Claddagh Cross

A couple came in this weekend and each got tattoos incorporating the claddagh, and it turns out to hold special significance for them as they were married 15 years ago in Ireland. This is the man's tattoo, a new version of a claddagh cross I designed a few years ago but now with the added touch of flames.

Flaming Claddagh Heart Cross Tattoo by Pat Fish

Flames make any tattoo come alive, so here the element of passion brings the Celtic knot work cross into the foreground and makes a very dynamic tattoo. 

Celtic Knot Shoulder Caps

Finally, long delayed by the hiatus, today I finished these two shoulder caps on a client I have been working on for a decade. He was due to get them completed 3 days after what turned out to be the date of the wreck, and had to cancel a trip out from the East Coast at the last minute. Now, in a grueling 8 hour session today we finished the line work and shading and dotted background for both these pieces. I just love the way the knot work that forms the outer edge of the upper epaulette portion is the same, but it comes down and melds into the knots of the ring and dogs on one side and the full circle of knots on the other. Takes a good eye to see the symmetry within the differences. And I am graced by clients who want such ambitious work. This man is a military warrior, who has done service in both Iraq and Afghanistan. With this body armor he is well equipped for his next adventures. (*Small disclaimer: the green top of the shamrock in the photo is in a band that he had when I started working on him.)

Knotwork ShoulderCap Tattoo by Pat Fish

Wolfhound ShoulderCap Tattoo by Pat Fish