Pictish Father and Daughter Tattoos!

Today in celebration of affinity with the Pictish Painted People of Europe, a father and daughter came and both got enigmatic ancient symbols. The best thing about this kind of tattoo is that you can make up whatever "meaning" you wish..... because the academics can speculate all they want, but no one really KNOWS what the people who created them had in mind. 

Custom Pictish Z-Rod and Double Discs Tattoo by Pat Fish

This z-rod and double disc is from the Dunnichen Pictish symbol stone, currently on display in Forfar, Angus, Scotland. The pattern appears on many carved stones found across Scotland, and this one was probably carved in the 7th century. The way it is rendered, with a combination of line and "woad blue" dots on a blue-eyed girl, makes it come alive in skin.

Pictish Beast Tattoo by Pat Fish

The most charming of all the Pictish animals is the Pictish Beast, also known as the Pictish Dragon, or Swimming Elephant. Some people even say that it might be the Loch Ness Monster!

This version is from the Strathmartine Castle stone, now on display in Dundee, Scotland. I chose to render him in pointillist dots, to mimic the hand-pecking tapping technique that would have been used to create his image in sandstone so many centuries ago. 

This animal makes up forty percent of the Pictish animal carvings, so he did once have great importance to my ancestors. And now, he lives again on this man's leg.

Visit the PICTISH TATTOO PAGE to read more about the Picts and the imagery that inspired these tattoos.

'Dark Knight' Celtic Sleeve Cap Tattoo

A success story about modern internet marketing. This man had been looking at my website for years, thinking that someday he’d come to Santa Barbara and get a tattoo…… but when he saw the Dark Knight pattern on the blog he just knew, it was the one. His customization request was to change the pattern to be a sleeve cap, covering the front of his arm, and not have it make a full band under the arm. A bit of re-drawing, and then hours of installation, and he can return home to the envy and appreciation of his peers.

'Dark Knight' Celtic Sleeve Cap Tattoo by Pat FIsh

Celtic 'Entwined Dog and Wolf' Tattoo

A client with several surgical scars on his shoulder came with a request to make a pattern to cover and distract from them. The spirits of dogs and wolves are inextricably entwined, and Celtic art with all its turns and twists is perfect for expressing the unity and balance of their dual natures.

Celtic 'Entwined Dog and Wolf' Tattoo by Pat Fish

This striking pattern of an entwined dog and wolf is an ideal shape for the shoulder as shown here. It is based on a grave rubbing done from an ancient high cross in Ireland.

The pattern for this tattoo is available for purchase and immediate download at

http://www.luckyfishart.com/enwo.html

Celtic Wallace Crest Sleeve Tattoo

Fortunate is the man who can claim membership in the clan of the great Scottish patriot William Wallace. This client came in earlier this year for the Celtic band on his arm, and today we created a custom knotwork background to fit above the band, to surround and embellish the Clan Wallace badge. Now he is significantly tattooed, with a half sleeve that demonstrates his own tribal roots.

Celtic Wallace Crest Sleeve Tattoo by Pat Fish