This interview was conducted with Abella Carrol in 2006, and published online in the Fall of 2020.
The Celtic Queen of Knots
There will never be another Pat Fish. Not only is she internationally known for her Celtic artwork, she is dedicated to protecting the integrity of her craft and has little time for those who do not respect the profession. She is tough-talking, humorous, well-educated and passionate about her work.
An orphan adopted by Russian parents, she is Scottish, but felt there was Gaelic in her soul long before she knew her origins. Growing up, she was drawn to the Irish ways and followed her natural instincts toward Celtic art. In her youth she would draw tangles of lines and then sort them out into over-and-under patterns. As an adult, she made annual trips to Ireland, where she researched the ancient Irish illuminated manuscripts at Trinity College, Dublin and in museums, taking inspiration from these incredible works. Her love for the art eventually led her to incorporate these complex interlacing knotworks into the studio and onto the skin of her clients.
This client wanted it ALL. One Celtic cross that could encompass numerous personal symbolisms, and for which he made an epic trek across the country—2,337 miles for his first tattoo. Pat started with a classic St. Patrick's cross, and made it a claddagh version with the addition of the hands, but holding a shamrock instead of a heart. His children’s initials went in the cuffs, and the initial of the love of his life, his wife who is the center of the family, in a heart inserted into the knotwork at the base of the cross.
Art that Matters
For all of her life, art has been a part of Pat’s persona with pen and ink being her most comfortable medium. But it was the passion to do art full-time in a way that she could have direct contact with her patrons that led her to tattooing.
“I love being able to do art that matters,” Pat said. “I believe strongly in art as a necessary part of life, and by giving people a permanent externalization of their inner aesthetics I can help them to be a more complete person.”
Before running her own tattoo studio, Pat was a journalist and holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in film studies and studio art from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her curiosity about tattoos began long before she cultivated her career in the industry.
In 1967 she saw the powerful young blues singer Janis Joplin being interviewed by talk show host Dick Cavett on television. Upon seeing Janis’ bracelet tattoo, Pat knew that someday she’d have permanent jewelry too, jewelry that cannot be lost or stolen but will be with her at all times. As a child growing up in southern California while visiting the Long Beach Pike, she would pass the studios where the sound of tattoo machines buzzing inside intrigued her that something adult was happening inside, something clearly forbidden to a child.
“Every so often I’ll be walking into my studio and my employee will be already working inside and I’ll be transported back to that memory,” Pat said. Although she was intrigued as a youngster, she will not tattoo anyone under the age of 18.
Two Nordic dragons gaze contentedly at each other, representing the happily married couple who requested this custom heart-shaped pattern celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. The knotwork and overall pattern form a symbol of gentle hearts, united. Also it is a nod to the influence of the avatar of Viking dragons Colin Dale.
Touching Cancer and Beyond
Pat takes great pride in knowing that for some clients her tattoo work for them changed their perspective on their inner self. She recalls a breast cancer survivor who chose to have her create a ‘bra’ of clematis flowers that transformed her chest scars into a garden of beauty.
“I think any time you can set someone free from a disfigurement, whether that is an ex-boyfriend’s name or a scar, you are taking tattooing to another level,” Pat said. “It is good work to set people free from regret and help them move on. Many times, going through a medical event like cancer may leave a person feeling helpless and out of control. The tattoo can serve as a reclaiming of their body, taking it back, saying it is theirs once again to decorate as they wish. Since breast cancer so often leaves a woman with disfiguring scars, the tattoos can be their way of choosing beauty.”
In 2002, Pat got her greatest challenge from a breast cancer survivor. Instead of more surgeries for reconstruction, the client requested skin art over misshapen breasts. After consultations with Pat and thoughtful decision-making, she finally called Pat to go for it. After weeks of multiple sessions, Pat’s full coverage artwork camouflaged all the surgical scars. The result was soul-changing with florals and a blue Monarch, the rare butterfly that symbolizes acceptance, honor, and transformation. For more stories of Pat’s artwork on outstanding survivors, visit luckyfish.com/breast-cancer-tattoos
Pat relies on the teachings of one of her mentors, the late Cliff Raven, a legend within the tattoo industry. He taught her that there are three parts to tattooing: art, craft, and morals. She believes that it is an all-absorbing job to apply technical considerations to the expectations of each new client while honoring their desires, all the while tempering them with known successful techniques.
This woman’s highly visible varicose veins presented a challenge, and were covered with seaweed and fish on one leg and vines and hummingbirds and butterflies on the other. Before and after tattooing her clients, Pat has them view videos about the tools of the trade, the sterilization process and the after-care of their body art. This promotes the best possible healing for their new art.
Perseverance and Hard Work
Pat has been a tattooist for 36 years and gives the craft her full attention. The artist gave up watching television after high school in order to have the time and focus for being self-employed. Ironically, it is the media that caused a turning point in her career in 1998 when she was featured on Turner Broadcasting, produced by CNN, in a program entitled “Tattoos: Women of the Ink.” Six million people tuned in and Pat’s Celtic tattooing struck a chord with viewers nationwide and beyond—her current clientele still includes enthusiasts worldwide.
She has also been featured on MSNBC, the national Irish TV, and in books and magazine articles throughout the years. But put aside the media attention. Pat is most content when all the elements of her trade come together—when artist and client bond and a creative collaboration occurs, it gives her a satisfaction that only another artist could understand. Added to that is her commitment to bringing art of the ancient Irish illuminated manuscripts and Pictish standing stones of Scotland to life in skin. Her affinity with that ethnic art, and enthusiasm for sharing it with others, has led to her establishing Celtic tattooing as a unique and powerful form of “tribal” tattooing.
Pat Fish and her Irish Wolfhounds Orla, Fergus and Angus.
More About Pat Fish – Beyond Tattoos
In 2006, I met Santa Barbara’s world-renown Celtic tattoo artist, Pat Fish. After months of countless emails and late-night phone interviews scheduled around her clients, we finally got to meet face-to-face. Flanked by commercial photographer Wanelle Fitch and my faithful husband Bill, we set up to shoot one of many tattoo stories for my intended book.
I was totally prepared for Pat’s powerful presence. What took me off guard was being greeted by three enormous Irish Wolfhounds that never left her side. As the crew set up tripods and lighting equipment, it became time to shoo the dogs away when she informed us that the dogs would remain and that they would behave. Never in my years of producing magazine layouts had I let any distraction into a controlled set … yet, there they were. I followed my gut instinct and believed her. Sure enough, throughout the long session those gentle giants walked around the equipment and astutely stepped over cables as promised.
Later, I appreciated her connection with animals, particularly larger four-legged companions. A passionate horsewoman-turned mule trail rider, she rides in the front country of the Santa Barbara mountains with invited friends and outdoor enthusiasts. However, during this year’s 2020 pandemic she rode mostly with a small group of friends; the trails that normally attracted hundreds of horse riders remained largely empty.
Beyond her love for animals, she guards her privacy. Yet for trusted souls she is generous with her time and resources. Many of my original tattoo stories came from her clientele list of fascinating ladies whom she trustingly shared with me, along with talks of never letting my storytelling vision go dormant.
Over the years, out of the blue emails appeared from Pat saying, “How’s the project going?” Each time, sign-offs included messages like “Perseverance wins” or “Create your own luck” – reminders to finish what I had started. And so I did.
Photo credits: portraits of Pat Fish by Wanelle Fitch c2006, tattoo photos by Pat Fish
Originally published 9/22/20 at thecarrollco.com/PatFish.aspx