Pat Fish's Tattoo Blog - LuckyFish, Inc. and Tattoo Santa Barbara

The fabulous Tara Brooch is one of the most amazing artifacts of the early Christian era in Ireland. Created around 700 AD, it is covered with decorations and embellishments in filigree and inlay. To make the design suitable for tattooing I carefully simplified it, while remaining true to the spectacular original.

Found carved in hundreds of Medieval church ceilings, the triple hares brought Pagan symbolism into the holy houses of the new religion. A tattoo for those who honor either tradition, the hares share their ears and run an endless race through time and space.

he serpent on the land and the eel of the waters, their mysterious slithering forms call to mind the intricacies of the weaves of Celtic knotworks. They are older than time, and they know all.

One of my favorite political symbols is the Gadsden Flag, established in 1775 and bearing the motto "Don't Tread on Me." In conversations with an excellent patriotic client I came up with the idea of rendering it in a skeletal form, and this tattoo is the result. We chose to encircle it with both the original text and "Nemo me impune lacessit" which is on the royal coat of ar...

A black graphic tribal cross is the perfect arrow-like frame for the Celtic protection knot, making a visual statement of the eternal power of faith. The Latin inscription inside the ring reads TURRIS FORTIS MIHI DEUS, which translates as "God is my Strong Tower" or "A Mighty Fortress is my Lord," the motto of the Kelly family. A different phrase or names could be added in th...