Salmon Tattoo Photo #7419

The fish that fights upstream through rapids and waterfalls to complete its life cycle has become a universal symbol of perseverance, sacrifice, and returning to one's roots. Pacific Northwest Coast art and Celtic mythology both elevate the salmon to sacred status.

Using lines of varying thickness to define shape and depth, linework tattoos achieve expression through economy. The absence of shading keeps the focus on the quality and flow of each stroke.

The collarbone's clean horizontal line provides a natural guide for elongated designs. This placement adds a subtle accent to the upper body and works especially well with fine-line and minimalist styles.