Gyotaku - printing Alaska's wild fish
Gyotaku (Ghee- oh-ta-coo)
is a traditional Japanese nature printing technique originally used to record fisherman's prized catches. This technique dates back to the late 1800's and has a long tradition in Hawaii.
This is a printing session in my backyard of a 38 lb. King salmon that was caught in Cook Inlet out at Point Mackenzie by my fish monger .The fish is wiped dry and then inked. Paper is laid over the fish and carefully rubbed by hand to transfer the image to the paper.
Bringing them back to life...
Each print is different and sometimes the rhythm and mood of the image reveals itself immediately and sometimes I need to sit and stare. I paint in the eyes and add line work and color to instill movement and depth to the print.
Here are some of my best Gyotaku's.
Blue Reds
Red Salmon, Sockeye, Oncorhynchus Nerka,
Kenai River, July 2015
Banana Mash Rock
Yellow Eye Rock fish, Red Snapper, Sebastes Ruberimus
Gyotaku print on Thai banana mash paper, 35" x 22"
I donated this print to the Alaska Marine Gala 2012, February 18, 2012 held at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage by the Alaska Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska.
The Alaska Sea Life Center is a wonderful, must see and visit every summer if you can, place. I am always inspired by the beauty of Seward and the wonderful creatures of the sea that make their home there.
Golden Kings
King Salmon, Chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Bing's Landing Beauty
Red Salmon, Sockeye, Onchorynchus Nerka, Bings Landing, Soldotna, July 2011
Lou's Snapper
Yellow Eye Rock fish, Red Snapper, Sebastes Ruberimus
Resurrection Bay, Seward