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Gyotaku (pronounced GHEE-OH-TAH-KOO) is the art and technique of Japanese Fish Printing. Gyo means ‘Fish’ and Taku means 'Rubbing' or 'Impression'. The earliest known gyotaku were made in the 1860’s to preserve a true record of the size and species of fish caught by Japanese anglers. It later evolved into an art form.
There are two methods of creating gyotaku – the direct method (similar to a thumb print) and the indirect method (similar to a grave stone rubbing).
I practice the direct method. After cleaning and positioning a freshly caught fish, I cover the surface of the fish with block printing ink. I then put rice paper on the fish and rub the back of the paper. Once the paper is lifted, a mirror image of the fish is revealed. After the ink dries, I then paint in the detail of the eye. If I like the results, I sign it and stamp it with my 'chop' (my chop is a rough translation of “Michael’s Stamp”). Because I use water soluble, non-toxic ink, I can eat the fish when I’m done printing.
Although I can make several prints from the same fish, each print is an original. I use several different types of paper - each one produces slightly different results. Also, for some prints I use just one color of ink, while other times I use multiple colors, trying to capture the fish as it appears in nature. For a fish with multiple colors, all the color is added to the fish before the paper is placed on the fish. If all turns out well, the only painting done after the print is lifted is the painting of the eye with watercolor.
I've printed bluegill, pumpkinseed sunfish, red breasted sunfish, rock bass, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, carp, koi, catfish, striped bass, rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, walleye, yellow perch, black crappie, chain pickerel, snapper bluefish, flounder, black sea bass and even a piranha!
Click on the Gyotaku For Sale to see matted rubbings for sale. Gyotaku Stories has some of the stories behind the rubbings. All rubbings are original one of a kind. I hope you enjoy looking at them. Stop back often as I add pictures of new rubbings as I make them. Send me an email at michaelreimer@juno.com if you want me to let you know via email when I add new pictures to the gallery
See 'About the Artist' for my fishing BLOG.
Gyotaku For Sale updated 12/023/2009, Gyotaku Stories updated 09/12/2009
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