Gyotaku (Japanese 魚拓, from gyo "fish" (say “gee” like “key”) + taku "rubbing") is the traditional Japanese method of printing fish, a practice which dates back to the mid-1800s. It is believed that fishermen used the prints to record their catches to enable competition between remote fishing campsites.  It has become an art form of its own. Paint or Ink is applied directly to a fresh fish and prints (impressions, rubbings) are made.   Much like Batik, imperfections are a part of the process.   

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First we catch the fish.  Both Craig and I love to fish.  We have fished in many exotic places and love targeting interesting species to print.  We take our printing supplies with us and often print in hotel rooms.

Cleaning the fish can sometimes be a challenge in hotel rooms. This is in the shower!

Preparing the fish to print.

While Craig is getting fish ready, Nancy is mixing inks. Try doing all of this with a mini kitchen and a 40" round table!

Our prize Rooster Fish is almost ready to print.

Nancy spends days at a time hand dyeing mulberry paper (MA) to have ready for backgrounds. When we go on trips, we have to take all the paper, ink and silk with us.

This is the Rooster Fish right after it was pulled from the fish. Clean up and Touch ups will be done at home.

A productive Day in Cabo San Lucas. Thank goodness for a second bed to put the art work on.

Nancy prepares a fish. Photo Steven DiCerbo.