One of the great joys of living daily in an artistic community is the opportunity it provides for growth and exploration. A little while ago, I was introduced to a form of printmaking I had never tried. Gyotaku fish printing is a Japanese art form which originated in the mid-1800s from the hands of Japanese fishermen who wanted to record their catches for prosperity—rather like the fishing lodge photos you see today, only from a world before cameras. It translates literally as “fish stone rubbing”. You start with an actual fish, preferably straight out of the sea. After a few preparatory steps, you gently take its imprint on a piece of rice paper. So long as the medium you use is water-based and non-toxic (such as Japanese ink, or even acrylic paint), you can even wash it off and cook the fish afterward! The beauty of this process is not solely in the careful replication of delicate fins and scales. It is also a sensory experience. I marveled at my fish’s physicality—its muscles, gills and eyes—while I gently dabbed and dried it, opening its jaw and fanning its tail, and later as painted more detail onto the printed paper. The fish is so fresh and so real that there is a reverence to the experience that feels appropriate. I spend quite a lot of time on docks and seawalls, and this experience offered me much more than the artistic diversion I expected, bringing me a piece of the ocean to explore in new way. If you have the chance, I absolutely recommend that you try it! (I have included a photo of my completed red perch in my “fauna” gallery page). With many thanks to my guide, Carolyn Letvin, and to Attleboro Arts!
