Gyotaku Trevally 17-09

I am a professional sport fishing captain and charter out of Costa Rica, Panama, Galapagos and Tahiti. This Gyotaku print is a replica of original... more

by Captain Warren Sellers

Title

Gyotaku Trevally 17-09

Artist

Captain Warren Sellers

Medium

Mixed Media - Acrylic Rubbing On Paper

Description

I am a professional sport fishing captain and charter out of Costa Rica, Panama, Galapagos and Tahiti. This Gyotaku print is a replica of original fish rubbings I sell on my website (wssportfishing.com).

Gyotaku is a Japanese fish printing art created by warlords in the early 1800's. The warlords used rice paper and natural berry inks to preserve the exact sizes of their catch. They would compete with each other and needed a way to record the fish as well being able to honor the fish itself. At first the rubbing was done with just one color strictly to record size and species, but at a later date it evolved as an art form with many colored inks and papers.

At the end of the fishing day the fish is laid out on the beach and brushed with a non-toxic acrylic paint. I then rub it onto a high quality Unryu Mulberry paper. After the rubbing, the fish is washed off, filleted and consumed. The art is then dried and rolled for storage or sale. Some details such as eyes and signature are added later in my studio.

Uploaded

January 2nd, 2015