Gyotaku:
japanese fish-printing
Gyotaku (ghee-ah-tah'-koo) is an art form first identified in Japan when fishermen would advertise their catch by inking the largest fish and pressing rice paper onto the wet ink. The resulting image was displayed as advertisement. Through the years, the practical craft became an art form that has been practiced worldwide.
Oceanica Designs' artist, Leslie Sautter has modified the craft by making digital prints that can be recolored, resized, and reoriented. Each image was originally made using the actual marine organism*. Original prints were then scanned and used to create the unique items found throughout the Oceanica Designs shop.
A fish is painted, then a print is made on muslin or rice paper.
*All animals were donated by fishermen and seafood stores.
None were killed for the purpose of printing.