Gyotaku

WHAT IS GYOTAKU?

• The traditional method of Japanese fish printing dating from the mid-1800s
• Gyo meaning "fish" and taku meaning "rubbing"
• This form of nature printing was used by fisherman
• The fisherman may have used it to record their catches
• This has also become an artform on its own

GYOTAKU HISTORY

• Japanese fisherman used this method to record the size and the type of catch
• The first fish rubbing may have been done by an unknown samurai warrior
• Credit is given to an emperor for having an image of a large red snapper
• This was made by adding paint and then touching paper to it
• He hung the art and ate the fish, and to this day it is popular in Japan

CURRENT DAY USE

• Gyotaku can serve as a great way to teach people about basic fish anatomy
• It can also help children learn how fish swim unlike humans
• Now people use this type of rubbing for other sea creatures, not just fish

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

HEATHER FORTNER

• She first saw a fish print in 1976 in Hawaii and has began fish printing since
• The sea is an element part of her life
• The art of fish rubbing is the ultimate blend of artistic and marine realms
• She was a commerical fisherman and a deckhand on research in Hawaii & Alaska
• Fortner would print the fishes caught from the vessel, and now teaches it all over

Heather is from Honolulu Hawaii

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

• In 2012 she moved to Oregon and set up a nature printing studio, Sea Fern Studio
• The goal of the studio is teaching more about nature printing including...
• Gyotaku fish printing, plant printing, and paper making
• She hopes to inspire people of every age to enjoy nature printing like she has

"Where ever I am - on a ship at sea, in a forest or on a mountain top, or in a quiet meadow - the natural world is my compass."
- Heather Fortner