Gyataku Art Lesson for all Ages and Abilities

Fish Prints using Japanese Calligraphy Ink, Banner Paper and Rubber Fish Molds

Gya means Fish and Taku means press or print.  This art form originated in Japan around 1870 as a way for sports fishermen to record the exact size and species of fish they had caught before the invention of photography.  Today, sports fishermen in Japan often display gyotaku as wall decorations in their homes, or they keep them as a sort of journal to document their success in the sport. Many Japanese fishing magazines hold contests each year for the largest fish caught for each species. The winners of these competitions are chosen from the gyotaku that were submitted.

In 1955, the Association of Gyotaku was formed, and the first exhibition was held at the Matsuya Gallery in Ginza, Tokyo. The first gyotaku exhibition held outside of Japan took place in 1956 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

Supplies Needed:

Fish Mold

Black Ink

Lightweight paper such as Banner Paper or Rice paper

Colored Pencils

Background paper 

Glue and Scissors

After looking at examples of Gyataku printed with colorful ink I decided to try just using black ink, which dries very fast on the thin paper, then colored pencil over the ink.

Which ends up looking like it is under the ink.

First I put the fish molds on aluminum foil, then each artist covers the fish with ink using a brush.

I asked them to work quickly before the ink dries to get the best prints.

Also not to use too much ink, which will make the paper weak because it's too wet.

They need to carefully remove the paper because it sticks to the fish a little bit.

If the paper rips it's fine because they are glueing it onto a background paper.

Once they finish printing their fish and the ink is dry use the colored pencils to add bright colors, including layering colors.

Some artists cut an outline around their fish.  Others wanted just the white paper.

Others added an underwater scene for the fish to have an aquatic habitat.

I taught this to children, adults and Artists with Disabilities and they all did wonderful Gyataku!

What I liked was the simplicity of the one color of ink, but the colorful drawing over the top.  Easy to teach and easy to clean up!  Have Fun!