Nature Printing with Fish: Gyotaku Workshop

This hands-on workshop will emphasize the direct method of fish printing. Inks are applied directly to the fish and then transferred directly with your hands onto paper or fabric. All materials will be supplied, but participants are welcome to bring their own fabric, paper, or fish for printing. Fish and small octopus will be provided to print. By the end of this fun day, participants should have a stack of finished prints to take home as well as the knowledge to keep printing.

Chris Dewees has focused on Japanese fish printing, or gyotaku, since 1968, and is a co-founder of the Nature Printing Society. He has gained worldwide recognition for his talents with shows all over the world, and enjoys teaching others this Japanese art. His modern take on the art form blends his knowledge of fisheries and ecology to document the life histories of fish species. Chris has a newly published book, A Life Among Fishes — the Art of Gyotaku, which shares fifty years of his experiences and adventures with images of his gyotaku art and photos from his life.