Gyotaku
(gee-o-tah-ku)

Gyotaku, meaning fish rubbing, originated in Japan less than 200 years ago. The art, without going into great detail, involves transferring the image of a fish, using inks or paints, onto paper or fabric. Early Gyotaku was used to document a fisher's catch much like fish mounts are used today. In Japan fish prints have even been used to determine the outcome of fishing competitions.

Gyotaku was only recognized as a legitimate art form about 50 years ago. Today, the art, while still in its infancy, is undergoing evolutionary changes and greatly gaining in popularity and areas of exposure.

Conservation Printing: Kim and Ian feel very strongly about conservation and the protection of our environment. They do not use the fish and other organisms they print just for art. Most of their subjects, with the help of Kim's culinary talents, become delicious meals. Others, considered inedible, become bait to catch new subject material.

Collage: Collage techniques are used to gain texture and increase dimension.

Batik: Batik and Gyotaku compliment each other and provide a merging of old (batik dates back to the eight century) and new oriental art forms.