In his classic 1964 book ‘Gyotaku-The Art of the Japanese Fish Print’ Yoshio Hiyama advises an initial “test rubbing” so “any moisture remaining on the fish would be removed by the test print to make the final prints truly artistic.” In my studio the Vineyard Gazette is the perfect size and texture for this usually-discarded first print. However this striped bass came out so well I saved it…good thing, for just days later the Gazette publisher requested a Gyotaku Bass In The Grass!

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Artist:  Steve London

Steve London, artist and lifelong fisherman, has been recognized for two decades as Martha's Vineyard's original Gyotaku printmaker. His mastery of the Japanese art of fish-printing involves applying inks directly onto the surface of his local catch, laying-on of rice paper, and meticulously transferring the image by hand. The resulting one-of-a-kind lifelike fine artworks are featured in collections across the country.

He studied the art form on Maui with a Japanese master printmaker, in the traditional style of black ink on white paper, and has since developed novel techniques of applying colored inks directly onto the fish, then lifting a uniquely textured and detailed original print that captures the beauty of his catch. The fish remains quite edible once the water-based ink is removed.

His work has been featured in Cape Cod Magazine and the Vineyard Gazette, and has shown in galleries on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod. His donations support such local causes as Fluke For Luke and the MV Derby Scholarship, and he teaches at the Old Sculpin/Martha’s Vineyard Art Association.

Gyotaku is the traditional Japanese method of printing fish, a practice which dates to pre-photography documentation of the catch-of-the-day prior to consumption. While this form of nature printing was once used by fishermen to record their catch, it has blossomed into a fine art form of its own.

Sponsor:  Vineyard Gazette Media Group