Gyotaku

The form of Gyotaku (Japanese Gyo-fish, taku-print), that I use is the "direct method". This means that I take a fish that I have caught, remove the protective slime layer with vinegar, apply water soluble paint (acrylic) to the fish, then place a sheet of rice paper on the fish and rub it, being careful to massage the major defining characteristics of the fish. These usually are the assorted fins, gill plates and mouth structures. When dry, I carefully cut the print and apply either to hardboard or canvas and detail with acrylic paint.

Frottage' and Transfers

My first awareness of the use of Frottage as a means of transferring naturally 'found" textures was by my exposure to the work of the artist Max Ernst,  In my work I have used either the large leaves of ​Philodendron sp., treated with acrylic paint and rubbed onto hardboard or canvas, transfers with rice paper of rubbings of the damage caused by beetles under the bark of Locust trees, or rubbings of textured surfaces. Images produced with either methods are detailed with acrylic paint.