Strategic Angler Gyotaku Archival Giclee Print
(Model: Yellowfin Tuna "Short Fins" / 20" x 10")

Product Description

Features

• Traditional Gyotaku-inspired artwork captures the size, shape, and character of each fish
• Created from fish impressions gathered by Merv Rubiano over five years of travel
• Features species caught primarily using StrategicAngler® Naia and Proteus series lures
• Reproduced on natural unbleached giclee paper for an authentic art-print presentation
• Heavy 21-mil, 310g paper reflects the original medium used for the first impression
• Each print is individually signed and stamped for a collectible finish
• Vibrant "catch color" detailing recreates the fresh iridescent hues seen when landed

What Exactly is a Gyotaku?
Gyotaku (from gyo "fish" + "taku", impression) is a traditional form of Nature printing used by Japanese Fishermen to record their catches. Since then, it has also become an art form of its own.

Typically, sumi ink is applied to the fish and rice or mulberry paper is laid on top. The paper is then rubbed onto the ink, creating an impression to accurately capture the fishes' size and unique characteristics. These fish impressions are often touched up to enhance certain characteristics of the fish. The eyes are usually painted last, marking the completion of a piece.

From the Artist, Merv Rubiano

The Journey:
I have been able to capture several different species in my travels over the past 5 years and now have enough art material to introduce the very first StrategicAngler® Gyotaku related items.

Most of the fish (with the exception of a few on jigs) were caught on StrategicAngler® lures, mostly on the Naia and Proteus series.

These reproduction prints are on a natural giclee paper (unbleached). The paper is a thick 21-mil heavy weight (310g) paper and represents the original medium the first impression was created on. The prints will be individually signed and stamped.

Style:
I was always intrigued at how a fish, fresh out of the water exhibited such vibrant colors; bright iridescent colors which eventually fade into more muted hues. I started taking pictures of these freshly caught fish and wanted to recreate these colors on their otherwise black ink impression. This is after all, the moment when an angler knows the catch has been officially landed.

While I absolutely love the traditional look of a monochromatic fish print, I equally love the very colorful pelagics we obsess and fish for.

Most of my gyotaku will have brighter colors which is usually exhibited by the fish at the time of the capture. This "catch color" is replicated onto the black printed silhouette with a brush and finished with an airbrush to soften lines, add some minor shading or contours thereby creating depth.

Media:
The traditional medium used for fish printing is rice paper (or mulberry) and sumi ink which is made of soot and animal glue. While I have used sumi ink in the past, I currently use acrylic based paints for the main impression since it is colorfast once dry. Cloth or linen is my go to medium for original prints. I really like the flexibility that this medium offers since it is critical to get the right proportions during the printing process. I also find that the impression of the fish stands out more since cloth has a matte and slightly textured finish.

After the impression is made, the fish is then thoroughly washed and processed for the table. The acrylic paints used are water based and washes off easily. The fresher the fish, the better the print.

Manufacturer: Strategic Angler

Product Videos