Gyotaku Fish Rubbings by Chesapeake Bay Fish Prints

Original gamefish art from popular freshwater and saltwater sport fish.

Gyotaku fish rubbings from Chesapeake Bay Fish Prints
Welcome to my Gyotaku internet art gallery.

Full listing of my art for sale - CLICK HERE

I'm a Gyotaku artist from Portsmouth Virginia - a historic port city on the Chesapeake Bay. I taught myself how to do fish rubbings after watching another artist a couple years earlier. It started just as a way for me to have a unique and precise way to record the different fish I catch at home or when I travel. It's also a good way for me to share memories of fun days on the water with friends. There is a story behind every Gyotaku - sometimes it's an adventure, sometimes a once in a lifetime accomplishment.

Fish rubbings show amazing detail - it's not just a picture of a fish, it's the exact impression of a specific fish. Gyotaku fish art is more convenient for some people to display than a whole fish but still shows highly detailed and accurate proof of their trophy catch. When matted and framed a fish rubbing will work with most styles of interior decoration. Gyotaku make great gifts for anyone that loves art from nature. I have a wide variety of original gyotaku for you to choose from in my Gyotaku Gallery.

Bookmark and Share
* PROFESSIONAL CUSTOM MATTING & FRAMING NOW AVAILABLE - Less than $100 for most rubbings *


We are PayPal Verified


Please visit my Local VA Beach art studio at Artistic Creations Gallery in Pembroke Mall
This brightly colored Mahi-Mahi / Dolphin Fish gyotaku is the latest addition to my inventory of original art. The rubbing is from a 27 inch long female Mahi, caught of the coast of Virginia by Dr. Julie Ball and Skip Feller.

It's currently on display at Artistic Creations Gallery located in The Art Space in Pembroke Mall - Virginia Beach, VA.
Original art gyotaku fish prints - Mahi-Mahi

NEW - Prints and T-Shirts

Original art gyotaku giclee prints - t-shirts
click here for more information

What is Gyotaku?

Gyotaku basically means 'fish rubbing' in Japanese. The fish prints (commonly called fish rubbings) are the EXACT mirror image of one side of the fish, each characteristic of the fish is recorded - every scale and fin's reflection is transferred to the rice paper.

The most popular form of Gyotaku fish art is called the direct method. The fish print is created by rubbing a piece paper on the side of an inked fish. The fish eye is painted by hand after the rubbing is made to image motion, life and personality. I hand color many of my monotone rubbings but also do rubbings using colored ink. Monotone rubbings - black ink on white paper show the best detail and have a more traditional look.

Only a few quality Gyotaku fish prints can be made from each fish and all rubbings are unique.

How can I get an original fish rubbing?

In addition to the original gyotaku art in my Online Gallery, I usually have a number of new rubbings on hand that only need to be colored and detailed. If you would like a Gyotaku fish print from a fish species you don't see in our Gyotaku Gallery or you would like me to make a rubbing from your trophy fish - Contact Me or visit Artistic Creations Gallery - Pembroke Mall (north wing), Virginia Beach VA.

Occasionally I have rubbings, prints, t-shirts and other items available at these online retailers.

Please visit my Esty Gallery of original art Please visit my Fine Art America page for prints Please visit my CafePress Gallery of t-shirts of other merchandise
Original art gyotaku fish prints - Blackbelly Rosefish Original art gyotaku fish prints - Striped Bass Original art gyotaku fish prints - Largemouth Bass Original art gyotaku fish prints - Spadefish Original art gyotaku fish prints - Flounder


Chesapeake Bay Fish Prints
Gyotaku - Japanese-style fish art & sportfishing trophies
1-757-285-3091 or E-Mail