Home Page + Gyotaku Studio + Gyotaku T-Shirts + Gyotaku Gallery + F.A.Q. + Contact US + Site Map Frequently Asked Questions If you have a question or comment please send me a message.
How do I get my fish printed? If you would like me to do a Gyotaku fish rubbing (print) from a fish you catch there are a few ways you can help make sure the prints will come out as good as possible. Fresh fish are best for printing but I can print fish that have been frozen or kept on ice as well. If you are out fishing and can't ice your catch it's best to keep it moist by wrapping it in a shirt or cloth towell. Paper towells and newspaper will wick moisture from the fish so don't use them, a plastic bag is better than paper. Try to fold down dorsal fins if they are fragile to prevent them from bending or breaking off. If you would like to eat your fish some additional prepping needs to be done UNLESS you can get me the fish within a few hours minimum. There are a couple ways to gut or bleed a fish so it can still be rubbed. DO NOT CUT DOWN THE CENTER OF THE GUT CAVITY! Determine which side of the fish is in better condition - which means scales and fins are intact and less damage from the hooks or gaff. Make a cut from along one lower side of the fish from the lower rear of the gills toward the anus to remove guts. This will ensure that I have the best whole side of the fish to print. Many people prefer to remove the red part of the gills with pliars to bleed the fish shortly after it's caught, then placing the fish on ice. This helps prevent the meat from spoiling without cutting open the fish. The ink I use is water based and non-toxic but it's best to skin the fish after printing. The last thing to do is call Brett at (757) 484-4562 8am - 9pm. Half page prints 24w x 18h - black on natural color unryu paper - $50 full color $80 Full page prints 35w x 24h - black on natural color unryu paper - $50 full color $100
	What does the Japanese text in the logo translate to? I wanted to use a traditional stamp as a signature for my fish rubbings but since my name doesn't translate to Japanese I had to come up with something else. A friend suggested I try to think of a message or clever saying. After months of research and thought I decided on something simple. The text reads from bottom up - 'eat fish'.
I accept payments from	How can I pay for a fish rubbing? The easiest way to pay for an original Gyotaku fish rubbing from Chesapeake Bay Fish Prints is by using PayPal. I can send a PayPal invoice that is payable by PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and more. In addition I also accept personal checks, money orders and cashiers checks. Personal checks require 7 business days to process.
	How will you ship my print? Unless you specify otherwise I ship all my packages standard UPS ground which should arrive in most of the US within 6 business days. Typically an unmatted / unframed fish rubbing will ship for less than $10 - and be packaged in a shipping tube. Shipping costs on framed and matted prints will be calculated prior to invoicing. Once the package has been picked up by UPS I will email the buyer with the tracking number which can be monitored on the UPS web site.
	Why do you sell your paintings unmatted and unframed? I offer all my work unmatted and unframed to give the customer the lowest price possible. It also gives the buyer the ability to more accurately match the decor of their home. If you want to order one of my fish rubbings I offer three options : 1 - Unmatted and unframed - I ship the rubbing rolled up in a shipping tube. 2 - Matted and shrink-wrapped - I offer a nice display option for gifts or for anyone on a budget. The cost runs $25 for a half page size print / $60 for a full page. This includes a nice (professionally cut) matting, foam core backing and is shrink-wrapped with clear plastic. 3 - Matted and framed. This adds some time to delivery but I use a wholesale framing company that does an excellent job of framing and offer a wide selection of frame styles and matting options. Pricing varies but quotes are available. Just send me your ideas.
Matted and Framed - Lookdown	Matted and Framed - Black Snook