Gyotaku Fish Rubbings by Brett Swindell

Original art from popular freshwater and saltwater sport fish.

Gyotaku fish rubbings by Brett Swindell

Welcome to my Gyotaku art gallery.


I'm a Gyotaku artist from Portsmouth Virginia - a historic port city on the Chesapeake Bay. I taught myself how to do fish rubbings as a way for me 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. 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 - OR -

CLICK HERE for a listing of my art for sale by fish species

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Please visit my Local VA Beach art studio at Artistic Creations Gallery in Pembroke Mall
May is when anglers on the Chesapeake Bay expect the return of the big Red Drum. These are strong fighting fish when they are small 'puppy' Drum and a serious challenge at 50 pounds. This beautiful Red Drum Gyotaku was done on black unryu rice paper from Thailand.

It's currently for sale at Seaworthy Gallery in Hatteras Villiage, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Original art gyotaku fish rubbings - Flounder

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 on Shore Drive, Virginia Beach VA or Lin Lin Gallery on Shore Drive in Norfolk VA.

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

Lin-Lin Studio Gallery Norfolk Virginia 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


Gyotaku by Brett Swindell / Chesapeake Bay Fish Prints
Original Gyotaku Fish Rubbings and Sportfishing Trophies
1-757-373-8066 or E-Mail

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