Octopus Gyotaku Printed and Wet Mounted.

Octopus Gyotaku Printed and Wet Mounted.What a challenge! Ever since I discovered Gyotaku printing I've wanted to print an octopus. They are sometimes caught in the local waters but as yet, I've not had one. This one was supplied by The Menai Seafood Company, our local fishmonger. The octopus is printed on to Chinese mulberry based paper which measures 69. 5x34cm. It has then been wet mounted using the traditional Japanese method. This uses a flour and water paste and requires a drying

With a body measuring approx 16cm by 3cm this this tiny mullet was stunning

Every print I make comes with a certificate of authenticity

I've used a high quality red/orange acrylic ink for this print that is both light fast and permanent

This handmade Artichoke Leaf print celebrates the delicate rhythm and natural geometry of the fern leaf

This final process not only flattens and strengthens the paper but also gives the print a refined

the paper isn't really good for framing as it gets knocked out of shape during printing

It was then wet mounted a second time

5cm and has been mounted using the authentic Japanese wet mounting technique which uses a simple flour and water paste and requires a period of around 24 hours to dry and stretch

The more I make Gyotaku

Measuring A5 in size and presented unframed

The price of course reflects the damage

I have a policy of trying to work as sustainably as I possibly can so it's important to me to care for the specimens and keep working with them time after time rather than just diposing of them