The Gyotaku artist works to create easily recognizable, full-scale translations of a fish rather than a precise replica.  My paintings attempt to capture the essential, individual elements of each subject.  I ltry to stay connected to the environment and pay attention to detail and hope it shows in my final fish print. 

The Artist
While the ancient Fish Printing Art of Gyotaku (gee-yo-tah’-koo) originated in Japan, I did not.  I was born in Brooklyn, the son of Bernie of Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Sheepshead Bay and it is this connection that I believe explains my love of fishing, and the marine environment.

I have been practicing Gyotaku for 30 years. As a classroom elementary teacher I introduced this wonderful art form to my students and they loved it.  However my interest in Gyotaku as a serious fine art expanded and I have been fortunate to have studied under a Master Japanese Gyotaku artist as well as with several American artists. I have traveled to Japan to print and am a member of the Nature Printing Society.  My work has been displayed by invitation at two International Fish Print Shows in Japan and is in the permanent collection at the College of the Atlantic in Maine. 

Of course, being a gyotaku artist comes in second when compared to fishing with my family on our boat the Aunt Chovy out of Moriches Bay, Long Island. Together we manage to boat stripers, tuna, blues, mahi, a variety of bottom fish for the table and printing.