Menai Strait Prawn Gyotaku

Menai Strait Prawn GyotakuI picked up this prawn from my friend Andy in December, he was clearing down his bait tanks on the Menai and had pulled out half a dozen prawns and a pollock. He gifted me this little guy and he went in the freezer until I had some time after Christmas to get in the studio and print. It takes a long time to prepare and ink a prawn and then position it ready to print. So although it's a small print, a lot of work goes into it. Once the print is made,

Scallop Shells make ideal coastal decor for a lounge

This process flattens the print back out so it is suitable for framing

There is a very slight staining on the corner on one side which I have tried to show in the photos

The print measure approx 84 x 50cm framed

the piece was finished off using the wet mounting method (Urauchi) to ensure fine detail and a flat

flat finish and enhancing its longevity

I love feathers for their connection to nature

Once this was done I then finished this print with some hand water colour painiting and then re mounted the work taking another 24 hours

It was one of the staff at the fish processing plant that follows me on Instagram and is aware of this art form that contacted me and asked me if I'd like the tail in exchange for a print

the specimen has fresh ink applied and the pressing is done gently by hand

I hand paint the eyes on the print and leave that to dry

This  diptych is printed on Chinese mulberry paper and each panel measures approx 35x35cm