Two Rivers area teens gathered at Hamilton to investigate gyotaku, a traditional Japanese method of making prints directly from fish. Leading the way was instructor Rebecca Jabs, an artist and educator from Manitowoc, Wisconsin who specializes in scientific illustration.

Gyotaku participants worked with freshly-caught whitefish and herring courtesy of the Susie Q Fish Company. The fish were gently coated with a brushing of sumi ink.

Flexible Japanese rice paper was used to obtain prints of the fish.

In the tradition of gyotaku, the fishes’ eyes were painted in after printing.

Participants also designed, carved, and printed a stamp with their initials to ‘sign’ their prints.

Hamilton is pleased to partner with the Lester Public Library to hold fun, creative events for teens as part of the TR Teen Night Program.