Gyotaku – unique hand-printed Hawaiian fish prints

Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=impression) is an ancient Oriental art form which uses actual fresh-caught fish to create spectacular, one-of-a-kind art prints on natural papers and fabrics. Natural Impressions employs the traditional gyotaku technique with modern twists, using fresh-caught Hawaiian fish and natural flora.

Gyotaku Fish Prints – perfect gifts for any occasion

“Kalani” DeWitt Lickle has been a fisherman/gyotaku artist/farmer on the Island of Maui since the mid-eighties. His spontaneous and unique approach to the wonderful world of fish have made him a leader in the modern Gyotaku movement.

From giant Marlin and other pelagic game fish to the teeny Manini – Kalani’s work fits into a wide category of affordable art for home, office, or commercial venues.

Latest Techniques

Collage

Check out our latest collage pieces-brought to us in collaboration with Casey Neumann – my printmaster assistant/artist extraordinaire. She graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and has kicked it up a notch here in GyotakuMauiWorld. Her knowledge of oriental papers and and their structure has shown through in our new collage pieces.

Organically Pigmented Inks

For over a year now, we have been coloring our Octopus or Tako Prints with the actual ink from the octopus. Much like Sepia Ink from cuttlefish, the tako ink has a wonderful organic quality that intensifies as you layer . We have also been experimenting with the rusty, rutty, reds of the Betel Nut Palm seeds with great results.

Giclee Hawaiian art prints

Our original gyotaku prints are also available as digital reproductions (giclee) that can be printed on an amazing assortment of media (papers, fabrics, products), and make the perfect gift for those hard-to-please, discriminating people on your shopping list. Unique, distinctive and sure to fit with any decor, our prints bring a touch of the tropics and a taste of the ocean wherever they go!

Our giclee prints are high-quality digital reproductions of original gyotaku prints. They are printed with archival inks on linen art paper. The prints are 11″x14,” matted and ready for standard size framing. Check out more giclee prints Special orders Giclee prints can be ordered in larger sizes and framed in Hawaiian koa hardwood – contact us for special orders – call us at 808-575-9300, email us, or fill in the contact form.

Full Circle Art

At Natural Impressions, Kalani and crew’s motto is: HOOK ‘EM, LOOK ‘EM, and COOK ‘EM: We catch the fish, we print the fish, then we eat the fish – no waste! Tropical Hawaiian fish make beautiful prints The bountiful Hawaiian waters supply us with beautiful fish of all kinds for truly dramatic gyotaku prints: we regularly catch Hawaiian gamefish like marlin (Au), yellowfin tuna (Ahi), giant trevally (Ulua), wahoo (Ono), dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi), bottom fish like ruby red snapper (Onaga), pink snapper (Opakapaka), gray snapper (Uku), silver jaw snapper (Lehi), golden snapper (Ehu), goatfiah ((Kumu), as well as the whole gamut of colorful reef fish and invertebrates, such as octopus (Tako), triggerfish (Humuhumunukunukuapu’a), soldierfish (Mempachi), etc.

Come by and visit us!

When on Maui, call us for a studio/gallery appointment (575- 9300), or check out our work at the Paia Fishmarket, or at any of our dealers around the state. Visit our photo galleries to see a wide variety of gyotaku fish prints  and giclee reproductions. We have many more prints than you see here! Visit our online gallery and check them all out! If you have a shop or online store and would like to distribute our art prints, let us know! Just call us at 808-575-9300, email us, or fill in the distributor’s form.

Questions? Contact us!

If you have any requests, questions or comments, please let us know! Just call us at 808-575-9300, email us, or fill in the contact form – we appreciate your input!