Menai Strait, Line Caught Sea Bass Gyotaku Printed and Wet Mount

This print was selected for the Royal Society of Marine Artists exhibition in 2022 and was displayed at the Mall Galleries in central London along with many other beautiful artworks.  

This bass was caught on a line by a local fisherman here in North Wales.  It was caught on the Menai Stait.

Bass are my favourite fish to print the definition you get on the scales is wonderful. This bass is printed on Chinese mulberry paper measuring 69.5cm x 34.5cm.  It is supplied with a mount which takes the overall measurement to 77.5cm x 42.5cm.  I’ve used an acrylic screen printing ink on this print and the only addition after printing is the eye is painted in by hand. 

Printing is just the first part of the process.  After printing, the paper is cockled and wouldn’t lay flat in a frame.  To achieve a flat print I use the traditional wet mounting process that has been used in the east for centuries.  This process takes 24hours.  Urauchi means to add a backing with glue.  The print is placed face down on a board before a thin glue, which I make myself from flour and water is pasted over the back of the print generously. I then take a second sheet of paper, in this case, a Japanese Masa paper and press this firmly to the back of the print.  The two sheets are now left overnight to bond together and dry. The resulting print is now flat and perfect for framing. 

When it is flattened, I sign the print and stamp it with my Hanko.  

Shipping to the UK is free.  If you are interested in having the print framed and mounted please send me a message.