Yes. And real seaweed and real shrimp and real leaves and real crabs and real octopus . . . I have a large freezer in my studio. It's full of all sorts of interesting things.

What happens to the fish after you print them?

Sometimes I treat the fish gently so I can eat it after printing. More often, I make as many prints as I can, then clean it up and put it back in the food chain.

Does the artwork end up smelling fishy?

Direct printing on paper or fabric does not cause an odor problem. Indirect printing on silk does get smelly -- that's why I wash the print before I mount it to the backing.

How do you pronounce that "g" word and what does it mean?

Gyotaku, a Japanese word and concept, is pronounced with a hard "g": gee-o-tah-koo, with no syllable accented over the other. Gyo = fish; taku = rubbing.

How did you get started printing fish and plants?

Serendipity led me to the 1997 Nature Printing Society annual meeting and workshop in Sitka, Alaska. I had been making linoleum block relief prints for many years. Using the lifeform itself to make the relief print was a natural next step.

Tell me more about the Nature Printing Society.

Founded in 1976, the Nature Printing Society (NPS) is an international organization devoted to nature and to the art of nature printing. Annual workshops are held in great places in the States and abroad. Go to the NPS website for more information: www.natureprintingsociety.info.

How can your artwork be purchased?

I sell directly from my studio in the Portland, Oregon, area and I can take special orders by email.

In Ketchikan, you can find my original gyotaku at Exploration Gallery, PO Box 23380, Ketchikan, Alaska, 99901, dwnaab@kpunet.net.

I also plan on appearing at the occasional art festival in the Portland, Oregon area. Click here if you would like to be on my email list, and I'll keep you posted.

What is your dog's name?

Her name is Daisy. She's a border collie mix, the smartest, sweetest dog I've ever had.

Who made this great website? 

My wonderful daughter, Erica Schafer DeNorscia, who is making sure my REAL work is well represented in virtual reality. "How to Print An Octopus" was photographed in her San Jose apartment.

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