i use the following materials for all of my prints...
shuji gami rice paper (100% kozo) made in japan >>>
unryu shoji paper (65% kozo) made in japan >>>
the paper that i buy comes in rolls of 30 ft and widths of 18" and 36"...i like
working with these papers because they are thin, making it easier for me to
apply the ink to it...most of my earlier work has been printed on the shuji
gami rice paper, it is 100% natural and therefore i prefer to use this type
of paper...i still use this paper for smaller specimens...however, i recently
started to use the unryu paper because of the larger size...it is made of kozo pulp with rayon
strands...many people prefer this paper because of its elegant textured look...
yasutomo black sumi ink >>>
this is the traditional ink used for writing japanese calligraphy...for the
initial print i like to use a really dark black ink that is not diluted to much...it
is also important that the ink is non-toxic because you need to be able to eat
the fish when you are finished printing it...
sakura koi watercolors >>>
sax arts true flow sable brushes >>>
the brushes and watercolors are for final touchups, and adding color...i like
using watercolor for its transparent qualities which captures the feel of the
fish being underwater...the koi watercolors are of excellent quality and resist
fading and discoloration...and the sable brushes are the best for working with
the medium...
hanko with red stamp ink >>>
the final touch that is added to all of my gyotaku is my signature...while this
may seem simple, it actually is an important part of the gyotaku, and it makes
the piece look even better...i usually sign my name in the bottom right hand
corner and then stamp my hanko which says "kondo kai" in red ink...i got my
hanko from japan with the kanji of my name hand carved into a block of hardwood...
pacific gallery and frames 1258 Young St. Honolulu, HI 96814 (808)
591-2412 >>>
all of the framing on the original gyotaku is done by pacific gallery here in
honolulu...the craftsmanship that goes into each frame, mat and mounting is
unbeatable and in itself is a peice of art...the framing enhances the gyotaku
and the value of the finished artpiece...
more questions or comments???
if this information was useful to you, i would like to know...
contact me>>> dkkondo@kondogyotaku.net