Gyotaku Printmaking: Seashells & Seaweed

Join the California Nature Art Museum and Gyotaku Artist Jason Bero for a printmaking workshop on Sunday, October 26th, 2025, from 1:00PM-3:00 PM. During this unique, hands-on experience, you’ll learn to apply ink to seashells, seaweed, and other coastal artifacts for printing onto rice paper in the traditional Japanese art form of Gyotaku. Participants who are comfortable may also choose to create a print using fish freshly caught on a local boat charter. All participants will take home at least one printed piece, customized based on their own artifact selections.

About Gyotaku:

Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art form, typically involving the painting of fish and other caught marine life with ink and printing their images onto rice paper or fabric. While Gyotaku was once used by fishermen primarily to record catches, it is now widely recognized for its natural and simplistic beauty.

About the Instructor:

Beginning in 2017 on the island of Maui, Jason Bero has been creating custom Gyotaku prints for his fellow local fishermen for the past eight years. Due to the recent pandemic and escalating cost of living in Hawaii, he moved to sunny Central California in 2023 where he continues to pursue his love for fishing and sharing his talents in commissioned fish printing and other art mediums!

Advance registration is required, 15 attendees max. Questions? Email Assistant Director Rachel Metz at rachel@calnatureartmuseum.org.