Paula Nishikawara

Gyotaku Workshops

Gulf of Georgia Cannery, Steveston with Nishikawara, hosts a free Gyotaku Workshop as part of the Prawn and Seafood Festival events.
Two sessions from 11:00 - 12:30 and 2:00 - 3:30 on Saturday June 7, 12138 Fourth Ave., Richmond, BC

Transforming real fish forms; learn the traditional Japanese art of creating art prints from real fish. You will learn how to handle the special Washi (Japanese paper), paint and the fish to make several of your own prints.

- No experience necessary
- 6 yr and up (with supervision)
- All materials provided (Washi, Sumi ink or paint, brushes, real fish)

Tokyo, Japan - May 2025

They had a great time choosing their fish at the market then walking back through Ueno Park to our workshop space.
These friends were visiting from France and it worked out that we were both in Japan at the same time so another lucky coincidence enabled them to try their hand at the Japanese art of Gyotaku. Also in the group was a newly discovered second cousin of mine who was curious to try an art that his great Uncle had practised.

Sunny Days in Kanonji, Kagawa, Shikoku, Japan- April

The grand opening event celebrating the brand new building for Bright Eikaiwa English School!
Everyone wanted to try making a fish print! Hundreds of people tried Gyotaku for the first time - some coming back the next day in case they could try again.
We still had fish, paint and paper - so we went round 2. They are learning English, so as well as teaching me some more Japanese, I helped them remember their colours and a few more basic words. There was so much variety and the fish were so fresh! The washi was local from Shikoku and the fish from Kochi.

Ueno Park/ Yanaka Tokyo, Japan:
Gyotaku Workshop March 2025
Travelers from Chicago wanted to participate in a Japanese cultural activity that was less common than tea ceremony, or kimono for eg. I looked for paper, set up the room, found paint, brushes and supplies........
They took part in choosing the fish at Tsukiji, (after an early morning viewing of the Tuna auction at Toyosu at 5am) washing and preparing their choices and finally printing on paper and a shirt from Lawsons!

Gyotaku Workshops

Transforming real fish forms; learn the traditional Japanese art of creating art prints from real fish. You will learn how to handle the special Washi (Japanese paper), paint and the fish to make several of your own prints.

- No experience necessary
- 6 yr and up (with supervision)
- All materials provided (Washi, Sumi ink or paint, brushes, real fish)

Gyotaku - getting the first print

cyanotype Workshops

Saturday July 8, 2023 12:00-2:00 pm

Register here

Join us for this exciting Cyanotype workshop in collaboration with Gallery 881. This is an all ages event. We encourage families and friends to join us as we use the power of the sun to make art! At the end of the workshop, we will present the artwork in Gallery 881 for the day of the event.

What is a Cyanotype?

Cyanotype is one of the oldest photographic processes that does not require a camera. Your project gets exposed to the sun to create beautiful images on light-sensitive paper, fabric, or other mediums.

Materials are supplied however, bringing your own objects to expose will surely personalize your pieces. These could include film negatives and film positives printed from a home printer or any image printed on transparent film. Organic matter such as leaves, flowers, feathers and branches. Other 3D objects such as small toys, shells, glass, lace, papers or just about anything that will fit on your surface and block or filter UV light will work. Different objects and exposure times create interesting, spontaneous and unpredictable results. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

Yes an online Gyotaku Workshop! From anywhere in the world you can join in and experience the delight of printing from nature.
Look what was created in Mexico and Germany.
Our next course will be in September so stay tuned for dates.......