Mirror Image Fish Printing

Mirror Image Fish Printing Gyotaku Fish Printing Hello, I’m Kaylee Hettenbaugh, a local artist and fisherman on Tybee Island, GA.

I am also a graduate of SCAD, (Savannah College of Art and Design). My work is a process called Gyotaku, also known as ‘Fish Printing’. Gyotaku is a Japanese artform that originated before cameras as a way for fishermen to record their catch of the day. It is done by laying the fish flat, painting it with ink, and then pressing rice paper down over the top. The impression is transferred to the pap

er, and when it is lifted, the mirror image of the fish is revealed. The ink that I choose to use is traditional black sumi ink. It is non-toxic, therefore once the fish is rinsed off, it is completely safe to eat or be used as bait. Once the printing process is done, I use watercolors to paint in the coloration of the fish, along with any characterizing details such as spots or stripes.

Day 3 of the River Street Art Market is in full swing! Here today (9/6) until 8 and tomorrow (9/7) 10-4
09/06/2026

Day 3 of the River Street Art Market is in full swing!
Here today (9/6) until 8 and tomorrow (9/7) 10-4

Some pieces are harder to create than others.As I finished another original from Eli’s Bonnethead and gently pulled the ...
08/31/2026

Some pieces are harder to create than others.
As I finished another original from Eli’s Bonnethead and gently pulled the rice paper from the easel, emotion flooded in.
In an instant, I was back at Tybee Marina—the joy on Eli, Erick, and Susan’s faces as they handed me their biggest Bonnethead to date after an incredible morning together on their charter trip.
As a deckhand, I had the joy of sharing many days and great fishing experiences with the Boyer family during their regular trips to Tybee. Later, when I started practicing Gyotaku, they began collecting artwork of the species they had caught.
After learning of their family’s loss of both Eli and then his father Erick to su***de, I couldn’t bring myself to take the remaining raw prints from their tube for a long time.
But eventually, the time came.
And when it did, the painting flowed through me with an ease and clarity I hadn’t expected—as though their spirits were there, gently helping me through it.
As I look at this shark, I don’t just see a fish.
I see that day.
I feel the joy of a family together on the water. I remember the excitement of a great catch and the smiles waiting for me on the dock.
It is an honor to preserve these moments through my artwork—a responsibility, a connection, and a privilege I will never take lightly.

https://www.theeliproject22.com/
Susan Boyer

Excited to be kicking off show season with the River Street Art Market this Labor Day weekend! See y’all there 😄
08/23/2026

Excited to be kicking off show season with the River Street Art Market this Labor Day weekend! See y’all there 😄

Big news! We’re headed to Savannah!

The River Street Art Market kicks off Labor Day Weekend, September 4–7, with additional markets throughout October, November, and December. We can’t wait to bring incredible artists and makers to Savannah’s iconic riverfront!

Learn more and apply through the link below:
www.affps.com/river-street-market

Address

1016 Highway 80
Tybee Island, GA
31328

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+17166404347

Website

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