Rocky Point High School students used the ancient Japanese printmaking technique of Gyotaku to create impressions of fish with art teacher Ellen Ferro.

Ms. Ferro shared her knowledge and expertise while guiding the students in using sumi ink and rice paper to make the life-sized fish impressions. They chose from various rubber sea creatures, fish, frogs, alligators and starfish to create their printing plates that turned into multiple artistic prints.

The art process of Gyotaku not only provided the students with a way to enhance their creative skills, it also was a mini lesson in the scientific process as they observed, hypothesized, experimented, compared and contrasted their final projects.

This printmaking course introduces students to graphic arts, which is the profession Ms. Ferro was in before embarking on a new career as an art teacher in Rocky Point. The students will also create linoleum blocks, monoprints, intaglio prints and relief printing while becoming acquainted with the historical context of these techniques and how they’ve impacted society and cultures.