Fish and Dive Expo 2016

Right after the Punahou, we stopped off at the 2016 Fish and Dive Expo!!!! I actually didn't buy anything - can you believe that??? Maybe it's because we're on a budget and I'm trying to stick to it ;) What we did see closely resembled many of the other expos we've been to earlier this year (Hawaii Ocean Expo, lots of the science days, etc) - good to see many of the same vendors, but it'd also be nice to see some new and different things, or vendors from the other islands. Windward Boats had several boats at the show - nice day boats for hitting the sand bar or dragging some inshore lures. But the fishing kayaks and the New reversible Mirage Drive propulsion systems took the cake. I've seen these air bags advertised on Facebook alot - Some nice gyotaku at the show!

Hawaii Ocean Expo

We checked out the Hawaii Ocean Expo this evening. Similar grouping of booths and vendors as last year, but the organizers moved the venue down to Aloha Tower. Windward Boats was there teasing me... Naoki was there printing fresh tshirts for the keiki. La and Marlon were discussing Marine Biologist education and job paths with the education booths. And I had fun looking at all the fishing stuff - And eating a sample from a place I've been wanting to go to (they catch all the fish they serve) - what a job!!! Good way to spend a Saturday evening!

Birthday Lunch at Gyotaku

Another request for Marlon's Birthday - his favorite food - Sushi! We hit a restaurant that has intrigued us - Gyotaku. This is the second place we've been to that has used fried wontons as a nacho chip. And I finally got to eat natto (not bad, but I'd have to stretch pretty far to figure out a use...). The sushi was ok - funny thing is we're having a hard time finding a great sushi restaurant (that won't break our wallet). I think the Japanese bentos and other dishes would be a better bet (as those dominated the menu - but we can also make those dishes, so why go out to eat those). Naoki gyotaku on the walls (but only three of them??? I thought the whole place would have been covered). Still good and Marlon found another place to offer a Godzilla roll.

More Art from the SEA-TAC Airport

This rather large gyotaku is up in the passageway or Terminal D. Very impressive three panel work. This makes me want to dig out some of my unfinished work...

Certified Self Help Framer - Again

I just completed the self help framer class at Hickam Arts and Crafts Center. Now I can get all the gyotaku framed without leaving body parts behind at the local frame shops. This practice piece was a postcard we picked up at New Smyrna Outfitters in Florida. I am looking forward to getting a bunch of the gyotakus finished over the next several months.

Something Brewing

I'm close to starting up a custom gyotaku service. I'll probably use Itsy as the venue, but when we finally get settled in a place, I'll set up a shop in the garage to make frames in addition to the prints. I'll also push this more in the direction of "call me so we can meet up, I'll evaluate if I can print your catch, if yes then I'll let you know when to come by and pick up the project (and filets)", with several prints made as bycatch and put up for the non-fishermen out there. Stay tuned...

Flounder Gyotaku

I made four prints from the flounder I caught several days back. I got these prints just short of done - I need to put a watercolor brown over the entire fish. Or I might just leave them at this point (although the one with splotches will definitely get the brown undercoat. I think it is really interesting how multiple prints from the same fish can come out so different.

Art Lesson

Sunday afternoon art lesson (heck yeah we're taking credit for this - we are homeschooling after all).