More to the Story with Staley: Printing Fish

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Our area is well known as a great place to enjoy the sport of fishing. But for one teacher here in Chattanooga, he’s taken his love of fishing to an entirely different level.

“The fish provides the detail. Some people say oh, you painted the teeth in. And I say no: it’s the fish.”

Matt Monahan is a teacher at Chattanooga Christian School and he’s an avid fisherman.

About ten years ago, Matt took his love of that sport to a higher level. Getting into a traditional Japanese art form: gyotaku. Printing fish.

Matt goes through a series of steps to make his prints. You see, he catches them, washes them, models them, paints them with ink, rubs the fish on paper, then takes the print and adds the fine painting. And then mounts the finished product.

“I need to have a steady hand. Just the right amount of ink and pressure,” said Monahan. “And I have to work on the angle. No smudges is a challenge!”

Monahan is serious about his work. He’s taken classes. And the thing of it is, his printmaking has turned into a happy surprise.

For it’s now a business. He’s exhibited his works all over the USA. And his prints are selling for hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

“It started off as just a hobby. And then, one teacher said to me that I should put things up for sale, and I did. And people started buying my artwork,” Monahan said. “It was exhilarating. I like my work, and so did others.”

Matt catches most of the fish he works on. And by the way, when he’s done printing the fish, he cleans it. And it goes in the freezer. Ready for family frying pan.