A Tale of Art and the Ocean

A TALE OF ART AND THE OCEA N

One man’s quest to fuse his love of printmaking and fishing

A carpenter woke up four years ago and decided he was going to catch a fish and print it. The story didn’t end there. Adam Ashdown went on to become a successful artist - his prints representing the Australian male’s deep and robust affinity with fishing. Adam’s work will feature at the 2021 Margaret River Region Open Studios event.

WORDS | Sophie Mathewson IMAGES | Tim Campbell

A chippy turned artist from Dunsborough with a talent for printing your hero catch into a stunning work of art ready to hang, Adam Ashdown is self-taught in the practice of Gyotaku – a Japanese printing technique that requires sumi ink, a fish, and rice paper. Adam’s artwork is both beautiful and individual, and the process involved reveals multiple prints from a single fish – with the image becoming more and more detailed as the ink is slowly removed.

Adam was self-taught for a reason. There is little known about the ancient printing methods, and he learnt simply though trial and error. Adam says “It started in Japan in the 1800s and at the end of the 1900s it kind of went underground. These days you can get a bit of information on the modern technique but as far as the traditional methods go, it’s really – there’s your fish, you put sumi ink on it, and wrap it in rice paper.”

According to Adam, your fresh catch is easier to print than a frozen one caught the day earlier, but both can be done. At the time of interview, Adam was working on a commissioned print from a fish that had been frozen for six weeks. So whether you’re in Perth, Karratha or Dunsborough – he can arrange the print.

Without trying very hard, Adam has stumbled on a bit of fame in the Margaret River Region. Presenting at Gourmet Escape a couple of years back with Miki’s Kitchen head chef Mikihito Nagai, Adam garnered the attention of international chefs and visitors to the region.

Not long after that he was invited to attend an event in Sydney for small business owners. The event, called ‘The Gift Guide’ was run at the Facebook headquarters in New South Wales and when Adam was contacted to take part, he couldn’t quite believe it was real. “They had 30 small businesses from around Australia – all regional, and they said we need you in Sydney to represent these businesses so

MARGARET RIVER

EST. 1967

MARGARET RIVER’S FOUNDING WINE ESTATE

Everyone is welcome to visit the renowned Vasse Felix Estate, which offers a range of experiences to immerse oneself in Margaret River’s wine, food, culture and history. TASTING BAR • WINE LOUNGE • RESTAURANT • THE VAULT • ART GALLERY • TOURS Tales & Trails / margaretriver.comOpen Daily 10AM - 5PM Caves Road (Cnr Tom Cullity Drive), Cowaramup WA 6284 | 51 Phone 9756 5000 Restaurant Reservations 9756 5050 Website vassefelix.com.au

five or six of us flew over and we went to Universal Studios. And this was all a week from getting the phone call which was pretty loose. We flew to Sydney, then to Canberra and it was good getting out there to the Eastern States.”

It goes without saying, the artwork is popular. To keep up with demand, Adam sells prints and t-shirts, but most lovers of the sea will appreciate the originals – crafted hours after a great catch in the local waters of Geographe Bay. It’s a fantastic memento to remember your trophy catch. And yes – you can still eat the fish after it’s been printed. Sumi ink is water based so it washes off afterwards.

I asked Adam if he prefers a particular type of fish to print. “Some fish to me are quite boring. They’re just a shape with no scales. So there are fish that do come up better in a print. Some fish are also a lot more involved to print. I did a tuna – the thing was 86kg and if you can imagine it being a big balloon on the print, so I had to get the perspective right and take the ink to a certain point on the fish then cut the fins off, print the fins separately, and it turned into something like a 26 stage print. The dory is a really flat fish so it’s more a matter of whacking on the ink and taking the print, and they come up really cool.”

Despite the attention he’s had as an artist, Adam, like most Aussie blokes, is modest about his achievements – still claiming that art is his side hustle while managing Dad duties and his tradie work.

If you’ve got an interest in art or fishing, find Adam at this year’s Margaret River Region Open Studios from September 11th – 26th. His work is also on display and sold at Blue Manna Bistro where you can enjoy the artwork and some of the freshest seafood in the region.

Interested in more art experiences?

TRY THESE NOTEWORTHY GALLERIES

• John Miller Design: John Miller’s jewellery designs are some of the most creative and original handcrafted artworks. Like many artists in the region, John has a passion for the native Australian landscape, with plants and animals featuring predominantly on the statement jewellery.

• Payet Gallery: Tucked away on Boodjidup

Road, Payet is a hidden gem. Stunning pottery, jewellery and photography are worth stopping in for.

• Jah Roc Gallery: Jah Roc has regular contemporary exhibitions and stocks a range of fine art, paintings, and sculptures.

The gallery also sells its own exclusive line of designer furniture made from local materials. You’ll find the service and people at Jah Roc all part of the experience. Down to earth, salt of the earth types.

• The Studio Gallery: Art is always complemented by food and at the Studio

Gallery you can indulge in both. With the gallery exhibiting award winning art pieces and the bistro offering an exciting menu in a warm and informal setting, this vibrant venue tucked away in Yallingup is a must.

• Goanna Gallery & Café: Dine in for first-rate comfort food, then follow up with a gallery walk-through checking out emerging local talent.

• Boranup Gallery: 20 minutes south of

Margaret River just past the Boranup Forest lookout point, is Boranup Gallery – home to a collection of artworks from a range of mediums including wood and metal sculpture, ceramics and glass.