About me
My artistic journey began with a bottle of paint and a toy dinosaur, mimicking the Gyotaku process out of pure wonder. With no access to fine art schools or traditional training, he taught himself everything, experimenting with acrylic paints, rice paper, bamboo brushes, and eventually sourcing traditional Japanese sumi ink and handmade washi paper from abroad.
The story behind the ink
Jimmy Downing is the heart and hands behind Pura Vida Gyotaku, an artist born and raised in the small fishing town of Playas del Coco, Costa Rica. Raised between the ocean and a tight-knit community, Jimmy's connection to the sea runs deep—fueled by countless hours fishing with his father and learning to respect the creatures they caught.
What began as curiosity and admiration for Japanese culture turned into a lifelong passion: the ancient craft of Gyotaku—the traditional Japanese method of fish printing. But Jimmy’s path was anything but conventional.
Over the years, he has refined his craft using:
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Ike Jime techniques (humane harvesting used in high-end Japanese fisheries)
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Natural inks, food-safe when needed
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Textile and paper printing, blending Japanese and Costa Rican textures
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Hand-mixed color palettes inspired by local fish and ocean light
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And most importantly—his intuition
He has developed his own hybrid method, one that respects the Japanese origin of the art while anchoring it deeply in Costa Rican culture.
Though Jimmy hasn’t received formal schooling in fine art, his “education” has been a global and community-based one:
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Countless hours studying traditional Gyotaku masters online and through Japanese publications
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Workshops and exchanges with international Gyotaku artists, particularly through the Nature Printing Society (NPS)
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Field practice with local anglers, chefs, and conservationists
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Self-directed study in Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi philosophy, and ink-making traditions
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Artistic influence from Zen calligraphy, surfing culture, and Costa Rican biodiversity
Education
In his pursuit of mastery, Jimmy has studied under some of the most respected names in the global Gyotaku community. He participated in the 2024 Nature Printing Society workshop at Western Oregon University, where he trained with Chris Dewees—a grandmaster of Gyotaku who pioneered the NPS archive. Jimmy also attended a private Gyotaku session with Chris, gaining insight from his decades of experience. He studied traditional ink techniques with Dwight Hwang in the course Traditional Gyotaku with Sumi Ink, and further refined his skills in Dwight’s workshop on Urauchi wet mounting, an advanced preservation technique. Jimmy also took two creative classes with Duncan Berry—Creatures of the Deep and Forest of the Ocean—which pushed the boundaries of concept and visual storytelling in Gyotaku. These experiences, alongside Jimmy’s self-taught experimentation and deep respect for nature, have elevated his work into something uniquely his own: a powerful blend of tradition, innovation, and Costa Rican soul.
Special thanks
This journey would not be what it is without the unwavering support of my wife, Sarah. Her belief in this vision, and in me, has been a constant source of strength.
From encouraging the creation of this website, to helping shape the direction of the business and helping me see the value of investing in its growth, Sarah’s insight, patience, and partnership have played a vital role in every step forward.
I’m deeply grateful for her presence behind the scenes and beside me, offering the kind of support only a true partner can give.
