HERNANDO BEACH, Fla. — With every stroke and critical eyes, Hernando County artist Brian Kelly is documenting a story and striving for authenticity while giving local fisherman something more sophisticated than a standard photo of their catch.

What You Need To Know

  •  Local artist Brian Kelly works to document local catches for fishermen

  •  It's an art style called gyotaku that started in Japan

  •  It's a unique way for fishermen to remember their catch

“It makes me feel good when somebody calls me, and they have that trophy fish and they trust me into printing it for them,” said Kelly, whose work was showcased at this month's Front Porch Art Walk.

“Every fish has a story," he said. "So, when I hand that print back to somebody and they hang it on their wall, it’s not just a piece of art, it’s a conversation piece."

Using the Japanese art of fish printing, known as gyotaku, Kelly starts the transformation from an actual fish into original artwork.

“It actually started in the mid-1800s in Japan as was a way for the fisherman to record their catch before the advent of photography,” Kelly said.

“So, they would take an actual fish — it started with black sumi ink on rice paper — and they make the impression of the fish," he said. "And the only detail one at that time was the eye."

Just as they did more than 100 years ago, he uses non-toxic paint so the fish can be cleaned and prepped for eating.

Kelly said he is committed to coupling his passions for spearfishing and art in his Hernando Beach home studio, but said Hurricane Helene’s storm surge pushed nearly four feet of floodwater inside, damaging the structure and nearly destroying several pieces of work.

“The water started pouring in from the windows and I could hear it from upstairs, and that’s when we knew we were in trouble. I ran downstairs. There were several rolls of canvas in a dresser, so I’m running around downstairs, lifting it up, putting it up on shelves, trying to save it,” Kelly said.

Kelly underscored the importance of having a free place for local artists to showcase their work in Hernando County.

“It’s really special because I grew up in this neighborhood, and it feels good to see the community join together and support all the artists showcasing their work at the Front Porch Art Walk,” Kelly said.

The Front Porch Art Walk takes place the first Saturday of every month in Hernando Beach at one of three venues: Brian’s Place, Silver Dolphin Restaurant and the Weaver Group Realty.