The original sketch:
First stamp:
First stamp refined:
Sketch for second stamp, with pencil indicating changes I wanted to make:
Second stamp, which I made by printing the first stamp onto a fresh eraser as a guide. Do you see my error?
Second stamp, finished. There will be another iteration of this, less incompetently executed, I hope.
The actual size of the stamp is about 1″ x 1.5″, the ink is Japanese stamping paste. The fish is a coelacanth, inspired by a set of pen & ink drawings I did a couple of years ago based on the idea of a tutelary genius.