Stephen DiCerbo, MasterMutsugoroh (b. 1957)
is the son of Alfonso and Margery DiCerbo from Schenectady, New York, USA. His earliest memories include those exploring the raceways of a fish hatchery which he had visited with his parents. His fascination and love of these finned creatures has been a thread embroidered through the tapestry of his life ahead. Stephen never strayed from his drawing and painting of fish and wildlife and the environment around him , begun at a very early age.
In 1981-83 he pursued and attained an Associate degree in Fish and Wildlife Technology from the State University of New York at Cobleskill. While attending SUNY Cobleskill , he was commissioned to illustrate several manuscripts for his Fisheries and Dendrology Professors. His skills with Pen and Ink and knowledge of Natural Science were an easy segue to the next chapter in his arts narrative. As his situation permitted, Stephen was able to travel and so explored the waters of the Rocky Mountains, the North Atlantic and Eastern Seacoast. In the late 1980s he began to experiment with Gyotaku (Japanese Fish Printing) developing his own approach to Chokosetsu-ho, or direct fish printing. Later, he became affiliated with the Nature Printing Society, and met his friend and mentor, Mineo Ryuka Yamamoto of Japan - his Sensei who taught him the technique of Kansetsu-ho, indirect fish printing. For more than a decade, Stephen has studied under Mr. Yamamoto’s tutelage, in both the U.S. and in Japan.
In 2005, Stephen enrolled in Sage College of Albany in New York, and in 2009 earned an M.S. in Science Illustration. while at Sage, Stephen worked extensively with printmaking media such as etching, block printing and wood engraving. In the same year, Stephen built Stormtree Studio in North Hudson, where the artist could focus on growing in his chosen artistic directions.
In 2014, Master Ryuka bestowed the title of Master Gyotaku printmaker upon Stephen and gave him the artist’s name of Mutsugoroh. About that time, Mutsugoroh began offering workshops at his studio in both direct and indirect Gyotaku, nature printing techniques and illustration.
Today, Stephen Mutsugoroh seeks to expand the directions of his drawing, painting and printmaking, focusing on composition and technique in his North Hudson studio. He also continues to invest himself in teaching and spreading knowledge and appreciation for his art genres.
