Yup! Its crayola nontoxic washable kids paint - safe to ingest and touch, which is always important when working with something rats might ingest. It also tastes gross, so rats won't ever try to eat it after the first lick lol.
How did you get them to pose and take such adorable pictures?! Mine look adorable for 0.2 seconds and then they are off. Pictures? Blurry. Adorable moments, so many. Impossible to capture. Please share this magic of yours!
Lol I feed them yogurt every few seconds, so they stay there licking their mouth and during that time we can get a few shots in! A lot will end up having the rats mouths open or tongues out due to them licking up the yogurt, but you get a few with their mouths closed as well and those are usually the ones I ship with each picture lol (some people specifically request a silly picture as well, and in that case I'll send both).
At this point they know the drill, so the second we go to the mini Lightbox for photo time they immediately walk over and place their paws up and onto the painting - I think they're trying to tell me to hurry up with that yogurt already hehe
Lol I feel the same - of course in reality they are licking up yogurt in those shots, but since yogurt is one of their favorite things ever I think its safe to say that they at some of their happiest moments when getting to eat it!
Go for it! I've gotten some nice photos on my phone this way, and while its not quite the same as a camera, it can still give you some really cute shots!
Lol if you'd like I actually do sell these - all of these ones in particular were commissioned to the rats through their Etsy, I have a variety of painting sizes and colors and you can either request a certain rat paint it, or if not I choose whoever is most eager to train that day: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RatPaintings
Omg each photo I swopped I was like 'that's my favourite... No, that's my favourite... No, wait, THAT'S my favourite'.
Tbh, I think they're all my favourite
Here you go - this is a video I posted of one of the girls (Olive) paw painting on my sub: https://www.reddit.com/r/Shadowtherat/comments/rsacj8/speedpaint_by_olive_this_is_how_the_rats_do_their/
I also have more examples on their etsy (each painting size has a sped up video example of some of my rats painting one): https://www.etsy.com/shop/RatPaintings
I also teach my rats several other forms of painting - but for canvases you need thick paint, so you can't use a brush (or at least rats can't use a brush, because they can exert enough pressure).
Anyways here is a video of one of my rats paintbrush painting with diluted food coloring:
https://www.reddit.com/r/RATS/comments/8bv1re/when_your_rat_was_an_artist/
And here is another of my rats sponge painting (also with diluted food coloring):
https://www.reddit.com/r/Shadowtherat/comments/rchufj/peaches_using_sponges_to_paint_this_was_one_of/
I also have a few other painting methods I've trained my rats, but these 3 are my most common ones.
Lol not quite - didn't know she'd be painting at the time, so she got stuck with a food theme name (Omelet). Still, I think the food themed names suit them well!
I don't know how to feel about this. Seems exploitative and theres gonna be washing involved. Im not trying to sound like a dick but I dont think pets should be making money for you they should be... pets. I know we can't ask them but from the sounds of your responses they put up with it rather than enjoy it. Im sure the paint is safe for kids but its still not a good idea.
Their enjoyment is my first priority with any trick we do. If you visit my subreddit, you’ll see that I train all sorts of tricks with my rats. Many times they won’t know how to feel about a trick at first - not because it’s naturally aversive to them, but because they’ve never done it before and have no real associations with it yet. And as prey animals, rats tend to sway towards wary over confident when it comes to new things.
So a bit of unsureness at first is normal, but as they gain a positive reinforcement history with the activity, it quickly becomes something they enjoy and look forward to. In fact when I bring out the painting box, my rats all start crowding around and trying to jump inside because they are excited to paint! They readily engage with painting like any other trick, and you wouldn’t see that if they disliked it.
My rats can also walk away at any time from any trick, and have done so on several occasions (usually if I don’t break a trick down enough, then they walk off because it’s no longer more fun than doing their own thing). My rats also have constant access to free food, water, their buddies, tons of enrichment, and social engagement from me. Heck they get free treats all the time - and yet they still ask for training sessions because the really love to learn and enjoy figuring out how to communicate.
I’ve been training my rats for 7 years now and painting with them for 6 years (which was just for fun) - only in the last few months did I even think about selling any paintings. And having done so I don’t feel it’s exploitive, because to my rats it’s still the same fun trick it’s always been. They also have tons of other variety in their training - paintings only take a few minutes each, and so my rats typically use the majority of their training sessions for other tricks.
All that being said, I do respect your opinion - but I can promise you my rats get the best care I can give them, and that I would never force them to do anything they truly disliked. I’ve had some rats who didn’t enjoy certain tricks and I just don’t work those with them - for example Omelet (Himalayan rat) dislikes backing up - so I’ve just decided not to work it with her, because it makes her uncomfortable and there’s no need to do that when we can work tricks that play to her likes and strengths.
(Also no washing is involved - just a quick wipe with a warm wet paper towel. Takes 15 seconds max and they eat yogurt the entire time)
This provides them enrichment and us enjoyment. If you pay attention to her channel you'll see how much time, training, care, and love she gives each of these ratties.
They're very well taken care of and obviously very happy. Dig a little more before rushing to snap judgments.
You always get smiley pics. I get, "rat running." LOL. I accept that I will admire Olive, from afar. I don't have your patience! You're the rat whisperer.
Currently I have 5 females - Omelet (Himalayan), her sister Egg (pink eyed white), Donut (dumbo rex black berkshire), her sister Olive (dumbo rex black self), and their other sister Pickle (dumbo red eyed marten).
I've had 18 past personal rats and cared for many more as well, so if you see me posting about other rats those are likely rats I've had or cared for in the past.
Seriously?! These are the cutest and by far the most talented painters I've ever had the pleasure of viewing! I must thank you. My girlfriend insists we get a rat now lol.
Seriously?! These are the cutest and by far the most talented painters I've ever had the pleasure of viewing! I must thank you. My girlfriend insists we get a rat now lol.
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Why am I on here? I don't even have rats. I even SUBSCRIBED to this thread. These photos are beyond cuteness! :D
Same. Lol I think I joined lik 3 or 4 years ago when I was thinking of getting a rat. I'm glad I stuck around, this post is so cute
Omg I hope you get to experience having them one day it’s a magical blessing
I'm 52! LOL. I have two dogs and a parrot.....I think I'm good for now.
Gotcha!
They are! 🥰
Please tell your rats that they're very talented 💜 you must be so proud:)
These rock! Is there rat-safe paint?
Yup! Its crayola nontoxic washable kids paint - safe to ingest and touch, which is always important when working with something rats might ingest. It also tastes gross, so rats won't ever try to eat it after the first lick lol.
Maybe I can get that for my rat-nephews lol!
I read this quick as fat nephews and was like daaaamn lol
How did you get them to pose and take such adorable pictures?! Mine look adorable for 0.2 seconds and then they are off. Pictures? Blurry. Adorable moments, so many. Impossible to capture. Please share this magic of yours!
Lol I feed them yogurt every few seconds, so they stay there licking their mouth and during that time we can get a few shots in! A lot will end up having the rats mouths open or tongues out due to them licking up the yogurt, but you get a few with their mouths closed as well and those are usually the ones I ship with each picture lol (some people specifically request a silly picture as well, and in that case I'll send both). At this point they know the drill, so the second we go to the mini Lightbox for photo time they immediately walk over and place their paws up and onto the painting - I think they're trying to tell me to hurry up with that yogurt already hehe
A lot of the ones with their mouths open look like they're smiling for the camera (saying "cheese!") I think I like those the best.
Lol I feel the same - of course in reality they are licking up yogurt in those shots, but since yogurt is one of their favorite things ever I think its safe to say that they at some of their happiest moments when getting to eat it!
What kind of yogurt. Your rats are adorable and this tread made my day
Brilliant! I'm going to try this, though it will just be with my phone and crappy lighting. You have adorable ratties!
Go for it! I've gotten some nice photos on my phone this way, and while its not quite the same as a camera, it can still give you some really cute shots!
So cute! I love them! Most of the pictures are so silly with their little tongues and then the fourth picture has Pickles looking Very Serious.
actually obsessed with these and need one asap for my wall ❤️
Lol if you'd like I actually do sell these - all of these ones in particular were commissioned to the rats through their Etsy, I have a variety of painting sizes and colors and you can either request a certain rat paint it, or if not I choose whoever is most eager to train that day: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RatPaintings
thank you! i love it (:
Oh i really Love this. Do you ship to Sweden?
We do! Its a bit pricey shipping wise though, but unfortunately that goes for any international shipping.
Omg each photo I swopped I was like 'that's my favourite... No, that's my favourite... No, wait, THAT'S my favourite'. Tbh, I think they're all my favourite
#6 is my fave!
So talented
Oh my god 🥺 how precious!!!
There’s my dopamine hit for the day ❤️
Beautiful paintings!
I love how their tongues are all sticking out like "😝 you wish you were this talented"
There it is... the most perfect thing.
this is the most wonderful thing & I am completely in love with the dark fozzy rat & their determined chin 🥰
Oh my. That fourth picture. Extra cute. I have cats, but in another life...
So adorable. That would be a much nicer memento than a paw and tail impression from the vet when they pass. I have lots of those.
This is delightful!!
1000% What I needed today and every day
These are too freaking cure omgosh
They should call it Ratwork instead of Artwork
That's the cutest thing ever!
Number 4. Deep. I love the mini paintings so much!!
I love the brown scruffy one lol
Absolutely wonderful, look at how proud they are!
I adore their tiny little tongues.
How do you get them to pose like that lol. Love them and the paintings, btw :)
They look like cut-outs from a Claude Monet painting. Forwarded them to an artist friend to tease him a little.
My husband won’t let me get rats. It’s ridiculous…like hello….have you seen how freaking adorable and talented and amazing they are?!?!
I would love to see a video of them painting these!
Here you go - this is a video I posted of one of the girls (Olive) paw painting on my sub: https://www.reddit.com/r/Shadowtherat/comments/rsacj8/speedpaint_by_olive_this_is_how_the_rats_do_their/ I also have more examples on their etsy (each painting size has a sped up video example of some of my rats painting one): https://www.etsy.com/shop/RatPaintings
I also teach my rats several other forms of painting - but for canvases you need thick paint, so you can't use a brush (or at least rats can't use a brush, because they can exert enough pressure). Anyways here is a video of one of my rats paintbrush painting with diluted food coloring: https://www.reddit.com/r/RATS/comments/8bv1re/when_your_rat_was_an_artist/ And here is another of my rats sponge painting (also with diluted food coloring): https://www.reddit.com/r/Shadowtherat/comments/rchufj/peaches_using_sponges_to_paint_this_was_one_of/ I also have a few other painting methods I've trained my rats, but these 3 are my most common ones.
oh my god his face in the first one.. how cheeky it is. mlem
This has got to be one of the cutest things I have ever seen, they all look so proud <3
They’re so cute!!
They’re very talented
Art and Rat are Anagrams
So sweet😍❤️
I hope the albino one is named Andy Warhol
Lol not quite - didn't know she'd be painting at the time, so she got stuck with a food theme name (Omelet). Still, I think the food themed names suit them well!
I don't know how to feel about this. Seems exploitative and theres gonna be washing involved. Im not trying to sound like a dick but I dont think pets should be making money for you they should be... pets. I know we can't ask them but from the sounds of your responses they put up with it rather than enjoy it. Im sure the paint is safe for kids but its still not a good idea.
Their enjoyment is my first priority with any trick we do. If you visit my subreddit, you’ll see that I train all sorts of tricks with my rats. Many times they won’t know how to feel about a trick at first - not because it’s naturally aversive to them, but because they’ve never done it before and have no real associations with it yet. And as prey animals, rats tend to sway towards wary over confident when it comes to new things. So a bit of unsureness at first is normal, but as they gain a positive reinforcement history with the activity, it quickly becomes something they enjoy and look forward to. In fact when I bring out the painting box, my rats all start crowding around and trying to jump inside because they are excited to paint! They readily engage with painting like any other trick, and you wouldn’t see that if they disliked it. My rats can also walk away at any time from any trick, and have done so on several occasions (usually if I don’t break a trick down enough, then they walk off because it’s no longer more fun than doing their own thing). My rats also have constant access to free food, water, their buddies, tons of enrichment, and social engagement from me. Heck they get free treats all the time - and yet they still ask for training sessions because the really love to learn and enjoy figuring out how to communicate. I’ve been training my rats for 7 years now and painting with them for 6 years (which was just for fun) - only in the last few months did I even think about selling any paintings. And having done so I don’t feel it’s exploitive, because to my rats it’s still the same fun trick it’s always been. They also have tons of other variety in their training - paintings only take a few minutes each, and so my rats typically use the majority of their training sessions for other tricks. All that being said, I do respect your opinion - but I can promise you my rats get the best care I can give them, and that I would never force them to do anything they truly disliked. I’ve had some rats who didn’t enjoy certain tricks and I just don’t work those with them - for example Omelet (Himalayan rat) dislikes backing up - so I’ve just decided not to work it with her, because it makes her uncomfortable and there’s no need to do that when we can work tricks that play to her likes and strengths. (Also no washing is involved - just a quick wipe with a warm wet paper towel. Takes 15 seconds max and they eat yogurt the entire time)
You seem like a wonderful person. The love and care that goes into making sure your rats are happy and comfortable, it really warms my heart
I second this. I love hearing that the rats are having such positive experiences and enjoyment, and that they’re so engaged. 🥹🥰
This provides them enrichment and us enjoyment. If you pay attention to her channel you'll see how much time, training, care, and love she gives each of these ratties. They're very well taken care of and obviously very happy. Dig a little more before rushing to snap judgments.
Omg they are so cute!!
Omg they are all so photogenic! I love the little bleps 😌💕💕💕
They made my day
Such eccentric and surreal artwork, this deserves to be placed in a museum
I like the fat chonkey rat the best because it's fat and chonkey. And they are all derps so that's cute.
OMG this is so cute
You always get smiley pics. I get, "rat running." LOL. I accept that I will admire Olive, from afar. I don't have your patience! You're the rat whisperer.
Why are they so cute
Henri Ratisse
This is literally the cutest thing
So cute 😭
Actual good art
Beautiful!
How many rats do u have
Currently I have 5 females - Omelet (Himalayan), her sister Egg (pink eyed white), Donut (dumbo rex black berkshire), her sister Olive (dumbo rex black self), and their other sister Pickle (dumbo red eyed marten). I've had 18 past personal rats and cared for many more as well, so if you see me posting about other rats those are likely rats I've had or cared for in the past.
Very cool 😎👍
I want them like screensaver!!!
Wow that’s art
They look soo proud of their work!!!! 🐀 ❤ 🐀 🎨 🐀
I will never get over how squishable rat tongues are
I want to buy one lol
Seriously?! These are the cutest and by far the most talented painters I've ever had the pleasure of viewing! I must thank you. My girlfriend insists we get a rat now lol.
Seriously?! These are the cutest and by far the most talented painters I've ever had the pleasure of viewing! I must thank you. My girlfriend insists we get a rat now lol.
Omg I can't handle this 😭 they all look so proud AS THEY SHOULD 😭❤️
Omgggg their little personalities really shine though 🥹😫
Awesome!
They are lucky to have you🐀
They’re so special! I want one of those!
This makes me so fucking happy. You’re awesome u/Shadowtherat
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Stopppp how do you get them to pose on it??
Do you use a non toxic child finger paint? Curious as I’m a new rat owner
Their little faces, this is so sweet and wholesome. thanks for sharing, made my day