When thinking of raccoons, we picture feisty creatures scavenging through the trash, making themselves a leftover dinner party that all the yard is invited to. But the Tito raccoon family is proving us wrong.
Meet Piper, Cheeto, and Tito, three rescue raccoons who launched a very successful career in art. In fact, their colorful abstract hand paintings are not for art lovers on a tight budget. Ranging from a $75 piece titled “Tiny Masterpiece” by Cheeto to a whopping $150 for a “Custom Masterpiece” executed by Piper with colors selected by you, these are the masterpieces taking social media by storm.
Both hilarious and amusing, these are the paintings from the Jackson Pollocks of the raccoon world and you may wanna be quick to snatch one ’cause they’re selling out fast. Like, before they even hit the market.
More info: Twitter | Instagram | TitoTheRaccoon.com
Rescue raccoons are taking the art world and social media by storm with colorful hand paintings
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Bored Panda reached out to animal behaviorist Suzanne MacDonald at York University, Toronto in order to find out more about raccoons and whether these animals can truly be drawn to art. Prof. MacDonald explained that “You can train any animal to paint, really. All you need is patience and a steady supply of food rewards.”
When it comes to raccoons, the professor said that they are easy because “they can grasp things with their hands.” However, she assured us that there’s absolutely no evidence that raccoons appreciate art, “but then again, it is impossible to ask them… so who knows?”
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
The animal behaviorist also said that there are many misconceptions about the raccoons. “In urban settings, they’re seen as scavengers, but they are actually members of the Carnivore order, which also includes cats, dogs, and bears.”
That means they are able to eat almost anything, like humans, which are also omnivores. “Raccoons can exploit a lot of different food resources, which, in cities, includes trash.” Moreover, they have “very sensitive little paws that provide grasp,” which allows them to eat a wide range of foods.
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.titotheraccoon.com
Image credits: www.titotheraccoon.com
Image credits: www.titotheraccoon.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
Image credits: www.instagram.com
A good painter should always recharge their batteries
Image credits: www.instagram.com
And people on Twitter got seriously into this Raccoco art
I have more questions about this! Where does the money for this art go? I checked on the Tito website and other than a link to donate, there is no further info. What exactly are you donating to? I would hope that it would in part go to some kind of animal based, or raccoon rehabilitation charity, but there is no indication of this. Otherwise you are simply paying these people money for a novelty item which is potentially being generated by exploiting these animals. Im not at all saying that is the case and would be more than happy to be proven wrong. On the face of it, it just seems like people who already have the money to care for these wild animals, are making money from them for their own gain.
Same. It's why I only donate to the animal charities that I can actually go to. Thankfully, in a metropolitan area, there are a few. I can also take a look around the facilities and observe the animals.
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Whats up with you humans? It"s not funny! - for sure there is a human behind who dots the paws of an animal in color (again) and presses it onto a wall - if he does it by himself it is dressage! nobody knows whether the color is "natural" or a danger for this cuties!!
He’s so cute I can’t get over him smiling and posing for the pictures! He’s proud of his artwork
Those poor raccoons are going to get overwhelmed in commissions, and then get artist burn-out. Oh wait, that's me.
The photos of the raccoon with the art are much better images to have, though!
I would love to buy one of these gorgeous paintings and I love how proud they are of their work a high five to you guy's. )0(
I have some doubts as to whether these raccoons actually painted these canvas. Nowhere on the pics do you see them in action, or with their paws covered in paint. (Which paint BTW? Non-toxic, for kids finger painting?) I raise this question because years ago I bought a book showing cats painters, seemingly quite skilled, and when I did some research, it turned out to be a scam. Story was entirely made up.
Bring out these furry babies and the world will adore you/them. Bring out people stuff and look at the world judging/flaming you for no having their same opinions.
Teach the racoon how to paint. Riiight. I bet they put thw raccons paw in paint than force it to the canvas and call it teaching. Smells like a scam.
Also not a single video showing the racoon in action. Sounds fishy.
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It is not hard to understand their motivation for painting. The first couple of times were surely not a fabulous experience because the raccoons had no idea what the benefit was to be. Easy food, fun with paints, and even more food provided in fun ways to 'earn' more goodies and have more fun.
Raccoons have always fascinated me. It's my dream to see one in real life.
Sorry, but I find it aggravating, assigning "proud" and "happy" to wild animals who have been trained to do something unnatural to them (the singular hand placement especially) and then made to pose. Yes, maybe the raccoons enjoy playing in the paint - but as I said, some of the compositions look less like playing and more like forced behavior. Are they being treated well when doing this? And the human emotions of "proud" and "happy" aren't going to occur here in the way people want them to. Yes, animals can be happy and content, but it doesn't showcase in these human ways. A raccoon doesn't "smile." The owners are doing something when they take the photo to make it chitter or make some other noise so that it's mouth is open. Is it being treated well when doing this? Or is the animal nervous and stressed out? Just remember: When you see circus or any other animal performing, it's almost always enduring training and treatment that DOESN'T make it happy.
I love this!!! I'm so glad people can see raccoons in a different light and not just as pests.
The raccoons are better artists than many of his/her human contemporaries! I'd totally buy one of their works and frame it...
I have more questions about this! Where does the money for this art go? I checked on the Tito website and other than a link to donate, there is no further info. What exactly are you donating to? I would hope that it would in part go to some kind of animal based, or raccoon rehabilitation charity, but there is no indication of this. Otherwise you are simply paying these people money for a novelty item which is potentially being generated by exploiting these animals. Im not at all saying that is the case and would be more than happy to be proven wrong. On the face of it, it just seems like people who already have the money to care for these wild animals, are making money from them for their own gain.
Same. It's why I only donate to the animal charities that I can actually go to. Thankfully, in a metropolitan area, there are a few. I can also take a look around the facilities and observe the animals.
Load More Replies... Whats up with you humans? It"s not funny! - for sure there is a human behind who dots the paws of an animal in color (again) and presses it onto a wall - if he does it by himself it is dressage! nobody knows whether the color is "natural" or a danger for this cuties!!
He’s so cute I can’t get over him smiling and posing for the pictures! He’s proud of his artwork
Those poor raccoons are going to get overwhelmed in commissions, and then get artist burn-out. Oh wait, that's me.
The photos of the raccoon with the art are much better images to have, though!
I would love to buy one of these gorgeous paintings and I love how proud they are of their work a high five to you guy's. )0(
I have some doubts as to whether these raccoons actually painted these canvas. Nowhere on the pics do you see them in action, or with their paws covered in paint. (Which paint BTW? Non-toxic, for kids finger painting?) I raise this question because years ago I bought a book showing cats painters, seemingly quite skilled, and when I did some research, it turned out to be a scam. Story was entirely made up.
Bring out these furry babies and the world will adore you/them. Bring out people stuff and look at the world judging/flaming you for no having their same opinions.
Teach the racoon how to paint. Riiight. I bet they put thw raccons paw in paint than force it to the canvas and call it teaching. Smells like a scam.
Also not a single video showing the racoon in action. Sounds fishy.
Load More Replies... It is not hard to understand their motivation for painting. The first couple of times were surely not a fabulous experience because the raccoons had no idea what the benefit was to be. Easy food, fun with paints, and even more food provided in fun ways to 'earn' more goodies and have more fun.
Raccoons have always fascinated me. It's my dream to see one in real life.
Sorry, but I find it aggravating, assigning "proud" and "happy" to wild animals who have been trained to do something unnatural to them (the singular hand placement especially) and then made to pose. Yes, maybe the raccoons enjoy playing in the paint - but as I said, some of the compositions look less like playing and more like forced behavior. Are they being treated well when doing this? And the human emotions of "proud" and "happy" aren't going to occur here in the way people want them to. Yes, animals can be happy and content, but it doesn't showcase in these human ways. A raccoon doesn't "smile." The owners are doing something when they take the photo to make it chitter or make some other noise so that it's mouth is open. Is it being treated well when doing this? Or is the animal nervous and stressed out? Just remember: When you see circus or any other animal performing, it's almost always enduring training and treatment that DOESN'T make it happy.
I love this!!! I'm so glad people can see raccoons in a different light and not just as pests.
The raccoons are better artists than many of his/her human contemporaries! I'd totally buy one of their works and frame it...
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