Lack of Updates

I haven't updated in many, many months...  I must try harder!

I am currently selling a few pieces of original art on eBay here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/wolfysilver/m.html?item=130866422659&ViewItem=&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 (I ship worldwide!  Low starting bids). 

I also sell some buy-now pieces of rat related pendants and artwork on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WolfySilver
Thanks for looking!

Rats, Rats and More Rats

I've recently been creating lots of rat related art which has been fun and is strangely addictive. I thought 'no, I'll have a break from drawing rats' but actually that break only lasted one picture until I had the desire to draw rats again. I don't know what it is about these cute little creatures ;)

Here's a small selection of my most recent ratty art. The first few are part of an art trade. The last picture features my own little group (not including Levi who doesn't live with the boys in this picture. I didn't think he'd be all that happy pictured with these guys as they can't be let out together!)

).

I've also put a few pieces of art for sale on ebay just to see if anyone would be interested in some of my original pieces of art.

Sadly however, my little ratty group was one ratty short as of Monday when I had to take Jasper to be put to sleep. He was a beautiful rat, lovely natured from the first moment I met him. I remember the day when I bought him back in February time, it wasn't an intentional purchase really. Whenever I visit the local pet shop I always look at the rats and that day he was there looking out at me. Usually rats in pet shops hide but he was there saying hello in his own ratty way. The fact that he was a rex really made me have to take him home - I adore rex rats and it's not often you see them around here. He was so tame when I first handled him too which isn't really typical for pet shop ratties.

Over the last few months I'd guess he'd started to drop a lot of rather big crumbs when eating treats, something rats don't typically do but I thought nothing of it. Looking back I guess that was the start of it. Then about a month ago I was asking my rats to stand up on their hind legs for treats (one of the easiest tricks to train rats to do as they stand up often enough!) However, he was leaning to one side as he stood. The next day I took him to the vets.

Having read a lot of what it could possibly be, I assumed it would be an ear infection. He was a young rat (not even a year old) although I knew there were other potential things it could be - stroke, brain damage, tumour, etc. Those things were typically described as things that happened to older rats. However, I felt even then that maybe it could be something worse. He was put on medication for about two weeks as for an ear infection it takes a while for it to penetrate into the source of the infection in the ear.

After two weeks he was still the same. Over the next week he got progressively worse, he was already weak on one side but this seemed to get more pronounced as time went on. He would walk in circles some of the time and didn't seem to see out of one eye. His sense of depth wasn't really working - he'd lean over things. He'd lived at the bottom of his cage for about two weeks anyway, not trying to manage the ladder to the higher shelves (which was a good thing as before he'd toppled from shelf to floor which lead me to place lower hung hammocks to catch him). It was hard for him to hold food in his hands, he'd typicaly lie his head on the floor to eat. Until near the end he still had a good appetite though (I fed him on soft foods mainly and broke up harder foods into tiny pieces). He still lost a lot of weight though - 100g in 20 days. Then he really started to go downhill and the only option was really to put him to sleep. His worsening symptoms meant that he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. :(

In a way, it was so unexpected. Rats don't live long lives anyway, but he's only my second ever rat to live less than a year. He was such a beautiful natured rat and he'll be hugely missed both by me and his brother (and step-brothers).

Jasper

- The Blogging Rat

I haven't updated in ages - I've been super busy the last few weeks and now when I can update I have no idea what to write about!

I've completed a few pieces of art since my last update but not many big pieces other than this racoon piece. It's A2 in size and on stretched canvas. During the process of painting this all I could think about was the very old kids TV show 'The Raccoons' (wiki link to anyone who is curious about the show!: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raccoons). I might even YouTube it just to see how funny it looks now, watching it as an adult. (Although I always think kid's TV shows these days cannot possibly compare to what I watched when I was young hah - I really preferred cartoons that aren't all 3Dish - I can't think if that's the right way to describe them but hopefully you know what I mean).

Aside from that particular piece I seem to have been drawing a lot of cats lately. I have quite a few pieces to work on when I manage to get a bit of spare time (strangely I have got three commissions all at once from different people - I shall be busy!) I've since finished one (hoping they like it, they haven't seen it yet!)

Other than art I've recently treated myself to a new camera, a Nikon D3200. I've never used a SLR before so I'm still learning but I love it. All I've taken so far is things and animals around the house - I did want to go to the local safari park on Monday but I've since found out it's closed for the winter season. I'll have to find somewhere else to go and try it out - Bristol Zoo is tempting but it's a bit too far out and not somewhere I like travelling alone (I'm hopeless at working out buses in another city). Ah well.

But anyway, onto the photographs! Naturally, rats ;)

-The Blogging Rat

Birds, Squirrels and Creations

Over the summer we've had lots of wild birds eating their way through my wages (or put it another way, through fat balls and bird seed!) At one stage the baby starlings were going through 10 fat balls a day. Now they've slowed down, it lasts perhaps two days ;p But it's okay because there is one shop which sells them cheap (49p for six fat balls, way cheaper than anywhere else - usually they're like £1.99 for six - ridiculous really!) But this isn't a blog post about the price of bird food! It's actually about what I witnessed today. I happened to be looking out at the bird feeders when I saw a squirrel sat on the bird table. It's the first time I've ever seen one here and I really hope it comes back (after all, it's practically a rat with a fluffy tail ;)) I was concerned it might destroy my peanut feeder (it's made of very thin wire, it wasn't very pricey) as that was the only thing really for it to eat. I've since topped up the rest of the food, so maybe I'll catch sight of it again soon. I don't understand why some people hate squirrels when they feed the birds. I've often heard customers complain where I work about squirrels but they've got to eat too. Hopefully it won't freak the birds out though if it does return!

Ironically, I finished a picture of squirrels recently (perhaps my pictures act as a premonition?!) This one is in acrylics and very large. Makes me want to do another large and detailed picture but not sure what of yet.

Other than that I've arranged to have a stall at another show (hopefully). It's a dog show so I'm trying to fit in time to do some new dog related art. I'm also pondering on whether to go back to college for a part-time course in accounting. I'm really unsure whether to or not... Maybe I'd try it for a year and see what happens (it's a three year course). It's killing me to think of sacrificing art time though as that's the day I typically do art (I work full time so other days of art are limited - I could probably get away with doing more graphite work but painting I prefer to work for hours rather than stop and start. It's too much cleaning up all the time otherwise and having to remix paint which never turns out exactly the same colour again). Arrggh, what to do?!

Lastly on the art front I finished creating Arrow. I still haven't managed to get any more detailed photos yet so the following will have to do for now. He took hours! The proportions aren't exactly right but as it was a first attempt for me doing something like this I'm happy enough with it (and the fur is so lovely quality all I want to do is cuddle it hah!) I hope to try and make something else like this but only have limited fur colours (black and grey) so would have to be something those colours until I have money to spare on fur!

-The Blogging Rat

Watercolour Paintings

The last few pieces of art I've worked on have been in watercolour. It's strange, I seem to go for ages avoiding watercolour only to get addicted to it when I do get back on it. I must admit sometimes I don't feel I have the patience to use it. With acrylics my typical way of working is 'throw it all on and then refine' (basically my initial bottom layer looks like some crazy form of modern art perhaps...) With watercolour you simply can't do that. It's rather less forgiving. I've had times in the past where I've dropped a paint brush loaded with paint only to splatter it all over the lightest area. It's annoying in any medium but at least with acrylic you stand a good chance of painting over it!

But anyway, at times I really want to work in watercolour!

And onto the art:

Hooded rat pea fishing (based on a photograph I took of Jasper). It's A4 in size.

Gerbera plant. I couldn't resist buying this plant because of it's unusual colouring. I painted it over a course of days from life (desperate to finish it in case the flowers developed more!) Also A4 in size.

And this blog wouldn't be the same without a rat image! This is possibly the strangest capture I've had. I didn't even realise what was going on until I looked back at the photos once they were on my computer. Felix taking a bite out of baby Jake (not really, no rats were hurt as there was definitely no argument that day when they were freeranging). Perhaps it was just his face happened to be there, or he was going to groom Jake, who knows? As for my new rats Jake and Domino, Jake is far more social as he was when I first got him. It's strange really as they've both had the same upbringing etc. Jake will 'groom' my hand if I put it in the cage (he even went as far as licking my arm too!) It's a sign of affection in rats and I find it very cute even though others might not!

And on an unrelated note, I'm very into dreams and what they mean. However the last few days I've had quite random dreams involving the killer whale from the film 'Free Willy' (like starring in a film with him, and taking part in a video game based on the film?!). If anything, you'd think I'd dream of rats ;p

- The Blogging Rat

Lack of Updates and Ebay

Firstly I apologise for the lack of blog entries lately! Things have been crazily busy since the last update.

So onto the typical topics, rats and art ;)

On the art front, lots of new pieces done. I've been working on a lot of rat related art as I have booked a stall at a rat show in a few months time. I'm hoping people will like them. Here's just two of my recent drawings, one in acrylic and one in watercolour as I hadn't done anything in watercolour for quite some time.

I'm also working (not to sell) a rat sculpture doll. I'm not sure how it will work out, I've already realised I should have done one thing differently but hopefully I can get round that little hitch. It's taking forever so can't say I'll have an upload of it anytime soon unfortunately! (One leg took me about an hour! Although it is a rather large rat!)

I'm also trying to sell a few slightly older pieces on ebay.

Oh and also have recently signed up to having a Facebook page (so any social media fans please take a look!).

And onto rat related chat! A few weeks ago Jasper had a run-in with Seth. Seth was sat on me and Jasper lurched down from the bed quicker than I expected. I grabbed him before he could get down but unfortunately Seth also grabbed at the same time getting hold of Jasper's tail. To cut a long story short the result was two vet trips, one on emergency time and then a bandaged tail (rats definitely aren't inexpensive pets if anyone is wondering...!) It was a horrible week as I kept thinking Jasper or Felix would chew the bandage off whilst I was at work. Luckily Jasper left it alone but Felix was more of a problem - I'm sure he thought he was helping when he yanked at Jasper's tail every so often. Jasper wasn't very tolerant of such behaviour and started to do exactly the same thing back to Felix (not intending to cause damage, just to show his annoyance I'm sure).

Luckily the bandage is off now and tail pulling has ceased. However, Seth's bad temper hasn't - I think it's because he's getting older and his sight isn't as good as it was. He also seems to be developing the problem Arrow had with his back legs and unfortunately there's no cure to that :/ I'm also a lot more careful to make sure Jasper doesn't say hi to the older boys anymore.

More recently I acquired two more rat boys. At first I resisted but that night I dreamt about them so took that as a sign (that or I'm too addicted to rats...) They are currently undergoing introductions with Jasper and Felix (and definitely not ever meeting Seth or Levi...!) Their names are Jake and Domino. So far I think Domino is sure Felix is his mummy (I think he's a little confused ;P) and Jasper is more interested in their cage than these new, tiny little shapes!

- The Blogging Rat

Rats and Butterflies

Again, been busy with art since my last update. I've been working on some rat related pictures and art for pendants as I'm hoping to have a stall at a rat show in a few months or so.

The first was a stretched canvas piece, a rather large piece at 20' by 8'. I just love working on long pieces of canvas, unfortunately I've used them all up now (came in a three pack) and I've told myself to stop buying more stretched canvas until I sell some things! (I've still got lots of pieces of 'normal' shaped canvas to get finished so it's not like I'm in desperate need of it...)

I wanted to go for something more symbolic. However, to make a clean line down the middle was a nightmare! I do like the final outcome though although it took far longer than I expected.

The next piece is a scratchboard based to some degree on one of my own rats, Felix (although I've purposely changed his markings on the final thing as I never want to sell art of my own rats!) He gave me this typical 'oh leave me alone' look whilst I was sketching him sleeping in his litter tray (a favourite place for some reason!).

Lastly, and not rodent related, a butterfly piece. Same size as the painting above and also in acrylics. The idea came to me at work but never did I think of how long it would really take. Butterflies have far too many details! Again, was meant to be a more symbolic picture than what I typically do.

Unfortunately I have to leave on a depressing note this blog entry. Last week one of my older rats Fergus died. I'd taken him to the vet the day before but never thought he was that ill. It was a rather horrible shock. He was the youngest of my old ones so if anything, I thought he'd outlive them. The remaining two seem to be sticking together a lot since his death.

It's sad to have just two adults left in that cage as I know one day one will be on his own. I've always usually added more rats having a never-ending cycle but with Levi and Seth I can't introduce anyone else (after what happened with Jasper I'd probably end up with three cages!) They still dislike him, Seth seems to loath Jasper even more than Levi does. Jasper has a rather naughty trick of jumping from his freerange area, onto my shoulder and down to the adults (or more like onto the floor, me grabbing him, back up to his area... and repeat many times!) One time Seth lunged thinking he was going for Jasper (who I'd put back) but actually took a piece out of my hand instead (I must have smelt like Jasper, but Seth quickly apologised by grooming my hand once he realised!) - The Blogging Rat