Matted Art Print- Mat Size: 8"x8" | Image Size: 5"x5"

Unmatted Art Print- Print Size: 8"x8" | Image Size: 7"x7"

This is a hand signed print of an original watercolor painting titled "Randy the Raccoon". Each image is printed with archival inks on watercolor paper stock for a long lasting print resistant to fading. For every print sold, I will be donating 10% of the profit to wildlife rehab facilities, organizations & sanctuaries.

The Story Behind the Art:

At almost every art show over the past several years, I've been asked if I had any raccoon paintings. I have plenty of raccoons on our property, but they always come out at night, and unfortunately, my Nikon camera doesn't photograph well in the dark. So, I waited. Little did I know I'd be waiting four years to capture the perfect reference photo!

It was an extremely hot July day in 2024, and I'd just had emergency surgery the day before to remove my appendix. As I shuffled from the bedroom to the kitchen, I looked out the window and saw a raccoon foraging under our silver maple tree. I knew this was my chance to finally get a photograph. I quickly grabbed my camera and quietly made my way outside (pain wasn't going to stop me from getting this picture!). The raccoon (who we named Randy) eyed me as he began climbing the tree, but peeked around the thick trunk just as I snapped the picture. I think he felt bad for me post surgery and was throwing me a bone, haha. I was so excited to finally have a photograph to paint from. As a thank you, I shuffled back to the kitchen and got Randy some ice water to set under the tree. Later that day, I got to see him climb down the tree and lap up the water and then head back up the tree and rest until nightfall.

Raccoon Facts:

Raccoons are nocturnal mammals that are native to North America. They are known for their black “mask-like” markings around each eye followed by whitish patches of fur that sit above the eyes and around the nose. Their body fur is grayish-brown and their fluffy tail has four to six black rings. You can find raccoons in various types of habitats such as the woods, wetlands, suburbs, parks and cities. Due to being nocturnal, raccoons sleep in dens during the day. These secure dens vary from hollow logs, tree cavities, rock crevices, abandoned burrows or even human made structures (attics, chimneys, under decks and crawl spaces).

Raccoons are opportunistic eaters, meaning they will stick around places where they can easily access food and water. These omnivorous creatures eat a wide variety of food such as grasshoppers, nuts, mice, berries, bird eggs, plants and of course food found in our garbage cans. Raccoons have hand-like paws that enable them to open lids and get into other containers that many other animals cannot. Raccoons are very beneficial to our environment because they help with “pest” control by eating insects and rodents. They also help with seed dispersal and act as a “clean-up crew” by consuming carrion!