{"id":3723,"date":"2024-10-28T19:27:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-29T00:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/mammals\/?p=3723"},"modified":"2025-07-29T18:21:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T23:21:51","slug":"rat-art-on-instagram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/mammals\/rat-art-on-instagram\/","title":{"rendered":"Rat Art On Instagram"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This photo captures Ricasso at work; a rat Picasso! Better yet, see how artist Lise Doyle-Goss transformed this photo<\/a> into clay art! Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Besides being a rat lover and a writer, I’m also an artist. I used to focus on hyper-realistic portraits in graphite, but over the last decade I\u2019ve preferred to do an eccentric mixture of realism and illustration, with a touch of whimsical storytelling. Think pop surrealism meets children\u2019s literature.<\/p>\n

I still love graphite, but I\u2019ve been working on mastering colored pencil as well. In the last several years I\u2019ve also become obsessed with needle-felting, which is essentially sculpting in wool (I only use cruelty-free and ethical wool). What does this have to do with rats you may ask?<\/p>\n

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A “self portrait” if I were a rat. Brandi Saxton<\/a> of It’s A Rat’s World<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Well, I\u2019m sure it\u2019s not a huge surprise that my art often centers around rats in some way. Not always, as I do have a lot of non-rat characters that I draw and needle-felt, too, but rats will always be my muse. They are the reason I moved away from realism and drawing people and into a world of illustration inspired by my own rats. Plus, you can\u2019t spell \u201cart\u201d without R-A-T!<\/p>\n

I enjoy finding and collecting work (when I can afford it) from other rat-centric artists as well. So in this article, I\u2019m going to share some of my favorite accounts featuring truly wonderful rat imagery. What I love about this collection of artists is how they each have their own unique voice and stylized version of what a rat looks like.<\/p>\n

Inspired By Rats<\/h3>\n

Ilinca Mitchell<\/a> (@ratladyart) first caught my attention with her ethereal sketches of sleeping rats, drawn in graphite or red-colored pencil. They perfectly capture the sweetness and adorable characteristics that rats possess. I could tell immediately by Ilinca\u2019s semi-realistic style that she knew rats from personal experience and was an owner. With the long back feet and adorable sleeping positions shown in these simple, stylized drawings, I instantly visualized my own rats.<\/p>\n

Besides being proficient at graphite, colored pencil, and marker, Ilinca is also a master at illustration and digital art. She\u2019s also a prolific enamel pin maker and sells them and a plethora of other items in her Etsy shop, RatLadyArt<\/a>. I had to buy two different ones for my own pin collection and will buy more in the future. Seriously, there are so many designs to choose from!<\/p>\n

Ilinca\u2019s rats, Oscar and Henry, have passed away, but her love of rodents has not. She may draw many other cute animals in various styles, but it looks like rats will always be her main theme.<\/p>\n

Another artist whose love of rats became an instant inspiration is Anna Lark<\/a> (@thebeanbaguette). Once an owner and a volunteer for Rattie Ratz rescue in California, Anna still finds rats dominating her artwork. She uses these misunderstood animals as her main subject matter, capturing them in the most delightfully sweet way. If only everyone could see rats in the way Anna\u2019s utterly charming imagery depicts! Her watercolor-like style also gives the art a dreamy, fantasy feeling that leaves me wanting to live in the world she\u2019s created.<\/p>\n

Besides doing digital illustrations and traditional watercolor pencils and Copic marker, Anna is also a needle felter. The wool rats fall in line completely with Anna\u2019s signature style and look exactly like the 2D versions. Anytime one pops up in my feed, I know exactly who made it without even looking at the account name.<\/p>\n

Anna also encourages other artists to draw rats. Every October she hosts a drawing challenge called Rattober. Using her list of rat-themed word prompts, one for each day, you can participate by posting and sharing your rendition to the hashtag #rattober. Even though the month is close to over, make sure to check it out and challenge your own creativity. And check out her Etsy shop, The Bean Baguette<\/a>, as well.<\/p>\n

Drusilla Kehl (@drusillakehl<\/a>) is the artist behind The Illustrated Rat<\/a> and has been a long-time rat owner and rescuer. She\u2019s been in the rat community for decades and has been delighting owners with her realistic-styled line work and watercolors for just as long or longer. She\u2019s known for doing commissions of people\u2019s pets, rats included of course, and putting rats into her fan art.<\/p>\n

She was one of the first rat artists I came upon, back when I was first getting started with rats. Drusilla eventually became a long-time contributor to my former magazine \u201cIt\u2019s a Rat World,\u201d especially during the holidays. She has a large inventory of humorous holiday rat art that rings in each season perfectly.<\/p>\n

Marvel At This Clay Art<\/h3>\n

Lise Doyle-Goss<\/a> (@starbrux) isn’t currently active online, but I have to share her work regardless. While she\u2019s not creating new pieces at this time, there are plenty of adorable clay sculptures on her account for you to \u201cAwwww!\u201d over. Including some commissions she did for me years ago, one of which she has pinned to the top of her Instagram account.<\/p>\n

Her style of rats is very simple, stylized, and endearing. All her pieces are great, but the ones with clothing and props are extra special. It\u2019s these features that make some of her figures one-of-a-kind and hilariously charming.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Star Brux (@starbrux)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n