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Animal Art
The keepers at the Houston Zoo work to enrich the lives of the animals in their care every day. They add interesting and complex activities to the animals’ daily routine. Enrichment activities are fun for both animals and keepers.
We have found that many of our animals enjoy painting as an enrichment activity. They are given canvases and non-toxic paints to use as they create their masterpieces. With a little help from their keepers and sometimes a paintbrush, they create beautif
ul works of art!
ul works of art!
Each painting is unique, and each artist has his or her very different and unique techniques. Proceeds from the sale of animal artwork benefit conservation, additional enrichment items for the animals, and the Houston Zoo.
Our Artists
Birds
Birds
Rainbo, an Eclectus parrot, and Larry, an African grey parrot, hold a paintbrush in their beak to create their masterpieces.
Cougar
You’ve never seen a artist with this type of enthusiasm…Rocky puts all his energy into his creations as he uses his paws, nose, and even sometimes gets his whole body into the piece by rolling on it!
Raccoons
Stella and Adrian’s painting style is quick and determined with an occasional jolt of energy. They hold the paintbrush with both front paws and finish their paintings with their special signature – a paw print.
Siamangs
These small apes prefer a more hands-on approach to painting. Paint brushes just get in the way of the creative process; they use their fingers and hands when swishing and swirling the paint around on the canvas. They also tend to take periodic breaks to test the paint for taste and texture; it must be the right mixture for these perfectionists.
Elephants
Methai shows her enthusiasm for painting by holding her ears forward and she squeezes her eyes almost shut in concentration, while Shanti is serious about her artwork and typically dips her brush in the sand for a mixed media effect before beginning to paint on a canvas. She prefers to hold her brush by curling her trunk around it rather than grasping it with the “finger” at the tip of her trunk like the other elephants.
White faced saki monkey
Sakis use their hands to break open nutshells and extract the contents inside. So learning to hold a brush was quite easy for Harry, who has proven to be a talented artist. He can complete a masterpiece in minutes with his unique “thrust and glide” motions.
Each 16” x 20” painting costs $250.00
To place an order, email tours@houstonzoo.org or call 713-533-6726.
Elephants
Methai shows her enthusiasm for painting by holding her ears forward and she squeezes her eyes almost shut in concentration, while Shanti is serious about her artwork and typically dips her brush in the sand for a mixed media effect before beginning to paint on a canvas. She prefers to hold her brush by curling her trunk around it rather than grasping it with the “finger” at the tip of her trunk like the other elephants.
White faced saki monkey
Sakis use their hands to break open nutshells and extract the contents inside. So learning to hold a brush was quite easy for Harry, who has proven to be a talented artist. He can complete a masterpiece in minutes with his unique “thrust and glide” motions.
Each 16” x 20” painting costs $250.00
To place an order, email tours@houstonzoo.org or call 713-533-6726.
Due to extraordinary demand, some paintings may take up to six weeks to be created. These orders will be filled in the order they are received. If you are purchasing a painting as a gift and the order cannot be filled quickly, we will be happy to notify the recipient via email of your unique gift, including the artist’s name and species.
