A Student Taught Her Pet Rat How to Paint with His Feet—and He’s Pretty Good

The rat’s name is Darius, and he creates little masterpieces with his little feet.

Recently, he and his paintings caught the attention of Tumblr and Twitter users who thought he was both adorable and talented.

His owner and art teacher is a student of animation and digital arts herself in Askim, Norway. Amalie Markota Andersen said his posts have gone viral several times on social media.

https://mystic-ami.tumblr.com/post/169863054587/darius-painted-his-first-art-piece-today

According to Anderson on her Tumblr page, Darius created his first watercolor in January, 2018.

Insider reported she dipped his paws in non-toxic watercolors and let him walk back and forth across the paper. She estimated each of his creations took about ten minutes to finish.

She posted images of Darius and his paintings on Tumblr, but she didn’t anticipate how popular they would be. “Darius going viral was very exciting, I was so happy people liked him,” Andersen said. “It is what he deserved!”

Photo Credit: Tumblr

She actually sold several of them and used the money to buy Darius a halter for when she took him outside.

Darius was adopted in 2017 and described as timid but a cuddler. Anderson never knew his real age but assumed he was mature, possibly a senior citizen.

Earlier this year, Darius passed. Though sad, Anderson was grateful for the years they did have together.

Photo Credit: Tumblr

Now, her focus is on her new furry friends, male rats named Gucci and Mango.

Seems as if Mango will soon be following in Darius’ talented footsteps.

The post A Student Taught Her Pet Rat How to Paint with His Feet—and He’s Pretty Good appeared first on UberFacts.

A Memorial in Turkey Commemorates the Women Killed by Their Husbands Last Year

Violence against women is an epidemic worldwide, but in some countries, it’s more extreme than others. In Turkey, for example, 42% of women over the age of 15 have suffered from physical or sexual violence.

Last year in Turkey, 440 women were murdered by their own husbands. An artist decided to come up with a powerful memorial to pay tribute to the murdered women and to bring awareness to the problem in his country.

View this post on Instagram

#KahveDünyası’nın 2017 yılında hayata geçirdiği sanat platformu #Yanköşe, dördüncü edisyonunda #VahitTuna’nın “#İsimsiz” adlı çalışmasını ağırlıyor. 440 çift siyah kadın ayakkabısından oluşan “İsimsiz” projesinin çıkış noktası, Türkiye’de sayıları gitgide artan kadın cinayetleri. 2018 yılında Türkiye’de erkekler tarafından çeşitli şekillerde ve sebeplerle öldürülen kadınların sayısına işaret eden ve Yanköşe’nin her iki duvarını da nizami bir şekilde kaplayan 440 çift ayakkabı, neredeyse bir tür soykırım ya da kadınkırım anıtı gibi yükseliyor. Ölen kişilerin ayakkabılarının evlerinin kapısının önüne bırakılması geleneğine de işaret eden çalışma, kadına yönelik şiddetin hafızasını tutarak sokağa taşıyor; kamusal bir tartışma ve bilinçlenme için bir aracı olma görevi üstleniyor. Sanat üretiminde iktidar, iktidarla hesaplaşma ve ona göre pozisyon alma konularına odaklanan Tuna, bugün her üç kadından birinin fiziksel ya da cinsel şiddet mağduru olduğu bir dünyada şiddetin, özellikle de bu coğrafyaya ait şiddet olgusunun temellerine bakıyor. • ℹDaha detaylı bilgi için yankose.org adresini ziyaret edebilirsiniz. • • • Daha fazlası için ? @ajans.isleri • • • #ajansisleri #arts #creative # #staj #stajyer #seo #AdAgency #reklam #stratejist #arayüztasarımcısı #stajyer #markatemsilcisi #MarkaYöneticisi #ArtDirector #DijitalAjans #DijitalReklamcılık #ReklamAjansı #Advertising #Agency #DigitalAdvertising #grafiktasarım #socialmedia #dijitalajans

A post shared by Ajans İşleri (@ajans.isleri) on

Vahit Tuna said he had seen a lot of posts about the Turkish problem on social media, but he also realized that the stories came and went with a disturbing quickness. Tuna was determined to keep the issue in the public eye somehow.

Tuna chose to use 440 pairs of high heels in his memorial as a sign of female empowerment and independence that he sadly wishes was more of a reality in Turkey. In some parts of Turkey, it’s a tradition to put a person’s shoes outside after they pass away, so the memorial has even more cultural significance in the country.

The memorial is set up in central Istanbul so it will be seen by many people in the busy city. Tuna said, “We wanted everyone passing by the road to see [the work]. This is why we did not want to host the exhibition in a closed area.”

The 440 pairs of shoes are set to remain on exhibit for six months. Hopefully, as many people as possible will see the memorial and it will spark some painful and necessary conversations in Turkey.

The post A Memorial in Turkey Commemorates the Women Killed by Their Husbands Last Year appeared first on UberFacts.

Check out These Hats for Cats Made out of Their Shed Fur

If you’re a kitty owner, you know that you spend a lot of time cleaning up after them as they shed. You’ll find mounds of fur in the corners, under the beds—basically everywhere and anywhere.

Japanese photographer Ryo Yamazaki and his wife Hiromi have come up with an inventive way to use all that fur shed from their three cats, Nyaa, Mar, and Mugi: they take the fur and make  little hats for their kitties to wear around the house.

I love it! And I think you will, too…

1. From high on the perch.

View this post on Instagram

なんと!? ? サントリー「GREEN DA・KA・RA」( @suntory_greendakara )のCMでお馴染みのダカラちゃんが遊びに来てくれたよ♪??✨ 実は、我が家の三男坊ムギの名前は「やさしい麦茶」のムギちゃん(ダカラちゃんの妹ちゃんです?)からいただいたので、何だか感慨深いものがあります?✨ せっかくなので、ムギちゃんのオカッパヘア&帽子でコスプレして、ダカラちゃんと御対面〜?‍❤️‍? 一緒に写真を撮ったり、猫じゃらしで遊んでもらいました? ダカラちゃん、ありがと〜? . ちっちゃい頃からTVCMで見ていたので、随分大きくなったね〜と親戚のおじさんの様な気持ちで思わず嬉しくなってしまいました♪?? クリクリおめめのダカラちゃん、とっても可愛かった?? . ニャア兄貴は、ダカラちゃんに水滴とちゅ〜るまでもらって終始ご満悦? そしてマル兄貴はというと…案の定ソファ下から1度も出て来ず??‍♂️? . OMG!? Japanese cutest TVCM actress "Green Dakara-chan" came to my home!? . #? #サントリー #グリーンダカラ #やさしい麦茶 #ダカラちゃん #ムギちゃん #抜け毛貯金 #抜け毛貯金 #抜け毛帽子 #抜け毛アート #帽子屋NUKEGE #ねこかぶり #水滴ソムリエ #cat #scottishfold #catstagram #catsofinstagram #instacat #猫 #ねこ #ねこ部 #ふわもこ部 #ペコねこ部 #スコティッシュフォールド #サバトラ #茶トラ #しろねこ #白猫

A post shared by rojiman (@rojiman) on

2. Sunflower cat in the hat.

View this post on Instagram

「ねこ休み展 夏 2019 in Gallery AaMo」? 本日をもって無事会期を終えました? 開催中は多くの方にご来場頂き、抜け毛三兄弟より厚く御礼申し上げます??? そして主催のベーコン様、ギャラリーAamoスタッフの方々、出展者の皆様、暑い中長期間に渡って本当にお疲れ様でした?? かつてない程の大きな展示会に参加させて頂き、素敵な夏の思い出となりました? 重ねて感謝申しあげます♪??‍♂️ . Neko break Exhibition in Tokyodomecity just finished.? Thank you for your attendance. I look forward to seeing you again.??? . #抜け毛貯金 #抜け毛貯金 #抜け毛帽子 #抜け毛アート #帽子屋NUKEGE #ねこかぶり #抜け毛ジャビット #東京ドームシティ #GalleryAamo #ねこ休み展 #cat #scottishfold #catstagram #catsofinstagram #instacat #猫 #ねこ #ねこ部 #ふわもこ部 #ペコねこ部 #スコティッシュフォールド #サバトラ #茶トラ #白猫 #しろねこ

A post shared by rojiman (@rojiman) on

3. Looks very studious.

4. Is there a fire?

View this post on Instagram

9月1日は防災の日??‍? 近所で大規模な東京都と多摩市の合同総合防災訓練があったので見学してきた? 我が家も猫3匹連れて逃げる時の為に日頃からイメージと備えをしておかねば? . 9.1. Disaster Prevention Day??‍?? . #umatan先生の新作2つ #抜け毛消防ヘルメット #抜け毛ピーポくん #防災訓練 #防災の日 #多摩センター #抜け毛貯金 #抜け毛貯金 #抜け毛帽子 #抜け毛アート #帽子屋NUKEGE #ねこかぶり #cat #scottishfold #catstagram #catsofinstagram #instacat #猫 #ねこ #猫部 #ねこ部 #ふわもこ部 #ペコねこ部 #みんねこ #NEKOくらぶ #もふもふ #スコティッシュフォールド #サバトラ #茶トラ

A post shared by rojiman (@rojiman) on

5. Kind of looks like a wig. Boris Johnson?

6. A very solid entry. Let’s play ball!

7. Now that is impressive.

View this post on Instagram

『ねこ休み展 夏 2019 in Gallery AaMo』追加情報⚾ 読売ジャイアンツの人気マスコットキャラクタージャビットくんを三兄弟の抜け毛で再現した「抜け毛ジャビットくん帽子」が東京ドームシティのアーモギャラリー会場に実物展示されます⚾(※オフィシャル公認) 更にrojimanブースでは過去の人気帽子パネルに加え、抜け毛で出来た動物達をテーマにした「抜け毛動物園(Zoo)」を展開します。????? 夏休みのちびっ子達も是非遊びに来てね〜? #読売ジャイアンツ #巨人 #ジャイアンツ #ジャビットくん #抜け毛ジャビット . 開催日時:7/12(金)〜8/25(日) 場所:東京ドームシティ Galley AaMo . The Cat Holiday Exhibition summer 2019 in Tokyo dome City starts soon⚾ . #ねこ休み展 #galleryaamo #抜け毛サロン #抜け毛貯金 #抜け毛帽子 #抜け毛アート #帽子屋NUKEGE #ねこかぶり #cat #scottishfold #catstagram #catsofinstagram #instacat #猫 #ねこ #猫部 #ねこ部 #ふわもこ部 #もふもふ #スコティッシュフォールド #サバトラ #白猫 #しろねこ #茶トラ

A post shared by rojiman (@rojiman) on

8. Ready to listen to some yacht rock.

9. About to get beamed up to space, perhaps?

10. Emperor of the house.

Adorable, don’t you think? And very creative.

Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram.

Do your pets wear any hats or clothes? Share some pics in the comments!

The post Check out These Hats for Cats Made out of Their Shed Fur appeared first on UberFacts.

Check out This Artist’s Amazing Steampunk Sculptures Made out of Broken Watches

Dan Tanenbaum‘s work is pretty mindblowing. The Toronto-based artist utilizes old watch parts and makes incredible “steampunk“-inspired art pieces.

A lot of Tanenbaum’s creations are miniature motorcycles, but, as you’ll see in these photos, he makes plenty of other one-of-a-kind objects as well.

Take a look at these, you’ll be blown away.

1. A mini chopper.

View this post on Instagram

Custom chopper

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

2. Steampunk teddy bear.

View this post on Instagram

Custom KAWGS holiday

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

3. The details are amazing.

4. Rip it up!

5. Big wheel bagger.

View this post on Instagram

Custom big wheel bagger

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

6. Sweet pair of Jordans.

View this post on Instagram

Baby Jordan1s “sneakgear III” @nike #nike #jordan1 #HSKicks

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

7. A pride motorcycle.

View this post on Instagram

Custom “Pride MotorcycLGBTQ”

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

8. The Knight Rider.

9. Heart like a hand grenade.

View this post on Instagram

Time bomb IV

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

10. Get a load of this skull.

View this post on Instagram

My one and only encrusted skull

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

11. Luke, I am your father.

12. A café racer.

View this post on Instagram

Custom cafe racer

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

13. Vintage hot rod.

View this post on Instagram

Watch parts rat rod

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

14. Encrusted concrete robot.

15. This is so cool.

View this post on Instagram

throwback to the custom full encrusted Watch parts camera I made

A post shared by Dan Tanenbaum (@watchpartsmotorcycles) on

I’m blown away by how amazing Tanenbaum’s work is. Simply incredible!

Which piece is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

The post Check out This Artist’s Amazing Steampunk Sculptures Made out of Broken Watches appeared first on UberFacts.

This Woman Is 106-Years-Old and Has Been a Drummer for 80 Years

This 106-year-old lady is one of the most well-known drummers in the world — because she’s been doing it for 80 years.

Viola Smith was born in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin, as one of ten kids. Her drumming career began in the 1920s when she formed a family band with six of her sisters, the Smith Sisters Orchestra. She later started the all-women orchestra The Coquettes with her sister, saxophonist Mildred.

Over the ensuing decades, Viola lived through several eras of music, including jazz, swing, rock and roll and beyond.

She appeared on the cover of Billboard, played on television with the swing orchestra Hour of Charm, and played with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, among a long list of other accomplishments. She even played for President Harry Truman’s inauguration in 1949.

Viola eventually formed her very own band called Viola and Her Seventeen Drums. After that, she took her talents to Broadway to perform for the original production of Cabaret.

Photo Credit: Billboard

Now 106, Viola was still actively drumming until very recently. She even played in a band in Costa Mesa called Forever Young Band.

So how has she managed to stay active for so long? Well, Viola smoked, but only briefly. She also enjoys some wine, though she says, “I’m a drinker, but definitely always in moderation.”

Really she credits her long, healthy life in large part to her drumming, which helped her stay physically fit.

“It is very healthful; all that exercise…and I had tom-toms up here,” Viola told Syncopated Times, gesturing to above her shoulders.

What an impressive woman!

The post This Woman Is 106-Years-Old and Has Been a Drummer for 80 Years appeared first on UberFacts.

Enjoy These Photos of Spiders Wearing Water Droplets as Hats

The Butterfly Babe takes amazing images of all sorts of creepy crawlies. But of all the bugs out there, perhaps the most adorable (it’s an arachnid, technically) are these tiny jumping spiders wearing droplets of water as hats.

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

Yes, I just used the word “adorable” when describing spiders, and once you see these pictures, you’re not even going to be able to argue.

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

Jumping spiders are part of the family Salticidae, which is the largest family of spiders. They have amazing vision (look at those eyes!) and, as their name suggest, jump when hunting or in response to a perceived threat.

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

Chances are, there are some of these spiders near you right now (maybe they’re even sporting this fashion right on your porch!). They live in all manner of climates, from tropical forests to deserts – even on the slopes of Mount Everest.

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

They’re active, capable hunters (maybe they disarm the prey with their cute fashion choices!) and often nab prey by jumping several times the length of their own bodies.

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

The spiders are smart as well as cute; their expressive faces hiding brains capable of learning. They’ve been shown to recognize and remember colors, and they use the ability to make themselves better hunters.

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

Which is all interesting, but my favorite thing about them is still the water droplets on their heads in these pictures.

Posted by Butterfly Babe on Sunday, September 8, 2019

Is there a spider haberdashery? Is it pure, sweet chance? Are they saving a drink for later? I need to know more!

The post Enjoy These Photos of Spiders Wearing Water Droplets as Hats appeared first on UberFacts.

A Utah Ghost Town Is Welcoming Artists for a Month-Long Residency

Do you feel like you need a new direction in life?

Okay, what if you moved to a ghost town in Utah for a month to make art?!

Yes, that’s a real possibility.

The town of Cisco has been uninhabited for decades except for one resident: Eileen Muza. A visual artist, she’s lived in the town alone since 2015. Now, with the help of her sisters Renée and Margaret, Eileen is starting a residency for artists. Her goal is to preserve the character of Cisco while also bringing more creative people to the area.

“I find this to be a good spot for an artist residency is because it is so unique,” Eileen told Atlas Obscura. “All eras of history are represented here in different states of decay. Many people might come through and just see a garbage dump, but I see layers and layers of human life.”

Photo Credit: YouTube

Home of the Brave is a three- to five-week nonprofit residency. Only one artist will attend at a time, twice a year. The workspace is at least an hour away from any other towns.

“It’s a really good place for solitude,” Eileen said. “It would provide a unique opportunity for someone who is not used to rural living.”

Photo Credit: YouTube

As a ghost town, Cisco is a truly special place. There are approximately 100 abandoned buildings, only seven of which are fully intact. One of them is Eileen’s log cabin.

“When I first came through Cisco I could not believe all the things left behind and even had trouble believing it was a ghost town at all,” Eileen said.

Artist residents will live in a rehabilitated Winnebago Brave camper at the heart of Cisco. The isolation of the workspace does have some downsides — for example, there’s no running water in the town, so artists will have to drive 40 minutes away to shower at the community center (or maybe there’s a well you can pump from?). There is, however, electricity and Wi-Fi provided.

On the plus side, you can enjoy complete solitude in the high desert of Utah. Surely, there’s no place like it!

The post A Utah Ghost Town Is Welcoming Artists for a Month-Long Residency appeared first on UberFacts.

This Artist Uses Illustrations to Try to Tackle Some of Society’s Problems

And though there are a hundred different ways to discuss the impact of what’s wrong with the world, art is one of the most poignant and, for many people, the most relatable without being preachy.

If you’re an art lover, or someone who enjoys pretty, scathing commentary, these 18 images are going to take your breath away.

18. Well, that’s an awful image to consider.

17. Why have we let governments do this to people forever?

16. There won’t be anything else for penguins to live on, soon.

15. My heart is breaking.

14. I’d like to be able to break this addiction, myself.

13. How often do we stop and wonder what the other person is thinking?

12. And everyone loves turtles, you know?

11. Heartbreaking to think of what’s happening in the Arctic.

10. I wonder how many people would notice?

9. A few companies have recently vowed to stop these practices – about time.

View this post on Instagram

Companies get away with using cheap labor and inhumane working conditions by manufacturing their products in countries with little regulation. It‘s our job to take responsibility and be conscious buyers. If we learn that a product is made under unethical conditions then choose not to buy from that company. Although it may take more time, doing research into the sources of your food, clothing and products is a crucial step in raising awareness and promoting better labor regulations. Read more at www.huffingtonpost.com/sophia-armenkas-/wake-up-teen-consumers_b_8363126.html #iconeo #consumelocal #fairtrade #inhumane #responsibility #awareness #conscious #ecofashion #ethicalbrand #ethical #sustainableliving #sustainablefashion #fashionblogger #ecology #consuming #creativeart #creativehappylife #creativeminds #helpinghands #manufacturing #ecofriendly #humanity #savetheplanet #bekind #kindness #kindnessmatters #empathy #loveoneanother #slowfashion #ethicallymade

A post shared by Steffen Kraft aka ICONEO (@iconeo) on

8. It’s not subtle but it does make its point.

View this post on Instagram

80% of plastic in our oceans is from land sources. For example: ?Litter dropped on the street doesn‘t stay there. Rainwater and wind carries plastic waste into streams and rivers. ? Plastic you put in the bin ends up in landfill. When rubbish is being transported to landfill, plastic is often blown away because it‘s so lightweight. From there, it can eventually clutter around drains and enter rivers and the sea this way. ? Many of the products we use daily are flushed down toilets, including wet wipes, cotton buds and sanitary products. Microfibres are even released into waterways when we wash our clothes in the washing machine. They are too small to be filtered out by waste water plants. (source: www.wwf.org.uk) #iconeo #plasticpollution #endplasticpollution #plasticfree #plasticocean #noplastic #zerowaste #seabird #cleanoceans #oceancleanup #recycling #sustainable #sustainability #ecofriendly #ecodesign #ecofashion #singleuseplastic #stopsucking #illustrationart #oceanart #adobeillustrator #illustrationartist #illustration #contemporaryart #creativeart #wwf

A post shared by Steffen Kraft aka ICONEO (@iconeo) on

7. You wouldn’t do that, would you?

6. How much stuff do we need, really?

5. Another one that’s straight to the point.

4. They need us as much as we need them.

3. There’s more than one way to do almost everything.

2. Talk to your neighbors.

1. A literal representation of the Earth in a few short years.

 

These illustrations definitely did their job because they made me think (and also feel sad and guilty and like it’s time to do something – past time).

If you loved them, make sure and follow the artist – Steffan Kraft, who also goes by the name Iconeo – on Instagram and Facebook.

How did they make you feel? We’d love to hear about it!

The post This Artist Uses Illustrations to Try to Tackle Some of Society’s Problems appeared first on UberFacts.

You Might Need This 10-Step Guide to Giving Your Cat a Pill

Giving pills to any small creature, especially cats, who doesn’t understand why they need them and absolutely isn’t going to sit quietly and take them is a challenge.

To say the least.

But when it comes to fighting the inevitable, no one goes claws to the wall like an angry cat.

Image Credit: Orias1978, CC BY 2.0

And it’s not because they are against western medicine – I’ve never met an anti-vaxxer cat – they just don’t like to be made to do things against their will. Like, not at all.

So, if you’re faced with giving your beloved cat a dose of medicine for their own good, artist Nick Filippou (I iz Cat) has your back.

Or at least, he’ll make you laugh while you’re salving your vicious, vicious wounds.

View this post on Instagram

How to give a cat a pill…

A post shared by i iz cat (@iizcat) on

(Keep clicking through to see the rest)

We all know the only thing I can do is wish you luck in your endeavor, and to remind you that your cat’s health is worth the pain and suffering.

Probably.

Follow Nick on Instagram or Facebook for more fun like this!

The post You Might Need This 10-Step Guide to Giving Your Cat a Pill appeared first on UberFacts.

These 10 Photos Might Make You Do a Double-Take

What about those photos you take that are less than perfect? The ones that didn’t make the cut?

Perhaps you need a second glance because the first might be showing you something…um..different.

r/confusing_perspective on Reddit is a hot spot for these special photos. Here are ten times when people caught creepy and precarious looking photos purely on accident.

10. The Floating Fisherman

The floating fisherman from confusing_perspective

9. Ceiling lights or spaceships?

The reflections of ceiling lights appear to be alien ships descending on Shreveport. from confusing_perspective

8. Jesus has a nice rear end

Holy sale in jeans from confusing_perspective

7. Yikes…real or fake?

So good from confusing_perspective

6. Twinsies!

What a good looking Grandfather. from confusing_perspective

5. Ape foot

My ape brother from confusing_perspective

4. Where is this guy’s hand?

It’s REALLY not what it looks like… (repost from r/pics) from confusing_perspective

3. The strange foot

I get by with a leg-hand from my friends from confusing_perspective

2. Move over, Headless Horseman, there’s a headless gymnast on the loose

The hula hoop looks like it’s taken this gymnasts head off from confusing_perspective

1. Moo-ve over, there’s a long cow coming your way

The cows are long in France from confusing_perspective

Forget about getting the perfect shot and try to capture an optical illusion. It’s bound to make your friends laugh.

The post These 10 Photos Might Make You Do a Double-Take appeared first on UberFacts.