Vincent van Gecko

"I need a gecko painting." This is what my manager told me yesterday. Um, ok.

Let me backup. Our zoo sells animal paintings. Not paintings of animals, but paintings by animals. Elephants will hold brushes in their trunks and other animals will use their feet, bodies, faces, tongues, whatever to make original masterpieces.

So back to my current dillema. A reptile? Ok, no problem, I can do this! All our paint is non-toxic and washable, it is the same kind toddlers use to finger paint. I still have to dilute it, because geckos have very delicate footpads (that is what allows them to walk up walls). Luckily for me, Crested Geckos are pretty calm and this one was willing to work with me.

I sat on the floor with the canvas in front of me and followed three simple steps :

Step 1 - Put paint on toes
Step 2 - Let gecko walk on canvas
Step 3 - Repeat

I sat him down on the canvas and he would walk right back to me. Afterwards he got a bath to wash off any excess paint. I now have a new found respect for Crested Geckos. Next time, I am going to try a snake.