Learn to Draw: Raccoons
Human-made cities can be extreme environments for many, but many living beings besides humans have made them their home. This lesson will feature an opportunistic being who is able to thrive in the extremeness of the city: Raccoon (SXÍEQES in the SENĆOŦEN language)!
Join scientific illustrator Dr. Julius Csotonyi and kQwa’st’not~Charlene George in this online session where we’ll learn how to draw our clever neighbours. The lesson will share both Western and Indigenous perspectives.
Not only will we be drawing this being, but we’ll also get to learn about the many gifts they share and the interconnected life they lead in our communities. This includes discussing how they sense the world and what it means to be resilient.
Scroll down for the recording and more cool resources from the webinar!
Explore the artwork from the lesson!
Scroll through the gallery to see some wonderful raccoons! If you’d like to have your drawing featured, send your artwork to social@sierraclub.bc.ca.
Questions for your consideration…
- How do we sense the world? Imagine seeing through SXÍEQES (raccoon’s) eyes. What can we learn from how SXÍEQES senses the world?
- How might you be inviting this neighbour to be part of your home? Think of “garbage”, cat doors, exciting food smells, sheltering structures and how those may play into your current relationship with raccoons.
Check out these resources from the webinar!
- Join our network of artists for change at InviteToAction.ca
- Are you on Facebook? Join our Facebook group for artists!
- Learn how to say raccoon in the language of the Indigenous community on whose territory you live. For example, raccoons are known as SXÍEQES in SENĆOŦEN.
- Read the story of the white raccoon from a Saysutshun perspective, shared by Dave Spirit Wolf Bodaly who is a Snuneymuxw First Nations knowledge keeper.
- Send your artwork to your local representative to help care for our raccoon neighbours. You can find your local representative here.
- Learn more about our education program.
- Please consider making a donation today to help us continue running free art lessons like this one. Donate financially here.
About the artist
Dr. Julius Csotonyi is a Vancouver-based scientific illustrator and natural history fine artist. He has a scientific background in ecology (MSc) and microbiology (PhD) which has taken him to study sensitive ecosystems, from sand dunes in the Rocky Mountain parks to hydrothermal vents at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
These experiences have fuelled a strong resolve to work toward preserving the earth’s biota. Painting biological subjects is one means that he uses to both enhance public awareness of biological diversity and to motivate concern for its welfare.
He paints murals and panels that have appeared in numerous museums (e.g. the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History), press release images for scientific publications, books, stamp sets (e.g. the 2018 “Sharks of Canada” set for Canada Post), and coins for the Royal Canadian Mint. His work is viewable on his online gallery, http://csotonyi.com
Artwork by Julius Csotonyi
