Eighteen-year-old Ella Woodland’s pet rats have a knack for artistic expression, and by guiding them to paint mini masterpieces, she’s helping their talents flourish. Eighteen-year-old Ella Woodland’s pet rats have a knack for artistic expression, and by guiding them to paint mini masterpieces, she’s helping their talents flourish. There’s a little something in this project for Woodland, too: She’s made around $2,600 to date selling the pieces online.
She kicked off her side hustle in February, when she got the idea to explore her pets’ creative side after seeing the creator TooGoods Tiny Paws selling her own rats’ artwork online. Woodland’s first three rats — Gubler, Rumple, and Reid — were an early Christmas present from her parents last September. A few months later, she was given newborns — Hotch, Morgan, Rossi, Luke, and Gideon — bringing her total to eight.