Artist (s-l-o-w-l-y) at work: Guests can experience Valentino, the National Aviary's painting sloth - TribLIVE

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Hanging upside, he paints.

His strokes in red and gold hues are small, and mostly in an up and down motion. There are a few swirls, too. A few times he drops the brush, usually when he’s being handed a treat. After about 20 minutes, he moves slowly, grasping the branches of his custom-made perch.

He is finished with this piece of artwork.

He’s Valentino, a Linnaeus’ two-toed sloth, at the National Aviary on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

The animal has been learning to paint for a few months. Guests can enjoy watching him make art at the Sloth Painting Encounter at noon daily through the end of the year at the aviary.

Attendees learn facts about the rainforest species and other details about the animals, such as the strong claws that help them hang from trees. They spend most of their lives upside down. Their organs are formed in a way that they don’t have trouble breathing hanging in that way.

They move gradually and also sleep a lot.

Having a sloth paint was an activity that was chosen because the animal’s natural inclination is to grasp and hold onto things, usually tree branches.

Each guest chooses two colors for Valentino to create a painting they get to take home. The animal will paint on an 8 x 10 inch canvas and uses non-toxic paint.

The cost is $99 per person. Pre-registration is recommended.

“Animals can learn to do things, but it is important to have them do activities that fit their personality and ability,” said Cathy Schlott, curator of behavioral management and animal programs at the aviary.

“We try to figure out an animal’s behaviors. Valentino does a lot of reaching and climbing and has a lot of dexterity with his hands. We would not ask an animal to do a behavior that would not set him up for success.”

During the 30-minute session, Valentino, who turns 5 on Oct. 31, will paint for about 20 minutes. He is given snacks such as spinach, leaf lettuce, yellow squash, and zucchini. When he does the behavior it correctly, he’s rewarded with a positive verbal reinforcement — the word “good.”

Louis B. Ruediger | Tribune-Review

A sloth named Valentino paints at the National Aviary on Pittbsurgh’s North Side on Wednesday, Sept 30, 2020.

He can paint with either hand but showed a preference for his left hand, so he was trained to use that hand.

There are three sloths at the aviary, but he is the only one that paints. The penguins there did a similar exercise in the past where they walked through paint and onto canvasses to create art.

“You find ways to communicate with different species,” Schlott said. “Every animal learns differently. We can read an animal’s body language and understand what they are trying to tell us. The sky is the limit to what we can teach them.”

She said we as humans also train each other using all kinds of behaviors, even if we aren’t aware that is what we are doing.

“People love this experience,” said Christa Gaus, manager of visitor experiences and training at the aviary.

Molly Toth, communications specialist for the aviary, said not only is the encounter fun, it’s also enriching.

“It helps you indulge your creative side,” she said. “And it helps you get to know Valentino. It also deepens your connection more to nature.”

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne at 724-853-5062, jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter .

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Artist (s-l-o-w-l-y) at work: Guests can experience Valentino, the National Aviary's painting sloth - TribLIVE

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