No; they’re just chillaxin’. It was a point of discussion for this Ranger Rick magazine article about the effect of music on plants and animals. One scientific experiment seemed to show that lab rats and some other animals become more relaxed when they listen to music.
My first sketch was meant to show the rats relaxed and grooving; but the editors remarked that “they look like they are stoned and have the munchies”.
They thought the vapor coming from the test tube looked like smoke. After another look I can see how they made that connection! I sent the sketch to rehab.
The editors were relieved. I was ready to start the finished piece, but then I realized I wasn’t happy with the scale of the test tubes in the background and I felt the eye dropper commanded too much attention so I revised it once more. I also returned some cheese to the lower right to balance out the color.
The article didn’t say what kind of music mellowed them out, but I’m guessing it might be “experimental jazz”.
Graphite and charcoal base; photoshop color.
This is beautiful! I love the understated color palette.
There is a fine line between relaxed and grooving and being stoned. You took a courageous stand and deep sixxed those vapor lines. I applaud you. But mostly I applaud you because you drew the coolest rats ever!
Thanks for your equally courageous comments, JIm!
I’m glad you like it and my rats will thank you too once they can be roused from their red-eyed stupor.
hahahahaha… Who moved my cheese?!
I’m surprised they didnt comment on the red eyes…haha…and their obvious nekkidness…think of the children, Debbie. haha
you really need to do an illo of the calming effects heavy metal music has on sharks!
I guess when one finds oneself swimming off the coast of Australia it’d be a good idea to play Judas Priest to lessen the ‘oh crap, a shark just bit off my leg, scenario’ 
oh no no no… unlike some others, Ranger Rick and those children that read it love the red eyed rat and every other nekkid creature!
Heavy metal’s calming effects on sharks -oh yeah! a headbanging, air-guitaring shark with long hair! i would love to draw that! 
http://www.npr.org/blogs/allsongs/2011/06/08/137059984/5-songs-for-sharks-that-like-ac-dc