The artist tilts her head to one side, seemingly considering where to place the next brushstroke, as watching art lovers wait in anticipation. Suddenly, she stretches her glistening gray body out of the water and swipes at her “canvas” with the paintbrush she holds in her mouth — and another dolphin masterpiece is finished.

At Dolphin Research Center, art lovers can work with friendly dolphins to create one-of-a-kind wearable art. (Photos courtesy of Dolphin Research Center)

No, “dolphin masterpiece” is not a typographical error.

In the Florida Keys, visitors and residents can mingle with indigenous six-toed cats, “basket hounds” that travel everywhere in their human companions’ bike baskets, free-range chickens and roosters, tiny geckos whose presence brings luck (but generally not “a 15 percent discount on your car insurance”) and parrots, macaws and cockatoos of virtually every hue.

Hanging out with this land-based menagerie, however, is definitely not the most unusual “animal encounter” to be experienced in the individualistic island chain. In fact, in the Keys, it’s possible to paint T-shirts with a dolphin.

Dolphin artistry is just one of the attractions at Dolphin Research Center, located at mile marker 59 bayside in the Middle Florida Keys. Founded in 1984 as a not-for-profit teaching and research facility, DRC is home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions. The center and its staff specialize in behavioral and cognitive research, educational programs and interactive sessions that expand visitors’ knowledge and appreciation of the gentle, intelligent marine mammals.

DRC’s Paint With a Dolphin program allows participants to interact closely with dolphins living and learning at the center — and help them create one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art.

Human and dolphin artists forge a bond during the collaborative painting session.

Paint With a Dolphin participants first spend individual time with a DRC trainer and one or more dolphin artists — perhaps enthusiastic Tursi or lively Merina — that inhabit the property’s interconnecting saltwater lagoons.

After observing a behavior session with the engaging bottlenose beauties, program participants are introduced to the “artists” and begin assisting in the creation of the T-shirt — choosing paint colors and holding the shirt stretched on a form for a dolphin to paint. The trainer mixes the paint, puts the brush into the dolphin’s mouth and encourages the artistic experience.

Typically, everyone involved reacts with glee as the artist circles, swipes paint on the T-shirt and, upon completing the creative task, screams in excitement. The session ends with the dolphin and human artists posing for a photo with the shirt — a keepsake about as far removed as possible from the typical “tourist” T-shirt souvenir.

The Paint with a Dolphin program is open to adults and kids — even those as young as age 3, though a participating adult must accompany each “artist” younger than 8 years old.

Want to know more about creating T-shirts, and lifelong memories, with Dolphin Research Center’s friendly dolphins? Click here.