So, you’re staring at that empty spot in your museum's art gallery. It’s annoying, isn’t it? You’ve probably spent months—maybe even years—waiting for Redd to pull up in his shady little boat, only to find he’s selling another "Famous Painting" with the eyebrows slightly off. But the real boss fight of the Animal Crossing: New Horizons art wing isn't the statues. It's the wild painting right half.
It’s a nightmare. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustrating items to track down because of how the game's RNG (random number generation) works. You aren't just looking for a painting; you’re looking for half of a masterpiece, and specifically, the half that seems to spawn significantly less often for many players.
What Is This Thing, Anyway?
Before we talk about how to get it, we should probably look at what it actually is. In the real world, this isn't just "game art." It’s based on the Folding Screens of Fujin and Raijin by Tawaraya Sōtatsu. This is a massive deal in Japanese art history. We are talking about a National Treasure of Japan.
The "right half" specifically depicts Raijin, the god of lightning, thunder, and storms in Japanese mythology. He’s the one with the circular array of drums. He looks fierce, muscular, and a little bit terrifying. The left half, if you were wondering, is Fujin, the god of wind.
In the game, Blathers is obsessed with it. And for good reason. The scale of the piece when both halves are together is one of the most visually striking displays in the entire museum. But getting Raijin to show up without being a total fraud is a tall order.
How to Spot the Fake Wild Painting Right Half
Redd is a scammer. We know this. But with the wild painting right half, his scam is actually pretty subtle if you aren't looking closely. Most players get burned because they see the "Wild Painting" name and just buy it in a panic.
Don't do that.
Look at the color of the deity. In the genuine version of the wild painting right half, Raijin is white. He’s got a pale, almost ivory complexion that stands out against the gold leaf background of the screen.
👉 See also: Grand Theft Auto Games Timeline: Why the Chronology is a Beautiful Mess
If you look at the painting and the character is green, walk away. That’s the fake. Redd is trying to sell you a Raijin that looks like he’s suffering from a bad case of motion sickness. It’s a common mistake because Fujin (on the left half) is naturally green in the real-world masterpiece, so players often think "Oh, green god, looks right."
Nope. Right side = White god. Left side = Green god. If the colors are swapped or if Raijin is green, it’s a counterfeit.
Why the RNG Feels So Rigged
Is the game actually programmed to make the wild painting right half rarer? Technically, the data miners suggest that most "large" art pieces have a lower spawn weight than the small portraits like the Flowery Painting or the Sinking Painting (which are always real, by the way).
But there’s also the "Redd Fatigue" factor. Because Redd only carries four items at a time, the pool of potential art is huge. When you factor in the chance of him carrying a "Large" piece, and then the 50/50 chance of it being real versus fake, the math gets ugly. You’re looking at a tiny percentage chance of seeing a genuine wild painting right half on any given visit.
I’ve talked to players who have finished their fossil wing, their bug wing, and their fish wing, yet they are still missing this one specific screen. It’s the final boss of completionism.
Speeding Up the Search (The Harv’s Island Strategy)
If you’re still waiting for the boat to dock at your secret beach, you’re doing it the slow way. The 2.0 update changed the game for art collectors.
Go to Harv’s Island. If you haven’t funded the shops there yet, do it now. You need to look for the Lloid that mentions a "shady art dealer." Pay the 100,000 Bells. Once Redd sets up his permanent stall there, your odds of finding the wild painting right half skyrocket.
✨ Don't miss: Among Us Spider-Man: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessed With These Mods
Here is the pro tip: Redd’s inventory on Harv’s Island refreshes every Monday. However, if you buy a piece of art (even a fake one), he will replace that spot with a new item the very next day.
If you have the Bells to burn, buy one fake every day. This forces the inventory to cycle. By "shuffling the deck" daily instead of weekly, you’re seeing 12-14 pieces of art per week instead of just two. This is the most efficient way to hunt down the wild painting right half without resorting to time travel—though, honestly, no one is judging you if you do.
The Trading Economy
If you’re tired of the grind, the Animal Crossing community is your best friend. But be warned: the wild painting right half is a "high-tier" trade item.
On platforms like Nookazon or various Discord servers, people know how rare this piece is. You’ll rarely find someone giving it away for a few thousand Bells. Usually, people want Nook Mile Tickets (NMTs), Gold Nuggets, or other rare statues like the Valiant or Great Statue in exchange.
Always check the painting before the trade is finalized if you’re visiting another island. If they have it displayed, look for that white skin tone on Raijin. If it's in a leaf icon form on the ground, you have to trust the trader—which is why using reputable community hubs with rating systems is vital.
Acknowledging the Frustration: The "Always Fake" Myth
There’s a common myth floating around some forums that some people’s islands are "seeded" to never get certain real paintings.
"I’ve seen the wild painting right half five times and it’s always green!"
🔗 Read more: Why the Among the Sleep Mom is Still Gaming's Most Uncomfortable Horror Twist
I get it. It feels personal. But it’s just bad luck. There is no code in New Horizons that locks your specific save file out of a genuine Raijin. It just feels that way because the fake version has a high appearance rate compared to the real one.
Keep in mind that the "Wild" series is unique because it’s a pair. The game treats the left and right halves as entirely separate items in the loot table. You might find three real Left halves before you ever see the Right one. It’s just the nature of the beast.
Nuance in Art: The Real Sōtatsu Story
If you’re curious why Nintendo picked this specific piece to be such a headache, it’s probably because of its status. Tawaraya Sōtatsu, the artist, was a bit of a mystery himself. We don't know much about his life, but his work on the Wind and Thunder Gods screens defined the Rinpa school of Japanese art.
The use of negative space—that gold "void" between the two gods—is what makes the painting famous. In the game, when you finally place the wild painting right half next to the left half in your home or see them together in the museum, you see that gap. It creates a sense of tension, like the two gods are about to clash. It’s a level of artistic detail that most games just don't bother with.
Steps to Finally Finish Your Collection
You want this painting. You need it. Here is how you actually get it done without losing your mind.
- Fund Redd on Harv’s Island immediately. This is non-negotiable for serious collectors.
- The "Buy-Out" Method: Buy one fake painting every single day from Redd’s stall on Harv’s Island. Toss the fake in the trash or give it to a villager you don't like (they won't know it's fake, usually). This forces a fresh item into the slot for tomorrow.
- Visual Confirmation: Memorize the "White is Right" rule. Raijin (Right side) must be white. If he's green, save your Bells.
- Check the "Always Real" list: Sometimes Redd has two real items. If you see the wild painting right half and it's real, but there's also a Calm Painting (which is always real), prioritize the Wild painting. The Calm painting shows up way more often.
- Multiplayer Networking: Join a dedicated ACNH art-trading group. Often, people will post "Redd is here with real Wild Right!" and let you visit for a small tip. This is often faster than waiting for your own RNG to settle.
Once you finally donate it, take a second to actually look at it in the museum. The lighting in the art wing is fantastic, and seeing the wild painting right half finally reunited with its partner is one of the most satisfying "clicks" in the game. It marks the end of the hardest hunt in New Horizons.
Now, go check your mail. Maybe Gulliver sent you something actually useful for once.