Rabbits are for life, not just for Easter | Fudge and Cherry | Pet Portrait | Illustration

Rabbits are for life, not just for Easter.

A week from today is Easter Day!

This illustration is about an awareness of not to buy rabbits for an Easter gift to children, thinking they're an easy starter pet. (And the chicks!)

I have been doing this illustration for the past few years, this becoming a thing for every year when it's closer to Easter, to promote awareness from animal rescues, rabbit owners and rabbit lovers (like me!) to think before buying something for Easter, as we don't want many abandoned rabbits, do we! 

There was an example of a similar case from one of my foster rabbits!

Although these two rabbits here, weren't abandoned a while after Easter, I like to talk about what it was like for them to go through, by trying to survive out in the strange world that they were not made to be. It's sympathising to think of their tough life.

Meet Fudge and Cherry and their rescue story!

Fudge was a brown rabbit and Cherry was a black rabbit, and they're sister. They were rescued by the RSPCA inspector in October 2011, and then they were put into our care, they were the very first rabbits we ever had. At the time we assumed they're Rex, now after 16 rabbits and know more about them, I think they were Palomino. 

When I first met them, as well as having a rabbit, I was so amazed by them, their beauty, their elegance, their personalities, and so on. And that's when I became a rabbit lover! They were such lovely girls, gentle and very amusing.

Fudge, I nicknamed her Fudgie, was laid-back and dominant. But She was actually very nice to her sister, not being bossy at all. In the house, she flopped a lot, in every room, she was a calm, confident girl. The same thing in the garden, she loves lounging on the grass, especially in the sun.

 

 And Cherry was quite shy but tolerant. She always stayed close to her nonchalant sister, although she can be independent. She doesn't mind us petting her, a bit of cuddle, we even get a little affection in return, I loved it when Cherry licked my hand and I even squealed silently. 

They were just beautiful!

Here are a couple photos of two stunning sisters!

The photo'1 (the first one of them on the circle table) was used for their RSPCA adoption profile picture on the website. It was not easy to get a good photo as they don't sit still! Cheeky girls. 😂

Before they were rescued, they were in a poor condition house that was overrun with many animals, I cannot remember the total of animals and what, the sisters were in the cage with lack of things inside, did not meet their needs.

I thought I do a pet/rabbit portrait painting along with an awareness message at the side. I use photo'1 as a reference to draw and had a collection of wildflowers photos to chose from for the background. The wildflowers I picked are Red Campion, Yarrow and Field Scabious.

The dent on the paper bothered me, I had a lot of thinking of a way to get rid of it.

 

  

My attempt at calligraphy of an awareness message, that I can use it onto my other rabbit illustration instead of writing on my painting, as I want it to be seen as pet portrait rather an awareness illustration.

I've managed to come with an idea by covering it with the wildflower until I've gotten too far with too much water and I've damaged it. Had to wait for it to dry and painted the leaf bigger to hide the mess.

I have been planning on doing the pet portrait commissions, here's a result of the rabbit portrait. I'm going to work on the dog portrait next time, perhaps the guinea pigs as well. 

Thanks for reading and have a lovely time!