by niya christine

Those Bunny Feet!

Niya Christine. Copyright

#150/365 Paintings

We’ve seen rabbits in all kinds of postures this month. Bunny butts, backs, nose profiles and then butts again. But what about those feet? Meet baby lop Noel. He has big feet and a super relaxed, squishy face. I think he feels so safe in life that he has no idea he’s a rabbit and instinct runs the other way.

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Project notes: This is the last of the Bunnies & Bicycle’s paintings. Friday is the transition post to Food & Wine and then Saturday, the first painting of the new theme. Whew, what an amazing month. More on that in tomorrow’s post.

in May | Bunnies & Bicycles / Project 365
 by niya christine

D A K O T A

Niya Christine Painting. Copyright

#148/365 Paintings

I had to laugh several times in the process of this painting. First, because I was working from a black and white photo of an unknown rabbit. But when the drawing was done, it was clearly ‘not’ the rabbit in the photo. It was Dakota, my oldest rabbit. His face, absolutely! The second laugh was all that gosh darn color. If Dakota saw this painting I’d get the freeze out move–the long ear over the eye for months. Dakota is super stoic and macho. The pink—the squishy vulnerable posture, the lower lip showing. All these things are highly unacceptable in his world. Still giggling behind his back. If you ever meet him, you never saw this okay?

in May | Bunnies & Bicycles
 by niya christine

Bernice the Proud Baby Maker (Jack Rabbit)

Niya Christine. Copyright

#146/365 Paintings

I love how jack rabbits are skilled at camouflage. I stayed in a resort last summer in Scottsdale AZ. The resort was stunning. Lots of fountains and pools, a gorgeous view of a red rock canyon. And, if this wasn’t perfect enough, the restaurant served my favorite Chardonnay, La Crema. I was vacationing from work stress and 24/7 intensive rabbit care of my eldest rabbit who almost died. It took 4 months to restore him. So guess what I see in the first hour my stay? Yes, a gaggle of baby jack rabbits. Tiny, fast little creatures, bravely begging for food from strangers. Nonetheless, my first evening wasn’t spent in my best dress, lightly sipping Chardonnay, chatting it up with the locals (that came the next night). Nope. I scrapped for apples, salad makings and water. I planted the jack rabbits little picnics under cactus and desert bushes. It was fun. I felt like a female 007 of jack rabbit food-feast bliss. When I looked the next day, everything was munched to the core. Apparently, they had a very good night.

This jack rabbit gives the hunters out there a challenging look. “Do you really think you can beat us? Do you really think you can take us out? They don’t call me Bernice the baby-maker for nothing. I’m the happy mother of 192 babies this year alone. We love to make more of us. It’s our thing!”

Jack rabbits are cool!

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in May | Bunnies & Bicycles / Project 365
 by niya christine

Grumpy Old Man Rabbit

Copyright. Niya Christine

#145/365 Paintings

He doesn’t mind that he was born with pink accents. What he minds is that we are looking at him, bothering him when he’s got important rabbit business to do. So we get his behind and his perturbed expression. I like him. I’ll call him Picasso.

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Project notes: This is the final of this mixed media, mono print cycle. Wow, such a ride.

in May | Bunnies & Bicycles / Project 365
 by niya christine

The Aftermath

By Niya Christine. Copyright

#140/365 Paintings

They are wondering if it’s safe to examine the remains of their homes since narrowly escaping the tractor blades earlier that afternoon. The rabbit on the left is a dreamer. He would like to watch the sunset and be thankful to be alive. The rabbit on the right is a strategist/realist. He would like to see if his carefully hidden carrots and parsley are findable in the rubble. Neither of them will mention how happy they are that their families were out and about playing in the sunshine when the ceilings fell in. They wait quietly for their return — little night watchmen of large sharp machinery. Whew what a day!

Have a great Monday and make sure your carrots are findable should workday realities hit home. ; )

in May | Bunnies & Bicycles / Project 365
 by niya christine

Polka Dotted Professor Rabbit

Copyright. Painting by Niya Christine

#139/365 Paintings

Meet professor Beardon. He teaches geometry and music theory. His favorite text is “Godel, Escher, Bach… quoted as a metaphorical fugue on minds and machines in the spirit of Lewis Carroll.”  His students tease him that he grows more dots per year on his coat from geometrical equations—that the inside of those large glasses is coated with music scores. Professor Beardon is often accused of singing with his eyes. Rabbits do have a poetic observation about them. Professor Beardon has that expression I so often see in rabbits… What? did you really think humans had the patent on genius? Silly humans. 

in May | Bunnies & Bicycles / Project 365