Bye Bye Bunny!

Tomorrow is the start of the Chinese New Year! 10 February 2024 then brings on the Year of the Dragon but also sadly means the end to the Year of the Rabbit. In kawaii terms, this means we have to bid farewell to the year of the bunny! Not to worry, Bunny is not going anywhere, just taking another 12-year break till she’s back in the next animal zodiac cycle. I thus thought a little journal sketch would be an idea just to pay some respects to our bunny and to thank her for bringing a wonderful 2023!

The Background

It was a spur of the moment idea this afternoon to get my sketchbook out and start drawing away! Started with the text using black Faber Castell Pitt Artist’s Pen in SC size. As I had an idea of what else to include (rabbits!), the pencil sketch was quite straight forward. This was followed by a wash of Ecoline Inks in aqua and magenta pink. Seeing how dreary the days have been here, I was determined to make this painting with happy colors!

Painting Bunnies

Once the background inks were dry, time to color in the rabbits! Decided to make them plain neutral shades with the exception of flourescent yellow. The rest was in gold, brown and pearlescent white. All in acrylic inks except for the brown which was India Ink (Dr, Ph Martin’s Bombay Ink), a medium used for the green outfit as well. The closing eyes were lined with red Stickles glitter glue, and for the string of pearls I went for Nuvo Drops. Finally an origami flower cut out to introduce more red into the painting. And now, a cute “farewell bunny” painting!

It’s not very often that I get to create a quick impromptu painting like this. As I have been very busy lately, only last night did I suddenly realise it is indeed Chinese New Years tomorrow and the Year of the Rabbit will no longer be, well at least for the next 12 years. A bit sad because rabbits are one of my favorite animals. Of course that won’t stop me from painting more bunnies and rabbits. My little bunnies are here to stay and they’re happy to pass the year onto our other friends, the Dragon! So thank you Bunnies for making 2023 a great year and see you in 2035!