This is Peter.

“He’s a very special boy, he is very gentle and loves people and is missing an ear and back foot from being attacked when he was a baby. I bottle fed him and raised him for the last nine years. I feel like you are the perfect person to capture my sweet boy.”

From Maryel

I think Maryel says it all. I thought fondly of him as “Peter the Brave” the whole time I was painting his portrait. I still think of him that way. Most bunnies would have died instantly just from shock. He had a good strong heart. oil on aluminum, 4 x 4″

I paint lots of commissions of dogs and cats but it’s not every day I get one to paint a portrait of a rabbit. I grew up with rabbits and just lost my English spot rabbit, Harriet (who looked a lot like Peter!) earlier this year. Getting a prey animal to trust and love you is no easy feat, and when it happens its really special. Thanks so much for the commission, Maryel! It was a pleasure to spend time with your sweet boy.