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Did Somebunny Mention Rabbits?
A long-term obsession, and the 2026 calendars are in!
Lucia Heffernan
September 25, 2025
I’ve had rabbits on the brain. Rabbits have been a frequent subject of mine, but if you follow my Instagram or have checked out my website, you’ll notice I’ve been especially bunny-focused lately. Bunnies bunnies bunnies! Rabbits were one of my earliest animal subjects. Here’s my rabbit Blackie:
Princess and the Pea — 16”x16”
It wasn’t long before I started putting rabbits in human clothes. My rabbit Bun-Bun was my model for this piece:
Queen of Hearts — 16”x16”
Warrior Rabbits in Western Art
Of course there’s a long history of rabbits doing human things in art. For example, in Western art, for reasons that aren’t entirely known, medieval monks liked to add warrior rabbit (?!) doodles to their manuscripts.
A hound riding on a rabbit and a rabbit riding on a snail battle with shields and lances. The Breviary of Renaud de Bar (Winter portion), Metz, France, 1302-03: Yates Thompson MS 8, f. 294r.
My money’s on the snail/rabbit pair — the dog/rabbit team doesn’t seem to have their act together yet. I don’t know much about medieval art or manuscripts, but I suspect the monks doodled for the same reason we do today: making silly pictures to entertain themselves.
By the way, check out my fearsome warrior bunny:
The Striped Warrior — 36”x36”
Tea-Serving Rabbits in Asian Art
Rabbits show up doing human things in Asian art as well. Check out these nice bunnies having New Year’s tea with their sparrow friend. I love how the artist uses negative space to make the three bunnies appear to materialize out of the fog:
Shibata Zeshin (1807-1891), Sparrow and Rabbits Celebrating New Year — 34”x12¼”
Part of the reason for so many rabbits in my work lately dates back to my show in Art Busan, Korea, this summer — bunny images are very popular in Asia! Here’s a nice little bun enjoying a day at the beach:
Beach Bun — 20”x20”
And here’s a recent piece painted for my upcoming CODA show in Palm Desert in December:
24 Carrot Gold — 20”x20”
Did you know that carrots actually aren’t good for rabbits? Too much sugar, and not enough fiber. Who knew?! Let’s hope this guy is hoarding his golden carrots, and not trying to eat them.
Lots of people talk to animals... Not very many listen, though... That's the problem.
2026 Calendars Are Here!
My 2026 calendars are in, and they’re packed with new images to keep you entertained in the coming year. With a very bunny-focused cover, of course! The cover image is “The Elephant in the Room”, a 30”x45” painting that will be shown at my December CODA show.
You can order a calendar on my website at luciaheffernan.com. Get yours early, they always sell out!
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