Dear Subscriber First Name
A year passes quickly, and it is difficult to look back and know what to think. I started the year touting that it was “my year” because 2023 is the year of the Rabbit.

The Rabbit is open and optimistic, sensitive and imaginative, and enjoys the comfortable side of life. They’re not the bravest of the zodiacs and may become neurotic if they choose to dwell on their emotions.

Perhaps I should have read up on the meaning of the year of the rabbit prior to my resounding proclamation. Today I came across some statements that resonate with me.

Rabbits possess a keen perception of reality, which makes Rabbits the ultimate adapters to the real world.

I recently read The Cat Who Saves Books, by Sōsuke Natsukawa, and translated by Louise Heal Kawai. It is a very short interesting read with a cover that drew my attention. After reading the book, I looked up the cover illustrator, Yuko Shimizu. I went down a rabbit hole, as I tend to do, and ended up taking two ink drawing classes online that day. I have been trying to draw with a pen on printer paper each day since. Even if it is drawing (not tracing) artwork that I admire or from photos I’ve collected from free resource sites.

Rabbits are earnest with everything they do; they just ask that others treat them the same way.

Rabbits won’t tolerate a boring life. They’ll continuously create interest in life, hopping from one excitement to the next, so they’re not the best at delving into any subject for an extended period of time.

(right to left) Therapy Tree Acrylic 20 x 20”, Sunflower in Black and White Watercolor 10x10”, and Blue Butterfly color pencil drawing. Fall 2023

Rabbits are also analytical and great gatherers of knowledge and information.

The Rabbit personality can be overly cautious and jumpy. When a Rabbit is feeling down, may have the tendency to escape from reality. A key lesson for Rabbits is how to manage their emotions so that they can thrive. 

Despite Rabbits’ peace-loving appearance, they can also be paranoid on occasion, even capable of becoming hysterical… their internal conflict may rise to a nuclear level. When this happens, Rabbits can become defensive out of an innate need for self-protection.

In 2022 I worked on the swan below. I was very unhappy with the composition, but I learned a lot about working on the large clayboard surface. In 2023 I finally washed off the swan, but I kept the nest, which was full of colors and marks that I really liked.

I took it outside with no plan other to enjoy putting paint down. I used dried watercolor from multiple palettes sitting around my studio.

Recently, I decide to start working on it again. Below is my emerging 22x30”composition.

The Rabbit’s natural sensitivity is their strength and weakness, as it’ll help the wish to be an artist or at least help in communication, but don’t let it stop progress in life.

I participated in a few exhibits this past year:

• Earth & Sky at Matthaei Botanical Garden, Ann Arbor, MI

• Minumental: A Celebration of Tiny Art at Stone & Spoon Gallery, Ypsilanti, MI

• Northville Art House Small Works All-Media Juried Exhibit, Northville, MI

• PARC Art Gallery, The Big Reveal, Plymouth MI

• Northville Art House West of Center

• PARC Art Gallery Hot Days Cool Art, Plymouth MI

• Northville Art House Members Exhibition

Honoring Small Marks series for an exhibit at The Gallery at Stone & Spoon: Minumental. All artwork was 2” or smaller in any direction. Three of my works sold in this exhibit.

In 2024, Rabbit may find it difficult to give work their all, either because they’re feeling scattered with worry or else too tired from influences to focus on the tasks at hand.

Others won’t take that well, especially because Rabbit is usually a charming and quick contributor at work.