White Rabbit in Wonderland

This is from my train trip to Paso Robles in spring. The first, (and a favorite of mine), is "White Rabbit of Wonderland". I like this one a lot because of the expression on the rabbits face. It has a look that makes him look very human, and that is part of what I am saying through my paintings - that animals have emotions and spirits of life as humans do. Living with my beloved dogs over the years and watching them express themselves, it became clear they were very emotional and capable of feeling deep love, loss, loyalty and sneakiness, among their many flavors of emotion. I realized that ALL animals are like that, they have emotions and attachments in their lives that are similar to our own. I don't know if it is a soul or a spirit, but whatever it takes to achieve an afterlife in heaven, animals are there. I see them as being soul spirits just like we are, but inhabiting different bodies. This painting came directly from a sketch of the Encinitas Carlsbad area as seen from the train, in springtime.