The Making Things (up) duo. Artist photo by Marian Firke. Rabbit Rabbit portrait by Lisa Firke.
We are Lisa Firke, an artist, and Rabbit Rabbit, her sidekick and partner in making things (up).
Rabbit Rabbit began as a whimsical custom: if, on the first day of the month you say “Rabbit Rabbit” first thing when you wake up, you'll have good luck all month long. I always say “Rabbit Rabbit” online; it amuses me.
When rabbits began proliferating in my art, Rabbit Rabbit emerged as a figure representing this tradition. Since then he has become much more. You might call him my muse – or perhaps my accomplice.
Many of my illustrations begin as stories in my head – often about animal characters like Rabbit Rabbit. Animals make wonderful subjects because we always seem to find ourselves when we look at them.
I like to improvise on paper with watercolor or ink. Every piece is then scanned and further refined digitally. I don't really consider my pieces finished until they are printed on my trusty giclee printer.
I feel very lucky to spend my days in my favorite way: reading, writing, and making things (up). My family kindly tolerates this. Rabbit Rabbit, of course, thinks it's all about him.