Suburban Wild Series
Afraid of His Own Shadow
The Story Behind Afraid of His Own Shadow
Artwork Details
Technique: Thread Painting
Dimensions: 10" wide x 8" high
Collection: Suburban Wild Series
Availability: Private collection
Rabbits are part of everyday life where I live.
My "backyard" is actually a common greenbelt, and it's home to more rabbits than I could ever count. A family even lives beneath my back porch. Late at night, I sometimes hear them thumping around outside.
In the evenings, my husband and I often take walks through the neighborhood. Spotting rabbits has become a bit of a game for us. They blend into the landscape so well that we usually don't notice them until one suddenly dashes across the grass.
Every now and then, though, one decides to stay put.
This little rabbit paused just long enough for me to take a photograph. It was late afternoon, and the low sun cast a long shadow across the grass. The rabbit seemed perfectly content to pose for a few moments, almost as if he knew I had a camera.
Of course, the moment I took one small step closer, he changed his mind and disappeared in a flash.
That photograph became the inspiration for Afraid of His Own Shadow. The title is meant with a smile. It captures both the dramatic shadow stretching beside him and the cautious nature that makes rabbits such elusive subjects.
Sometimes the best wildlife encounters last only a few seconds.
Fortunately, a camera—and a little patience—can make those moments last much longer.