The snowshoe hare is a classic animal of the boreal forest. Its range is virtually the same as the northern wilderness. In fact, even its coat is perfectly suited to the land that is for half the year covered with snow. In the summer it is a warm brown which blends in perfectly with the humus and coniferous needles of the forest floor. In winter its coat is, of course, white which provides camouflage and protection from the predators. This season change of colour gives it its other name, "varying hare".
This painting presented a challenge. In order to make the animal stand out, the logical place to put it would have been in front of the dark vegetation, but I though it would be more interesting to paint the hare as nature had intended it - white against white. This gave me little tonal room to maneuver and show all the form and textures on the hair.