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Fine art · Auction contribution

Chuck Jones Auction

Overview

I created two 12-inch paintings for the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity’s annual Red/Dot Auction. Every contribution is displayed anonymously, so the image has to earn attention without an artist’s name beside it. I used familiar Chuck Jones character moments, then added hidden letterforms and visual references for viewers to discover up close.

Role

Artist

Client

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity

Timeline

2 weeks

Deliverables

Two 12-inch paintings

Original painting displayed on the gallery wall at the Red/Dot Auction

The Event

Red/Dot Auction

Red/Dot Auction logo

The Red/Dot Auction is an annual fundraiser held by the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Over 150 artists contribute anonymous 12-inch square artworks, and attendees bid without knowing the identity of the artist behind each piece. This puts the focus entirely on the creative work itself.

Attendees gathering at the Red/Dot Auction event
Guests browsing anonymous artwork at the Red/Dot Auction

Creative Process

Inspiration

The artwork draws directly from the iconic animation of Chuck Jones, particularly his beloved 1946 short film Rhapsody Rabbit, in which Bugs Bunny takes the stage as a concert pianist in a series of comedic, perfectly-timed visual gags. Jones had an extraordinary ability to fuse music, movement, and humor into a single frame, and that energy became the foundation for this piece.

By studying Jones’s original compositions and the expressive character poses he perfected over decades, the design pays homage to his legacy while layering in a fresh sense of discovery. Hidden letterforms and playful references are woven into the imagery, capturing the same spirit of whimsy, surprise, and meticulous craftsmanship that defined Jones’s work.

Inspiration reference featuring Bugs Bunny as a concert pianist in Rhapsody Rabbit
Inspiration reference featuring a Chuck Jones animation study and composition

Final Pieces

The artwork

The finished paintings translate Jones’s animated energy into a handcrafted, tangible medium. Each 12-inch square piece captures Bugs Bunny in a signature Chuck Jones moment: one at the grand piano mid-performance, the other strolling through a Parisian streetscape. The compositions balance bold color with fine detail, created to hold their own on any collector’s wall.

Original painting of Bugs Bunny performing at a grand piano, inspired by Rhapsody Rabbit
Original painting of Bugs Bunny strolling through Paris