As part of an illustration course, I dove into the glamorous yet precarious world of the 1920s, courtesy of a raffle that paired me with a rhinoceros and the jazz-fueled, flapper-dancing era of the Roaring Twenties. My challenge: craft a character, story, and wardrobe for this rhino—a wealthy U.S. bank owner living the high life just before the stock market crash of 1929.

The result? A snobby rhino rocking tailored pinstripes, puffing on a cigar, and completely unaware that the stock market is about to crash harder than a clumsy jazz drummer. The final piece channels the charm of vintage paper dolls, complete with interchangeable outfits and props, ready to tell a tale of fortune, fashion, and financial folly.

Because who wouldn’t want to play dress-up with a roaringly rich rhino?