He was selected to paint a rhinoceros calf as part of Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Wild Rhinos initiative to raise awareness and funds for Taronga’s rhino breeding program.

“I based it on street art and bold colours and an organic flowing design,” he said.

“They almost look like ribbons but when you put them together it looks like raw muscle.

“It was quite a big learning curve.”

Mr Pearson was among 85 individuals and schools selected to decorate a life-size rhino calf.

More than 50 schools participated in the project including Anson Street School. 

Each named their rhino calf and provided details of their creation.

A rhino calf will be installed at a popular spot in Orange with details to be unveiled of its precise location today.

The rhino trail will feature 125 wildly coloured rhinos and calves to be places in regional areas across the state before being returned to their ‘home’ schools for permanent display.

The calf from Anson Street School will be on show at Centro Lennox at Emu Plains in western Sydney while Mr Pearson’s rhino will be on display at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

Mr Pearson is studying his master of arts practice in visual arts through Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.

For more information on Wild Rhinos visit http://taronga.org.au/wild-rhinos/artists