Illustrator color technique help needed????????

[StraightLine]

I am trying to figure out how I can get this type of color style. I did this picture in Adobe Illustrator and have played with all the filters, scribble effect, blurs, ect… I have tried the pen and brush tools but just can’t get the line watercolor effect even close to the example I have posted. I love the way my candy shop turned out but I would like my rabbits to appear like they were hand drawn or softer in appearance.

I have searched and searched for brushes or techniques but I am at a dead end. I did bring it into PS to see if I could come up with something there but to be honest PS is not my favorite. If there is something there that someone could suggest that would be great too.
Thanks for any assistance!!

[CkretAjint]

In order to do this in Illustrator you would need to colorize your shape using a gradient mesh and and then create/set an opacity mask around the edges... for ever single little itty-bitty shape you see. One could literally spends days upon days fine tuning this effect within Illustrator. It is something that I wouldn't want to even think about attempting within Illustrator.

Use photoshop. There are hundreds of water color paint brushes out there if you do a quick search for them.