This is one of my favorite paintings to date, because it features a very cherished friend. While spending time observing the orangutans at the zoo, I soon recognized that Chantek was no ordinary ape. He would often sign “food/eat” while I painted him and was most happy and active during mealtime.

This painting was created en plein air during Art Gone Wild (2017) at Zoo Atlanta, during my last time seeing Chantek. He passed away about two months later. I drew comfort knowing that this painting sold to a collector who also owned artwork by Chantek and would be displaying the two side by side.