Bonding with an Orangutan

5/25/12, pencil, colored pencil, Hand Book watercolor sketchbook

This is Towan, the “big boss” orangutan at Woodland Park Zoo. He seemed lethargic at first, but eventually began to perk up a bit and even seemed to take notice that I was sketching him. He made eye contact with me many times and moved closer to the corner where I was sketching. I was told by a man who was also observing the 44-year-old orangutan that Towan is sometimes given chalk or markers to draw with. I like to think that Towan and I bonded briefly over our common penchant for sketching.