Orangutan for Charity

July 3, 2018

This little drawing was mailed off today for the Sketch for Survival Wildlife Art Initiative.

Thrilled to share that this piece has been accepted into Sketch for Survival, a conservation initiative run by Explorers Against Extinction. This UK-based organization works to protect endangered species worldwide, supporting frontline conservation projects and using art to connect people with the urgent realities of biodiversity loss.

Sketch for Survival brings together artists from around the globe to create original wildlife drawings that raise awareness and funds for threatened species. Each piece becomes part of a traveling exhibition, highlighting the power of art to inspire real-world conservation action. Each year - just 100 artworks are selected for the fundraising auction.

My drawing was done live at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. I was lucky to have an incredible model—this orangutan stayed almost perfectly still for nearly 15 minutes, making it easy to capture her presence and personality on paper.