The Ape Painting

Oil on Panel, 2018
Dimensions: 108 inches x 90 inches (274cm x 229cm)

This painting took over 1400 hours of studio time spread out over 2 years. It depicts Charles, the iconic silverback gorilla from the Toronto Zoo, surrounded by over 70 different ape-related toys from various generations of pop culture. The pattern is primarily influenced by Gothic stained glass windows. As a child, I would draw Charles constantly. I had always wanted to make a large-scale painting of Charles, but I didn't want it to be a menacing or intimidating depiction. I wanted to present a "gentle giant". Because of my desire for that pose, capturing an ideal reference photo was very difficult. I ended up taking multiple reference photos to create a composite sketch. This was the most challenging painting I have ever made.

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