Paint it Green – Donald

Donald, chimpanzee
Paint It Green, 2026
Tempera paint on stretched canvas
14 × 11 inches

Rich greens sweep across the canvas in thick, overlapping strokes, with flashes of yellow peeking through the layers. There’s a boldness to the painting, but also a warmth that feels right at home with its artist.

As the alpha male of his troop, Donald has an unmistakable presence. He doesn’t need to make a lot of noise to command attention, and he’s generally content to let the others create the commotion. But there’s a softer side to this imposing chimp. Give him a baby doll during enrichment, and he may carry it around for hours, keeping it close as he goes about his day.

It’s that combination of strength and gentleness that makes Donald so special. He can hold his own with the biggest personalities in the troop, then turn around and show us why his caregivers affectionately call him their big CareBear. Behind all that muscle is a remarkably gentle fellow.