Retired Circus Chimp Drawing Crowds to Watch Him Paint

Posted: Sep 20, 2010 3:29 PM
Updated: Sep 20, 2010 3:32 PM

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - A retired circus chimpanzee is the Cezanne
of simians, drawing crowds to a Brazilian zoo to watch him paint.
The 26-year-old chimp called Jimmy has been producing
surprisingly lovely paintings each day for three weeks at the
Niteroi Zoo.
Trainer Roched Seba said Monday Jimmy doesn't like the toys and
other diversions that other chimps enjoy. So three weeks ago, Seba
introduced him to painting after reading about animals in zoos
elsewhere that enjoyed a little canvas time.
Temperamental as great artists can be, Jimmy at times declines
to paint if his cage is surrounded by too many gawkers.
But for at least 30 minutes a day, he carefully dips his brush
into plastic paint containers and uses broad, bold strokes to
create his art.

Topics: Retired, Circus, Chimp, Drawing, Crowds, to, Watch, Him, Paint