DAILY ZOO SC (2025)

"In the spring of 2005 Chris Ayers was busy working as a concept artist in the Hollywood film industry. That came to a crashing halt when he was diagnosed with leukemia on April first. After a year-long period of treatment and recovery he started a sketchbook called The Daily Zoo on the anniversary of his diagnosis. Over the next 365 days he would draw one animal each day, challenging both his self-discipline and imagination. Most importantly it would allow him the focused opportunity to celebrate the gift of each healthy day. The pages of The Daily Zoo: Volume One are chock-filled with 365 distinct critters, ranging from curious pandas to sinister hyenas, athletic aardvarks to zealous zebras, and his choice of artistic styles are as diverse as his subject matter. Alongside the images Ayers, whose big screen credits include Men in Black II, X-Men 3, and the Alien vs. Predator films, ties in commentary about his cancer experience, the sources of his artistic inspiration and his creative methods. Whether you're a beginning artist or a seasoned pro, this book will leave you inspired to grab the nearest pencil, pen, brush or crayon and start drawing!"

"Following in the successful paw and hoof prints of The Daily Zoo Volume One comes another exotic menagerie of creative fauna from Hollywood artist Chris Ayers. The Daily Zoo 2 offers more furry and feathered friends along with continuing reflections on his life as an artist and cancer survivor. And, as with Volume 1 and perhaps more so, regardless of your artistic experience, this book will leave you inspired to grab the nearest pencil, pen, brush or crayon and start drawing... for fun and perhaps as a way to bring healing!"

"The imaginative and often whimsical animal menagerie of the Daily Zoo continues to grow with this latest collection. The therapeutic project, drawing an animal each day in response to being treated for acute leukemia, has been a constant companion to creator/survivor Chris Ayers since he first started it in 2006. This volume features characters from Years 3 through 9 of the project, inspired by various events and personal encounters on his journey of remission - from traveling the world and the amazing people he met along the way, to planning his wedding and preparing for the arrival of his first child. Come inside and explore the playground of Chris' imagination, where horses wear lipstick, tigers wear tuxedos, and the starfish like to fight back. "