A Little Monkey, A Big Lesson

How is your summer going?

I hope you are feeling revived and refreshed, enjoying the lightness of these long summer days and taking time to notice some of nature’s little wonders.

Early this summer, I was hoping to find a little creative inspiration to help with my painting. During my search, I stumbled upon something that completely captured my heart. It reminded me once again that creative inspiration is really everywhere - once you start looking for it.

Raise your hand if you have ever chosen a book because of its cover, wandered into a favorite shop to admire its latest designs, or spent more time studying a beautiful newspaper illustration than actually reading the article that accompanied it.

Are you guilty of any of the above? I certainly am because I love following those little sparks of curiosity, finding beautiful things to admire, and discovering new artists and ideas along the way.

Recently, as if on cue, my niece, Ami Joy, visited from California and introduced me to Punch-kun (or “Punch”), an entirely new kind of artist.

Well…technically, he isn’t an artist at all. He’s an orphaned Japanese macaque (or snow monkey) being hand-raised at a zoo in Japan.

I was immediately fascinated.

Before long, I found myself watching his daily updates, crying over his setbacks, cheering for his victories, and becoming completely invested in this little monkey’s journey.

Punch’s Backstory

Punch was born at the Ichikawa Zoo in Japan and was rejected by his mother shortly after birth.

Alone and frightened, he faced an additional heartbreaking challenge:  he was initially rejected by members of his own troop.

In the middle of all that loneliness, however, Punch found comfort in the most unexpected place - a plush IKEA toy.

The toy, named Oran-Mama, became his surrogate mother and his little island of security.

Punch clung to its soft fur as he wandered around his enclosure, searching for comfort, companionship, and, ultimately, a place where he belonged.

That little stuffed toy became much more than a toy.

It became his safe place. His companion. His anchor.

Watching Punch cling to Oran-Mama reminded me that we all need something or someone to hold onto when the world feels uncertain.

Almost immediately, Punch received another kind of support. His story went viral on the internet. With the designated hashtag #GoPunch, people around the world began enthusiastically following his story, sharing his progress, and cheering him on.

With the patience and dedication of his caregivers, Punch has continued to grow stronger. He is now making progress toward integrating with other monkeys and receiving affection from members of his troop.

What a journey.

From rejection…

to resilience.

From loneliness…

to connection.

From simply surviving…

to learning how to belong.

No different than our own lives.

And perhaps that is why Punch became the inspiration for my next painting project. I wanted to capture something of his resilience, his gentleness, and his unmistakable sense of adventure. More importantly, I wanted to paint the little monkey who refused to give up.

A Few More Things to Know About Punch

Punch has developed a worldwide fan base.

He recently celebrated his first birthday on July 27, 2026, and received over 2,500 birthday cards from people around the world.

His story has inspired an outpouring of support and more than $400,000 in donations to help improve the Monkey Mountain community in Japan.

Even more remarkable, Punch’s story has drawn global attention from governments to the importance of funding and improving facilities and care for zoo animals.

Not bad for one little monkey!

Things I Learned from Punch

Get back up.

When disappointment knocks you down, take a breath, get back up, and get back into the race -with a smile if you can manage it.

Don’t fight rudeness with rudeness.

The world can be unkind. We don't have to follow its example. Choose kindness. Choose love. Choose compassion.

Everyone needs an Oran-Mama.

We all need something or someone that makes us feel safe when life gets difficult.

Sometimes it might be a person.

Sometimes it might be a place.

Sometimes it might even be a little stuffed monkey.

And sometimes, unexpectedly, it might be a tiny Japanese macaque who reminds us that resilience can come in the smallest of packages.

Thank you

Thank you, Punch, for your inspiration and a push to begin the painting process for my 2027 calendar. You will definitely be one of the main attractions in it. And thanks to Ami Joy for introducing me to my new little muse.

Summer is flying; enjoy and embrace every moment!