A painter and illustrator, adventurer, best-selling children's author, world traveler, animal conservationist and filmmaker, Alex Beard has emerged as one of his generation's most creative, prolific and accomplished artists. Born in New York City in 1970, Alex was encouraged to think creatively from a young age by his uncle, Peter Beard, the acclaimed wildlife photographer and conservationist, and his mother, Patricia Beard, an accomplished author and magazine editor. An impassioned conservationist and philanthropist, in 2012 Alex established The Watering Hole Foundation, a public charity engaged in saving endangered wildlife and preserving their environments. His documentary, Drawing the Line, fused his artistic talent with his dedication to preservation, chronicling the plight of the endangered wild African elephant, as seen through the eyes of a conservationist artist. Alex has had several solo exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, and as far afield as Hong Kong. His drawings and paintings are scattered around the world in public and private collections. His open studio in New Orleans is a destination for visitors to the city. Nick Paumgarten is a staff writer for The New Yorker. From 2000 to 2005, he was a deputy editor of "The Talk of the Town," to which he regularly contributes. Before coming to the magazine, he was a reporter and senior editor at the New York Observer. He lives in New York, New York.