In the fall of 1997 I traveled a thousand miles down the Amazon river on assignment for Natural History magazine with my buddy and co-conspirator Brad Matsen. Dr. Kirk Johnson of the Denver Museum of Natural History arranged the river trip and filled the boat with several of his pals.

I was so inspired by the incredible diversity of fishes and the experience that I wanted to do the main magazine illustration mural sized. I stretched up a piece of canvas 7 ft. x 15 ft and started painting. Here are some shots of the mural in progress.