Right now I am working on a mural for the Mexican Beaded lizard exhibit.  I've been looking at pictures of the Sierra Madre Occidental, a mountain range in western Mexico where beaded lizards are found.  The environment of the mountain range is mostly dry tropical forests that are a mix of trees, scrub, and funny looking cactus, so that is what I will be painting.

The beaded lizard is one of only two species of poisonous lizard in the entire world (I painted the exhibit for the other species of poisonous lizard, the gila monster, just last month).  They're pretty awesome.

I still have a lot to do on the mural, but I think the mountains and clouds are looking pretty good.  I am covering up the old mural (a jungle scene) as I go, though I might leave a few leaves.  

I finished work on the North American Desert Lizard exhibit on October 1st.  I am quite happy with the finished mural.  The gila monster and her fellow lizards have not been moved in yet, but I am hoping they will feel right at home.

Below are a few close-ups.

(Harris hawk sitting on a cactus.)

(Ridges of the Superstition Mountains on a warm clear day.)