In 2004, I did one of the most enjoyable jobs ever for a favorite client, the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin: the interior of the Endangered Species Carousel building.

The carousel is housed in a square building with four tall interior gables. Jim Hubing, then Zoo director, had me design and paint murals in these triangular spaces, each of which was themed to one of the four cardinal points on a compass. I created collage images of animals and terrain appropriate to the north (Arctic), south (South America), east (Asia) and west (Africa). I don’t always get such latitude with the final image. Designing is always a great treat for me, and I feel I can take full credit if the results are good as opposed to simply executing someone else’s design.