One of the ways to recharge my batteries as an artist is to take a trip. So, last spring, a friend and I planned a trip to Costa Rica and Guatemala. Spring in Central America offers great variety of wildlife and a fairly minimal amount of rain.

The trip was fantastic. I viewed hundreds of species of plants and animals. I especially loved seeing and exploring ancient Mayan temples.

Of the birds I viewed, the keel-billed toucan just begged to be painted. The colors in the bill were amazing. To show off the toucan and the cecropia, a jungle tree often visited by toucans and other birds, I chose a minimal background of jungle greens and Mayan mist.

- Terry Isaac