Snakes are something that I am not too fond of but there are two reasons I used them for my front page. I wanted you to know some personal things about me. First, I have Native American blood running through my veins. I am unsure of the exact percentage but I have been able to research a little and found that my 6th-generation grandmother was full-blooded Native American. I am unsure of my other side but have been told that it is there as well. More importantly, I have felt the soul-like presence of my Ancestry and continue to research (yes, I am a bit of a research nerd, don't laugh). There is a calling that I cannot explain but am very drawn to, including spirit animals and their meaning. The snake is something that I am naturally fearful of, as are most, but their meaning is not scary at all. The ones, that I resonate with are health, feminine power and transformation. These are not the only symbolism of the snake, but I also believe that when you see an animal or creature, it is a message to help you along your path. The three meanings above have been very apparent in my life on many occasions, so I try to listen and use the symbolism with purpose. When I use the snake image in my work, I look at the other elements of the piece and and try to figure out the particular meaning and how this image helps to tell the story of the painting. Story-telling is a very important element to my work and I often use symbolism to help define the history behind each piece.