“Above Snakes” comes from an Ol’ wild west term meaning still alive. The idea being somewhat of a contradiction with the title representing, in part, the cow skull. However, the lizard is alive and well. Growing up I loved drawing lizards, and I wanted to add something unique to the beauty of the cow skull, and all its values. I added the lizard clinging to the skull, which gives the impression that the skull is attached to something vertical. This idea then re-emphasizes the title and gives it a literal meaning being the lizard and skull is above snakes that may lurk on the ground below. I unintentionally created a “7” image lurking in the nasal cavity of the skull, which surprisingly, re-enforced the old west feeling of the lucky number 7.