Garnet Elk Skull

My friend and neighbor, Nathan Bowers, is a rancher with a haying business, and his work carries him into some of the most beautiful country in Colorado. One of his allotments lies in the wide, high valley of around Walden — that quiet stretch between Fort Collins, where I live, and Steamboat Springs. It is open land — wind-swept and honest.

One fall afternoon, while cutting hay, Nate came upon this bull elk who had died of natural causes. The cycle had already begun its quiet work — much of his body had returned to the earth — but his head remained strong and intact. If you look closely, you’ll notice the tip of his right antler is blunted, gently worn down by rodents who stopped by for their share. Even in death, nothing is wasted.

Nate brought the elk home, and he hung in the barn for several years — watching seasons come and go, dust rising in summer light, snow drifting through the cracks in winter. In late 2025, Nate offered him to me for art. This is the first elk in my collection, and he is an impressive one — eleven points crowning his rack, a presence that still feels powerful. I am deeply grateful to Nate for the opportunity to transform this skull in this way.

At the heart of this piece rests a large cabochon of picture jasper, surrounded by bloodstones and a rich red Moroccan seam agate. Threads of bloodstone and faceted garnets connect them, woven together with brass and black beads floating in a sea of pearl glass seed beads in two soft shades. The palette felt natural for him — earthy, steady, strong.

Garnet has long been a stone of love and protection — of grounded confidence and inner fire. Picture jasper speaks of our connection to the land itself, inviting us to step back and see the greater landscape of our lives and our place within it. Bloodstone, often called the warrior’s stone, carries courage — the quiet strength to stand firm and remain present, heart steady even in challenge. Moroccan seam agate, born of volcanic fire, holds resilience and balance — courage shaped and refined over time.

Together, these stones tell a story of grounding, protection, courage, and living fully in the present moment. They echo the life of this bull elk who moved through the high valley and surrounding mountains. I imagine he embodied the very symbolism of the stones that now adorn his skull.

As with all of my skulls, my hope is simple: that this piece honors the life of this magnificent animal — that it carries forward his strength, and that it reminds us of the sacredness woven into the natural cycle of life and death.

Currently on display at The Alley Gallery and Art Studios in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.