What is the snake supposed to symbolize or do?

Snake medicine is strongly rooted in the cycle of life and death. Snakes are a powerful symbol of continuity and personal change. Snake medicine helps people to let go of things in their lives when they need to, and to be stronger for it, similar to a snake shedding its skin.

The copperhead is a small venomous snake, lacking the gaudy colors of many of its kin. Its camoflague and rather shy personality don't broadcast its lethal abilities. They are easily underestimated by those that do not recognize them. Small, powerful, and packing a hidden punch, so to speak. :)

Very nice, I'm sure your friend will benefit from such a worthy protector.

wow, it's beautiful!

That's a huge nut. :D Snakes are also supposedly linked to feminine energies and being in tune to your aforementioned change- so synchronicity should help keep him safe. :)

pretty piece!

The nuts are actually pretty small - this piece is not quite 2" across at its longest part. But the scan is much larger than the actual work. They're about as long as a good sized brazil nut or big walnut. :)

Oh! Ooops. I was thinking the scan was actual size. And wow for big walnut size. 0_0 because that's still pretty darn small.

Can you scratch into 'em with an exacto or just paint on 'em, or?

They're an extremely hard material, so you can't really get far with an exacto or standard carving tools. I use an extremely hot knife tool to do the carving, and a hot needle tool to burn the image into the nut surface. :)

Oh wow. X3 I had no idea. Lots of work! If I ever get around to trying this (probably not for a while), I'll just paint on 'em. *wow*

Damn, that's excellent! The snake itself looks very 3-d. Excellent layout.