Meet Natasha Romero | Cherokee Beaded Skull Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natasha Romero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natasha, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think risk taking is vital in both life and in your career. I once heard that it takes millionaires an average of 6 failed businesses before they end up hitting on the idea that made them wealthy. When I was a teacher, one of the things I told my students at the start of the school-year was that I hoped my class taught them to fail. I didn’t mean that I wanted them to fail, simply to fail, but I wanted them to learn to “try, fail, adjust,” Risk taking goes hand in hand, you have to be willing to take the risk and fail in order to succeed. The goal is to “fail forward,” as John C. Maxwell advocates in his books.

I have tried and failed at a lot of things in life, from small businesses to friendships, from a PhD program to a marriage, from living in big cities to the rural country. Sometimes you have to try a lot of things to figure out what you can live with and what you can’t live without and trying those things involves risk.

I took a risk to make my art. It took capital investment to start with no guarantee anyone would like what I made. I had to take a risk, both financially and to my ego, to start entering art shows. I have made the cover photo in Forbes for an art show for the Santa Fe Indian Market, which is the largest Native American Indian art market in the world, and yet, I still get rejected from art shows I enter. I have a very niche art style and I have to accept that it’s not everyones style and that that’s okay.

A lot of the risks I have taken in my life have “failed” in the eyes of society, my friends, former partners, family, and often in my own eyes at the time. I can honestly say that I spent a lot of my youth beating myself up for my lack of perfection in everything I tried. But all of those risks led me to where I am today and I would’t trade that for anything. The lessons I learned from all of those failures has given me knowledge in what not to do, but they also gave me confidence that even if I fail, I’ll be okay.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am certainly not the only skull artist out there. The oldest painted item found in North America was a 10,500 year old bison skull. Skull art is found throughout the world. I can’t even take credit for beaded skulls in the style I make as I was inspired online by Western Skies Jewelry out of Oregon. I started beading when I was 12. My first business was called Natasha’s Beads and Baubles. It was short lived. I made and sold some jewelry in college. I took what I had learned in my life, in my experience with my Native American background, my hunting background, and my creativity, and combined it into my own interpretation of skull art.

It hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to learn a lot of different techniques and had to get a lot of different tools in order to hone my technique. I’ve had to redo large portions of skulls because the pattern didn’t match. I’ve had to learn to take more time before placing the beads but I’ve also learned that mistakes can be fixed so I don’t need to beat myself up over mistakes.

I want the world to appreciate my homage to Native American beadwork. I’m certainly not the best representative of it and true bead weavers of my tribe and others is awe-inspiring to view. My goal is to bring a contemporary take on this tradition.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Day 1: Arrival and Rocky Mountain National Park
Morning: Arrive in Denver and get settled, light lunch from Whole Foods on the way to Estes Park.
Afternoon: Head to Rocky Mountain National Park to spot moose, elk, and mule deer
Dinner: Bird & Jim in Estes Park for some delicious farm-to-table food
Evening: Enjoy the charming town of Estes Park, maybe take a stroll along the river

Day 2: Denver Botanic Gardens
Breakfast: First Watch for a fresh and healthy start
Morning: Explore the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens
Lunch: Maybe grab something at the Gardens’ cafe or nearby
Dinner: Fire Restaurant & Lounge for some upscale dining
Evening: Head to LoDo (Lower Downtown) for some nightlife, perhaps at the iconic Union Station

Day 3: Museum and IMAX
Breakfast: Four Friends Kitchen for some creative breakfast options
Morning: Visit the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Afternoon: Catch an IMAX show at the museum
Dinner: Sushi Den for some top-notch sushi
Evening: Take a walk along the South Platte River on the Cherry Creek Bike Path

Day 4: Zoo and Atomic Cowboy
Breakfast: Atomic Cowboy for some cowboy-themed breakfast
Morning: Spend the day at the Denver Zoo, checking out the various animal exhibits
Lunch: Maybe grab food at the zoo or nearby
Dinner: Depending on the day, maybe check out some live music at the Bluebird Theater or dinner at a nearby restaurant
Evening: Enjoy some craft cocktails at Death & Co or The Populist

Day 5: Outdoor Adventure
Morning: Rent bikes and ride the Cherry Creek Bike Path or explore the nearby trails at Washington Park
Lunch: Grab food at one of the many food trucks in the area
Afternoon: Visit the iconic Larimer Square for some shopping and people-watching
Dinner: Try some modern American cuisine at Mercantile Dining & Provision
Evening: Catch a show or concert at the historic Paramount Theatre

Day 6: Explore Local Neighborhoods
Morning: Brunch at Snooze, an Anytime Cafe, in the trendy RiNo (River North Arts District) neighborhood
Afternoon: Explore the vibrant street art scene in RiNo and check out some local shops
Dinner: Try some authentic Mexican cuisine at La Taqueria or La Carnita
Evening: Concert at Red Rocks in Morrison, CO.

Day 7: Last Day in Denver
Morning: Visit the History Colorado Center to learn more about the state’s rich history
Lunch: Grab food at one of the many local eateries
Afternoon: Take a stroll through City Park and visit the beautiful views of the Denver skyline
Farewell dinner: Try some upscale dining at Fruition Restaurant or The Kitchen Denver

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have to give my Shoutout to my fiancé, Casey Charlton. He has been my top supporter since I started beading skulls. He put up with my beads all over the kitchen, and hallways, and even the bedroom floor. He finished and insulated the garage so that I had a real shop to use. He’s gone to shows with me and he brags about my work anytime he can. He enables me to pursue my art and picks up the slack at home. I owe him so much for what he’s done to support me through this.

Website: https://www.bonesandstonesbeadedskulls.com

Instagram: @bonesandstonesbeadedskulls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Bones-Stones-Beaded-Skulls-100091998555859/

Other: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chaddscott/2024/08/21/swaia-indian-market-the-best-in-the-world-for-102-years/

Image Credits
Cara Brewer