Kingdom of Ruin

16×12-inch print reproduction of a colored-pencil and graphite drawing, reprinted on matte archival paper.

I still find it a bit mysterious how even the slightest tweak of an eyebrow can alter the emotional expression on a face. When drawing Kingdom of Ruin, I wanted the queen's expression to be one of sorrow or grief, but as I developed her features, I noticed that sometimes she looked angry. I held it up to a friend and asked, 'Does she look sad or pissed?' My friend said, 'She looks betrayed.' I knew then that I had rendered her expression just right.