Trdl1701 Illyanacz

TRDL 2017 Series No. 01 - Illyana Rasputin [Cryptohistorical Redesign]

This piece began as a con sketch done for a customer, Jeroen Brugman, who had requested an old-timey version of Magik. He had purchased the TRDL Tribute Art Book 01 so I sent the sketch off with the book. I finalized this piece about 13 months later. The idea of a cryptohistorical version of Illyana Rasputin isn't difficult, especially given how her powers in Limbo are linked to demonic mysticism and witchcraft. I set her in 1683 and made her part of the Order of Vasilisa (read more on this Russian folktale here)... lots of time spent on this one: tweaking proportions and angles, deciding on the colors, and working up that fire. I know she traditionally wields a soulsword with blue flame but I went with something more traditional, and very dark steel for the weapon. The cyberarm is all gold plating and bronze and leather and screwworks so her order is clearly not hurting for money...