The Orc Queen was designed around the concept that characters do not need to perform their strength. She is seated comfortably. There is no dramatic battle stance, no screaming war cry and no desperate attempt to convince the viewer that she is dangerous.
I wanted her pose to have an almost casual confidence. She is clearly at ease, but neither of her hands is truly resting. One holds an axe, while the other gathers magic between her fingers telling the viewer that she could act at any moment. Her posture says that she does not consider you enough of a threat to stand up yet, while everything else about her makes it very clear that this could change quickly. There is a challenge and authority in her stare.
When designing her body, I wanted to move away from the idea that femininity and physical power have to exist on opposite ends of a character design. She is stocky, broad and visibly muscular, and she is completely feminine. Her strength does not need to be softened to make her beautiful, and her femininity does not make that strength less intimidating. I wanted her to look like somebody whose body reflects the life she has lived.
I like fantasy characters who feel as though they existed before the illustration began. Even without writing an entire history for her, I wanted the details of The Orc Queen to suggest a much larger character behind the portrait.
The Orc Queen is an exploration of strength, femininity and the kind of confidence that comes from never needing to prove you are the most dangerous person in the room.