Thanks for the review. I really love your take on this piece. I definitely wanted some kind religious ambiguity to how this painting is percieved. I really wanted to show some kind of religious(or not) devotion which you pointed out, through the face and emotions.

It was in a sense inspired by the music of a Black Metal band by the name of Batushka whose theme and imagery is heavily based on Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

The band really captures the feel and cult like imagery of Orthodox Christianity, almost satanic in a way.

I wanted to capture the spirit of that while I was drawing this.