It was painted digitally using the airbrush tool in Artrage 4.

I used a reference photo by Mizz Draconia for the figure but I changed the facial features to look more like Marie Antoinette, though it is still a rather idealised and flattering portrait! Each different element (the skin, hair, dress, lace etc) was painted on a different "layer" - this means that mistakes can be easily rectified and also that you can play about with ideas without ruining the whole image. I tried out several different backgrounds including a traditional-style landscape and a flat candy-stripe pink wallpaper, but decided to go for something somewhere inbetween the two. Antoinette was painted holding roses several times so I wanted to continue the tradition but added some blood where the thorns have pricked her to symbolise her bloody and tragic death.