Queen Of Nothing

To say I liked the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black would be a massive understatement. It was my first venture into YA fantasy—and I’ll never look back. Time genuinely felt like it stopped until I reached the last page. And the moment I did, this painting came to life in my mind.

I won’t spoil anything for those still lucky enough to experience this series for the first time—but if you know, you know.

The paper crown… the sense that this brutal, beautiful world was like a game of make-believe for Jude… her longing to belong, her fire, her defiance as a child brought into a magical realm yet never quite of it. Her fierce rivalry with Cardan, their magnetic connection, the way love and power intertwined—it was all mesmerizing.

I gasped at the end of every book. The plot twists, the political dance, the emotional arc—it all pulled me in. I’m usually wary of fantasy with deep world-building and unfamiliar terms, but this one was a seamless, wild ride.

This painting is my tribute to a powerful female character I hope my daughter will one day read about. She’s serious, fierce, and still wears a crown made of whimsy. A queen born of nothing—but absolutely everything.

Watch the painting process here : https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLUdPGys45N/?igsh=MWFvMGJhdjl4cXZ3aw==