Back in the USSR, Christmas Edition

The first pass at the characters for this illustration assignment concerns my take on the fairy tale about Ded Moroz and Snegurochka, the Christmas/New Years duo celebrated in Russia, and other surrounding countries. I wished to expand the story a bit, which can be found here:

https://www.tripsavvy.com/snegurochka-1502312

I first wished to explore multiple looks for her, as I couldn't settle right away on just one

There are a tremendous variety of clothing styles to choose from, and I wish to narrow it down in the next phase. I imagined her as a girl growing up in difficult circumstances in Soviet Russia, only for war to break out in the 1940's, into which she is drawn. Here the lines between reality and fantasy will blur when she encounters Ded Moroz himself.

In many cultures, the idea of Santa Clause is one of a folkloric figure represented as an old man who brings gifts on Christmas, and this was also true in the Soviet Union, though he was rendered a much more secular figure. I preferred to restore him more to his original heritage as an almost shamanistic master of frost, who bestows special powers on those whom he chooses. He essentially transforms Snegurochka into the snow maiden, an immortal being like himself, and aids him in his endeavors.
In this revamped edition, I pictured him riding in a sleigh pulled by polar bears instead of horses, with the sleigh itself made to resemble the fire bird, another ubiquitous figure in Russian folklore.

However, she there is one other character of importance to her story, a boy who acts as the force that lures Snegurochka away from her eternal icy existence and back into the human realm. For the sake of this retelling, he has been her friend since childhood but must take part in the war effort as well, which puts his life at risk.

In an effort to spare his life, she joins the fight, using all her powers of frost to help turn the tide. She is successful in this, yet returning to a fully mortal existence would mean her end, and there is a great dilemma that she must face, whether to remain forever as the snow maiden, or melt away after requiting her love.

There is more yet to come as this story continues to be fleshed out!