Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs- Character Design Challenge

A character design study from the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, made for the February 2021 Middle-Earth themed Character Design challenge.
Gothmog was the most powerful of the Balrogs (fire demons serving the Dark Lord), featured prominently in major battles in the Silmarillion, including the death of Fëanor and the fall of Gondolin.

Unlike the fiery swords typical of Balrogs, Gothmog is described as wielding a great axe. Golden elements and a bigger headgear communicate his lordly status, and a common motive of three gems/glowing spots on the headpiece (some versions of which also resemble a charred tree stump) reference the Silmaril gems and the felling of the Trees in Valinor.

While Peter Jackson's rendition from the cinematic trilogy was a huge and iconic influence, I also tried to give an original spin to the design and to maintain the spirit of Tolkien's original descriptions.