Italian pencil artist Marco Mazzoni‘s work goes far beyond technical perfection. His representation of historical healing women is enigmatic and sublime. Often leaving the eyes blank or covered with an abundance of birds, butterflies and flowers, he gives the impression of a deeper inward focused sight, as well as obscuring the identity of the individual. Many female healers in the past – both medicine woman and midwives – were brutally persecuted by religion, some even burnt as witches… Mazzoni’s work captures their deep connection with nature and their innate power and femininity with delicacy and beautiful detail.

Zarnala is a female illustrator with a knack for anthropomorphic illustration, combining human and animal elements to create something altogether new. Unlike other forms of anthropomorphic art one can find out there though, her work always retains a tasteful, professional edge similar to the feel I get from comics like Juanjo Garnido's take on Blacksad. With an awesome watercolor themed approach to all her illustration work and her use of graphic shapes to frame her characters, at times it gives her art a strangely retro look that reminds one of the works of Norman Rockwell and JC Leyendecker. Check out more of her work after the break!

People take a selfie at the abandoned former Soviet R12 nuclear missile launch site in Zeltini, Latvia, July 22, 2016. Hidden in the forests of Aluksne, near Latvia's north-eastern border with Russia, the remains of a former Soviet nuclear missile base are a magnet for tourists now rather than a top-secret site manned by soldiers. (Photo by Ints Kalnins/Reuters)

Girls ride an improvised motorbike public transport along with bicycles they received from their school under a government scheme in Malancha, South 24 Pargana district, India, Wednesday, October 20, 2021. (Photo by Bikas Das/AP Photo)

Children listen to speakers as U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden host a barbeque with active-duty military families on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 4, 2023. (Photo by Julia Nikhinson/Reuters)

A relative of an injured migrant laborer wails outside a hospital in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Thursday, July 13, 2023. Three migrant laborers were injured after suspected militants fired upon them in Gagran area of South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Thursday evening. (Photo by Mukhtar Khan/AP Photo)

Two orphaned wallaby joeys enjoy a play date to help them boost their social skills in Australia early July 2023. The rescued joeys are being hand-raised at Aussie Ark in News South Wales. (Photo by Aussie Ark/Cover Images)

Colombia's goalkeeper #01 Catalina Perez (R) makes a save during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women's World Cup Group H football match between Colombia and South Korea at Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney on July 25, 2023. (Photo by Franck Fife/AFP Photo)