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.

Roza Khamitova was born into a family of artists in Kazakhstan. After finishing design school in Manhattan, New York, she was working in fashion industry for about 8 years. As a visual artist Roza had always drawn most of her inspiration from the natural world around her in the mountains of Kazakhstan. In 2011 she launched Shovava, her personal line of women’s clothing based on her hand drawn paintings and prints of the animals, plants and patterns found in nature. Roza was enchanted by the beauty of wings, its structure and symbolism. First, she sketches big wide-spread wings on paper with a light pencil, adds black ink to create a three-dimensional feel and fills with stunning watercolors.

Reigning Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach,second from right, watches beauty contestants during a media presentation at suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines, Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Forty beauty hopefuls are vying for the coveted title that would represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe beauty pageant. (Photo by Bullit Marquez/AP Photo)

Filipino beauty candidates hide from the sun before a group photo during the media presentation of the Miss Philippines Earth 2017 held at a hotel in Manila, Philippines, 05 July 2017. A total of 40 environmentally aware and concerned Filipino young ladies will compete to represent the Philippines at the Miss Earth beauty pageant. Miss Earth is a pioneering beauty pageant that serves as a vehicle for environmental advocacy. (Photo by Mark R. Cristino/EPA)

A contestant photographs a selfie photo backstage during the “Miss Ukraine Plus Size” beauty pageant in Kiev, Ukraine on October 29, 2018. 22 female contestants competed in the contest, the first held in Ukraine, which aims to challenge modern inclusive standards of beauty. The winner of the contest will represent Ukraine to the “Miss World Plus Size 2018” beauty pageant, wich will take place in the Philippines on November 07-11. (Photo by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images via ZUMA Wire)

Contestants dance during the Miss Plus Size Carioca beauty pageant on July 8, 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 24 contestants, aged 18-45, competed in the contest which aims to challenge modern inclusive standards of beauty. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)