With Roses in Her Hair 

Zoe Mozert created "With Roses in Her Hair" using pastels, a medium that blends drawing and painting. The pastels allowed her to build up layers of soft, diffused color, giving the portrait its dreamy quality. Consider the way the pastel pigments sit on the surface of the paper, creating a velvety texture that invites the viewer's gaze. Mozert skillfully manipulated the pastels to achieve subtle gradations of tone, particularly in the woman's skin and the fluffy white material enveloping her shoulders. The model’s demure gaze is also indicative of this period. The use of pastels, while seemingly delicate, required a firm hand and a deep understanding of color theory. It's a reminder that even the most ephemeral of art forms requires mastery and a dedication to process. This portrait challenges traditional distinctions between commercial illustration and fine art, emphasizing the labor and skill involved in its creation.