Many people have seen feathers as decorative items before. Today, ostrich, peacock and bird of paradise feathers can be seen in haute couture and in the costumes of indigenous peoples. They can be colorful and spectacular in their own right, but how much more stunning might they be when used as canvases for artists, eager to demonstrate their talent for the unusual? Alaskan-born and -bred artist Julie Thompson is an astounding exponent of this incredible art form.

A gust of wind took Archbishop Bernard Hebda's cap off while he and Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens offered a special Easter Blessings from the Bishops Sunday afternoon on April 12, 2020. (Photo by Jeff Wheeler/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

Ukrainians jump over a bonfire in Kiev, Ukraine, 06 July 2019, as they celebrate the traditional pagan holiday of Ivana Kupala. Ivana Kupala is celebrated, during the summer solstice, on the shortest night of the year, marking the beginning of summer and is celebrated in Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Russia. People sing and dance around bonfires, play games and perform traditional rituals. Young people jump over bonfires in order to test their bravery. Couples holding hands jump over the flames to test their love. If the couple does not succeed it is predicted to split up. Traditionally, children and young unmarried women wear wreaths of wild flowers on their heads to symbolize purity. (Photo by Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA/EFE)

(L-R) Senior Drum Major Betts of the Scotts Guard, Bugler Lee Kidd, Guardsman Adam Deer of the Coldstream Guards and Lance corporal Michael Strong of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment pose in their full ceremonial attire at Wellington Barracks on March 21, 2012 in London, England. The group make up part of the ceremonial military personnel who will play a key role during Her Majesty the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations between June 2–5. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Gina Labianca (L) tries on a super woman outfit as Charlie Lucas tries a snow white Costume at the Halloween MegaStore Miami Beach on October 21, 2011 in Miami Beach, Florida. The megastore is a temporary location for the store which opened for the holiday to sell costumes, masks and other items to people needing to dress up for the evening of October 31 when costumed people around the world observe the day. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Australia's Genevieve Gregson gets injured during the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021. (Photo by Andrew Boyers/Reuters)

This handout photograph released by Taipei City Zoo on July 11, 2013 shows a newly-born panda cub of giant panda Yuan Yuan in an incubator at Taipei Zoo in Taipei. The public will have to wait three months to catch a glimpse of the first panda born in Taiwan, officials said after she was successfully delivered by parents who were gifted from China. (Photo by AFP Photo/Taipei City Zoo)

Models present creations “2033 (teens)” by Belarusian designer Anastasiya Kutepova during a show at the festival and contest Fashion Mill, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Minsk, Belarus on June 30, 2020. (Photo by Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)