“Romain Laurent is 29 years old, originally from the french Alps, living and working in Paris. Romain Laurent studied design for 3 years at ENSAAMA Olivier de Serres (National school of applied arts) in Paris and then switched to Photography at Gobelins, l’ecole de l’image, also in Paris. Working as a professional photographer since 2006”.

“Carli Davidson is both an internationally recognized award winning photographer and an experienced animal trainer and caretaker. She is able to capture the innate personalities of her subjects using her professional understanding of animal behavior. She is a freelance photographer for the Oregon Zoo, and works regularly with domestic animals both commercially and personally for her fine art projects”. (Photo by Carli Davidson)

The Tribute in Light is seen behind the Empire State Building on September 10, 2011 in New York City. The Tribute in Light is an art installation honoring those who perished in the 9/11 attacks. New York City and the nation are preparing for the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on lower Manhattan which resulted in the deaths of 2,753 people at the World Trade Center. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Children admire the work “Little Lost Boy” by Australian artist Paul Trefry is seen on Tamarama Beach as part of the Sculptures By The Sea outdoor art exhibition on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Girls look at a newly installed “Renew” media point in the City of London on January 26, 2012 in London, England. The “pods” will transmit each market day and will include breaking news, weather and travel information, and information about sport, fashion, the arts and entertainment. The stations which will also double as recycling points are run by media company Renew. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

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.

Originally hailing from a small town in Iowa, Adonna Khare was this year’s recipient of the Art Prize 2012 for her amazingly detailed large-scale pencil on paper works. All of Khare’s work evolve naturally without much pre-planning, essentially building her pieces as she continues to work.

Vivi Mac, an amazing artist from France who can use virtually any kind of food to create detailed celebrity portraits. Although she has yet to display her ephemeral masterpieces in an proper art gallery, Vivi Mac has already made a name for herself online.