Jacek Yerka is an amazing painter from Poland. His subject matter ranges from odd beasts to whimsical landscapes incorporating extraordinary architecture, and includes imagery gleaned from his childhood. I handpicked a few of his pieces so we can take a close look at his world of painting.

There is an endless bounty of eye-catching gemstones throughout the world and this spectacular boulder opal is one unique beauty that looks like a shimmering crystal encased in a tree fossil. Its opalescent sheen seeps through the cracks of the seemingly wooden rings in lustrous hues of emerald green and aqua blue. Like something out of a fairy tale, the triangular piece radiates through an organic pattern mimicking the growth rings of tree.

“Pink Portrait” series by Scott Scheidly makes a slightly different and more literal use of the glamorization; by making the subjects glamorous. Napoleon stuns with a flower crest and pink shoulder tassels, Stalin earns medals of heart and butterfly, rocks a tiny pink earring, and a uniform Elle Woods would be proud of, while Clint Eastwood gets ready to face off in a gorgeous lavender shawl. These guys may be tough, but they all look pretty in pink.

In his new powerful photo series "Judging America," photographer Joel Pares seamlessly fades photos of an unfounded ethnic stereotype with people's real professions. Starting with a simple photo that's based on the stereotypes associated with a person's appearance, Pares fades to their real profession to make us realize how deceiving looks can truly be.

Once upon a time a girl named Laura lived in Columbus, Ohio. She had a nice family, and got good grades, but it was always rainy and cold in Columbus, which was neither nice nor good, so she wore lots of sweaters and turned the heat up when her dad wasn’t looking.

UK-based digital artist Dan Lester combines photography and illustration into clever and intriguing images that really make you question what you're looking at. Is it a photograph or a drawing? In actuality, it's both. The digital illustrator manages to bewilder his audience by merging the roles of model and artist into one entity in an innovative fashion. (Photo by Dan Lester)

The last series of Sam Taylor-Wood's that I have looked into is called Bram Stoker's Chair. This series links with her Suspended series in that they both show the artist seemingly poised in mid-air. These photos have the added element of the chair being there for her to balance on, giving her more of a physical connection with her surroundings.

Amy Winehouse's father Mitch Winehouse (C) mother Janis Winehouse (L in white) brother Alex Winehouse (R) and former boyfriend Reg Traviss (2nd R) look at floral tributes left at her house by fans on July 25, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)