It's Pablo Picass-glow! Spanish artist conjures amazing stickman artworks by making light beams appear to float in midair



These stunning images appear to capture some sort of apparition materialising from the ether.

But far from showing the supernatural, the photos are the extraordinary work of an artists who has shunned a paintbrush and easel in favour of a torch and a camera.

Rafael Rodrigo, 39, conjures the comic-style stickman drawings through a clever but painstaking process called ‘light painting’.

Act fast: Rafael might have as little as 30 seconds to sketch the details of his figures before the camera shutter snaps closed

Laid back: The Basque artist has created a range of comic stickman figures using just a torch and camera



With his camera set to a long exposure, Rafael has anything from three minutes to just 30 seconds to trace his artwork in midair and make the arcs of light resemble recognisable figures.

The artworks of Rafael, who is from the Basque region of Spain, depict a series of scenes including a barman serving whisky, a snake being charmed from a basket and a man discovering a chest of gold.

Also included in the brilliant designs is a man throwing a swastika into a bin and even someone straining over a loo.

He also uses props, for example balancing a guitar to make it look as if it being played by a musician, or goalposts behind a stickman diving after a ball.

Goal: Rafael has to be precise with the torch in order to capture the figures in just a few strokes



Rafael, a keen musician, said: ‘I first got into the medium by playing around with a lighter and a camera.

‘Unfortunately, the lighter kept extinguishing so I started using torches as the images got more complex. ‘I enjoy drawing in the air with a light, moving in the darkness and only seeing the results when I connect the camera to my computer.

‘I also like interacting with props to make the images more interesting. I don’t have a favourite, each one is different.

‘Some are more funny, others are more expressive.’

Rafael added: ‘When I started I didn’t even know there was a form of art called light painting, I’m just excited to see where it takes me.’

Surprise: It is only when Rafael looks at the camera developed image, that he knows whether he's created the drawing he wants or if a tiny mistake will mean starting again



Balancing act: Rafael had to balance the guitar on the stool while delicately tracing the light around the props



Freeze frame: The faint image of the artist's legs can be seen as he stands still just long enough to draw his cat









