Painting With Fire: Artist Uses Flame of Zippo Lighter to Create Striking Art

February 20, 2017 - Zippo has released a captivating video showcasing the genius of Canadian artist, Steven Spazuk. Known as the Fire Artist, Spazuk realized the fascinating ‘fumage’ technique, which casts aside traditional tools such as paint brushes in favor of painting with fire. In the video, Spazuk uses flame to create an original artwork and reveals how he expertly harnesses the power of fire.

The never-before-seen footage features Spazuk “attacking the paper” with the flame of a Zippo windproof lighter and other fire tools and then retouching his designs by etching patterns with natural bird feathers and blades. Filmed in his studio in Montreal, Spazuk divulges how his unique artistic approach originated and his inspiration.

See Spazuk in action here:

Spazuk’s art style, which originally came to him in a dream, is steeped in improvisation and spontaneity and is something he has worked on perfecting for the last 14 years. His long-held affinity for his own Zippo windproof lighter, dating back to his days as a college art student is identified as a source of artistic creativity and inspiration.

“The flame is something that truly inspires my art; once I found my way of working with fire I knew it would become my voice and I should be committed to that craft. A Zippo lighter has always been a part of my toolbox, and I also love how it can be a piece of art in itself. To me, it’s both a muse and a tool so Zippo is a stimulating brand to work alongside,” noted Spazuk.

With its distinctive style and classic construction, the Zippo windproof lighter has served as a canvas for endless artistic creations. For 85 years Zippo has brought unmatched levels of artistic talent to the smallest of canvases – from the early years of etching and hand-painted details to today’s cutting-edge 360° MultiCut engraving process. With more than 300,000 designs created since 1932, Zippo continues to push the boundaries of design. By partnering with Steven Spazuk, Zippo is proud to continue showcasing art in all its forms.

 Zippo brought Spazuk’s unique artistic talent to a limited edition Zippo windproof lighter, featuring his art.  The lighter has since sold out. 

The innovative design position the lighter as the “spark” of creativity from which Spazuk’s art arises. Much like a genie bottle, Steven imagines figures being born from the flame of the Zippo lighter itself, producing intricate, swirling clouds of charcoal shading turning into human and nature motifs.

David Warfel, Zippo vice president of global marketing said, “At Zippo, we pride ourselves on continuing to push the boundaries of design so collaborating with Steven made perfect sense. We admire his inventive approach using the flame of our famous windproof lighter! With 85 years of history, Zippo has an influential and dedicated fan base. During this time Zippo has transcended its functional benefits to become a cultural icon and we love finding new ways for our customers to appreciate the brand.”