# Haunting Circus Art Rob Tarbell Paints with Burning Smoke By Meghan Young | Published 2012-01-18 | Unique Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rob-tarbell References: [mymodernmet](http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/smoke-art-rob-tarbell) & [robtarbell](http://robtarbell.com/) Rob Tarbell's artwork could easily be mistaken for monochromatic watercolor paintings. Blotchy and transparent, it is understandable why this would be the case. Rob Tarbell doesn't work with watercolor, however. Instead, he works with a medium that is much more unique and captivating: smoke. Essentially, Rob Tarbell secures [pieces of paper](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paper-curves) onto the ceiling of his studio and then burns everyday objects to create the smoke that leaves purposeful marks above. Rob Tarbell's 'Smoke Rings' series is particularly arresting. It centers around [circus images](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/keff-joons) that revolve around horses, elephants and zebras. As though capturing ghosts from a distant past, Rob Tarbell's work is [hauntingly beautiful](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anima). He says, "The trainer must recognize and respect the innate nature of an animal when trying to modify its behavior to achieve a desired outcome [...]. The same is true in working with smoke." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 51% | Activity: 38% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Unique](https://www.trendhunter.com/unique) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Smoke Art:** Opportunity for disrupting the art industry by using smoke as a medium for creating unique and captivating pieces of artwork. - **Haunting Imagery:** Opportunity for disrupting the entertainment industry by using haunting and ethereal imagery in movies, TV shows, and live performances. - **Experimental Mediums:** Opportunity for disrupting the creative industry by exploring and using unconventional materials to create art and other creative works. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art:** Rob Tarbell's smoke art can disrupt traditional art mediums and create a new niche for artists looking to experiment with unconventional materials. - **Entertainment:** Rob Tarbell's haunting imagery and unconventional approach to art could inspire a new wave of entertainment that prioritizes unique and unconventional storytelling techniques. - **Creative:** Rob Tarbell's experimental use of smoke as a medium for creating art could inspire creatives in other industries such as fashion, design, and advertising to explore unconventional materials to create unique and captivating works. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Vibrantly Colorful Dynamic Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kayla-rumpp.md) - [Illuminated Curtained Light Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/making-the-invisible-visible.md) - [Sculptural Incense Burners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nuvolino.md) - [Exquisite Time Lapse Candles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xl-porcelain-candles.md) - [Painting-Immersive Photo Exhibits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-ground-exhibition.md) - [Otherworldly Wooden Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-sculptures-1.md) - [Paper Curvature Lights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paper-curves.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [Eclipse-Themed Rooftop Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arc-zero.md)