I’ve always been fascinated by black lights, the beauty of the human body, the world around me and the ability to create and express myself through art. However, it wasn’t until boredom set in, after being stuck in wedding a portrait photography for more than twenty years, that all of these ingredients unexpectedly collided creating what I call “Bodyscapes”. I’m now affectionately referred to as “The Bob Ross of Black Light Body Painting”, because of my style and the types of scene I choose to paint on the human canvas.

Coming from a photographic background I want my paintings to be as photo realistic as possible. In a darkened studio, while painting with UV body paint under the illumination of the black light, I’m literally painting with light. From the artist’s perspective it becomes a very surreal even spiritual experience.

More info: Facebook | Youtube

Tree Tops

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-coverimage

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-coverimage - 1

Lanterns And A Castle

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-9

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-9 - 2

Autumn Gardens

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_1609_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 3”>

Northern Lights on Mother & Daughter

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-13

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-13 - 4

Sandra’s Fiery Worlds

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_1583_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 5”>

Lightning Rod

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PoleLightning_327_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 6”>

Rain Forest Waterfall

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Katie_062_500px__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 7”>

Wild Grass

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_7888_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 8”>

Misty Mountains

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-6

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-6 - 9

Mountain Sky on husband & wife

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/MtStars_040_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 10”>

Chad’s Mountain Lake

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_9032_4Email__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 11”>

Lightning Struck

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-1

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-1 - 12

Savannah Sunset

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-10

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-10 - 13

World Apart

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-4

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-4 - 14

Heather’s Mountain Sunset

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_8872_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 15”>

Zeus vs Vesuvius

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Devin_010_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 16”>

Untitled

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-7

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-7 - 17

Untitled

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-11

Call of the Wild

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Marley_Elk_021_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 18”>

Ice

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-8

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-8 - 19

Mountain Milkyway

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/MountainMilkyway__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 20”>

Sandra’s Galaxy

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ST_BL_Galaxy_020_RT__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 21”>

Bamboo Mist

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-14

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-14 - 22

Our Stars

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-3

body-painting-uv-light-bodyscapes-john-poppleton-3 - 23

Me

<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Bodyscapes-The-Bob-Ross-of-Black-Light-Body-Painting__880.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 24”>

In the world of art, the intersecting paths of photography and body painting offer a unique canvas for expression.

Similar to a body painter’s experimentation with light and color, the blend of skills in transforming the human form offers a vibrant reflection of surrealism, resonating the art movement’s greatest minds like Salvador Dalí and Frida Kahlo.

Anyone can write on Bored Panda. Start writing!

Follow Bored Panda on Google News!

Unlock an Enhanced Experience with Bored Panda Premium

Go ad-free, access unlimited content, and enjoy our sleek dark mode. Your favorite stories, uninterrupted.

I Paint “Bodyscapes” That Glow Under Black Light - 25

No fees, cancel anytime

Owners Race Home After Cat’s Post-Surgery Behavior Caught On Pet Cam - 26 Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge's Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations - 27

Olympian Makes Stunning Admission After Judge’s Conspicuous Scores Ignite Cheating Accusations

The Best 60 Images Of The Year By Non-Professional Photographers From Around The World - 28

The Best 60 Images Of The Year By Non-Professional Photographers From Around The World