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Vampire Art Now
Ever since Bram Stoker's perennial best-seller Dracula, vampires have been one of the key inspirations to film-makers and authors alike. The latest installment in the Twilight series is one of this year's biggest blockbusters, and modern takes on the classic themes of blood, immortality, fear and desire are never far from the best-seller lists. Yet vampires are a source of rich inspiration to visual artists as well, and this collection reveals their work in all its gruesome glory.
From the elegant beauties of Jasmine Becket-Griffith to the decaying savages of Anne Stokes, from the more whimsical caricatures of Delphine Levesqe Demers to Jo Chen's renditions of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vampire Art Now showcases the varying representations of this legendary figure. The book illustrates the vampire in his or her many either wooing lovers with a hypnotic stare, biting long necks (willing and unwilling), or staring straight at the viewer as if ready to bound off the page in a nocturnal frenzy. By presenting multiple artists' takes on what it means to be a vampire, this collection illustrates how one cultural icon can vary so greatly across different cultures, classes, media, and artistic aesthetics.
No other supernatural creature has captured our collective imagination quite like the vampire and Vampire Art Now is the perfect compendium to pay homage to that tradition. After perusing these pages, these illustrations are sure to haunt readers' nightmares and tantalize their fantasies, as they have for generations.
From the elegant beauties of Jasmine Becket-Griffith to the decaying savages of Anne Stokes, from the more whimsical caricatures of Delphine Levesqe Demers to Jo Chen's renditions of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vampire Art Now showcases the varying representations of this legendary figure. The book illustrates the vampire in his or her many either wooing lovers with a hypnotic stare, biting long necks (willing and unwilling), or staring straight at the viewer as if ready to bound off the page in a nocturnal frenzy. By presenting multiple artists' takes on what it means to be a vampire, this collection illustrates how one cultural icon can vary so greatly across different cultures, classes, media, and artistic aesthetics.
No other supernatural creature has captured our collective imagination quite like the vampire and Vampire Art Now is the perfect compendium to pay homage to that tradition. After perusing these pages, these illustrations are sure to haunt readers' nightmares and tantalize their fantasies, as they have for generations.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Jasmine Becket-Griffith
68 books127 followersTo be fair, I am more of a painter than I am a writer! I have written a couple of contemporary art history books, and collaborated on a lot of other art-related projects. Notably most of my books are those primarily featuring my acrylic paintings, or companion pieces to the popular Oracle Decks I've created with Lucy Cavendish. I live in Celebration, Florida with my husband/assistant Matt and our cats, and spend most of my days painting! To keep up with my artwork, please feel free to check out my Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jasmine... (I post there daily!) My primary gallery is Pop Gallery Orlando at Downtown Disney, so if you are ever at Walt Disney World, definitely stop by!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 31, 2011
Open at your own risk.
A stunning and gory look at vampires through the imagination of a great collection of artists.
If you like a good scare, this book is for you.
For a full review go to http://www.myshelf.com/miscellaneous/...
A stunning and gory look at vampires through the imagination of a great collection of artists.
If you like a good scare, this book is for you.
For a full review go to http://www.myshelf.com/miscellaneous/...
July 3, 2012
Not so good stuff but then some good stuff and then some not so good stuff again.
March 20, 2013
GREAT VAMPIRE ART!!! I wish I had talent like that!!! Anything that pays honor to the vampire and does a great job - I LUV!!!!!
January 30, 2024
The success of “X Art Now” in the Fantasy and Sci-fi genres, led Artists Jasmine Becket-Griffith and Matthew David Becket to delve into their specialization and find some of the greatest artists that depicted the lords and Ladies of the Night, in a wide range of artistic representations, including Oil, Digital, Statuettes, Photography Dolls, Mixed Techniques, etc.
You will find a small text quickly describing the background of most pieces and some hints how they were created. Most of them are quite impressive and this is a beautiful (and horrible, and disturbing, and grotesque…but it’s supposed to be like that) album. Mostly the Editors of this book picked wisely and this is a good presentation of some of the best Vampire images in a variety of techniques that will fill your eye.
I have a few quibbles though. I personally hate vampires with wings on their heads! I know that this is personal, but the silliness is so great that it’s uncontrollable. And there are several images with those weird head appendixes. More seriously now: The modern vampire art depends on some huge influences including obviously the classic novels of Carmilla and Dracula, the Classical movies (from Nosferatu, Bela Lugosi to the Hammer flicks), modern movies (such as “The Lost Boys”, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” or “Interview with a Vampire”), Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles” and Vampire the Masquerade (and later “Requiem”) and its omnipresent “World of Darkness” which redefined the Vampire Gothic-Punk genre since 1991 and throughout 25 years.
Most of the above mentioned sources of inspiration are included in this book, but almost incomprehensibly there are nothing directly referencing “The Vampire Chronicles” of Anne Rice or “The World of Darkness/Vampire the Masquerade/Vampire Requiem”! They both deserved not only some pieces but an entire chapter dedicated to them such is the influence on all later series including the teen romance like “Twilight” to Charlaine Harris’ series. Some of the best artists in the world illustrated VtM such as Tim Bradstreet (and not only the books, but also the concept art of computer games such as Vampire Bloodlines), Lawrence Snelly, William O'Connor, Richard Kane Ferguson, Brom among so many others. To check what I’m talking about, just make a quick search using those names + Vampire or Vampire the masquerade (and then compare with the silly winged head vampires…just joking).
Back to the book. Divided in representative chapters, you will find several images (most of them unpublished) that are masterpieces. Below I highlight a few that fully caught my attention and that in my opinion are truly great.
Introduction - "Camilla" by Inessa Kirianova: "The Widow" by Michael Park.
Chapter 1 - The Aristocracy and Vitoriana: "The Lounge" by Bethalynne Bajema; "Wine" by Gina Wetzel; "Carmilla and the Queen of Spades", "Scarlet Heart" and "Victorian Succubus" by Virginie Ropars; "Vampiric Nobility" by Jason Juta.
Chapter 2 - Vampiric Vixens: "Anima Vorax" by Joana Dias; "La Diabolique" by Mark Pexton; "Bloofer Lady" by Michael calandra; "Beauty to Die For" by Christine Griffin; "Bloody Innocence" by Fernando Casaus; "Seine" by Armand Baltazar; "Bloodwine" by Tim Vigil and Nei Ruffino; "The Countess" by Tim Vigil; "Eternity in Hunger" by jarno Lahti.
Chapter 3 - Contemporary Goth and Urban Undead: "The Vampyre" by Mark Pexton; "Animal Instinct" by Fernando Casaus; "It's Oh So Quiet" by Eric Scala; "Bathory" by Jason Juta.
Chapter 4 - Graveyard Grotesque: "The damned" by Vince Natale; "The Dropdead Girl" by Samuela Araya; "Dreams of Blood" by jarno Lahti; "The Beautiful and the Dead" by Mark Pexton; "After and Before" by Fernando Santibáñez.
Chapter 5 - Vampire Hunters and the Hunted: "The Punishment" by Sabrina Tobal; "Kolchak Annual" by Woodrow J Hinton III; "The Hunters" by Sara Cappoli; "Urban Ninja" by Gracjana Zielinska; "Vampire Alexandria" by Neil Que; "In a Glass Darkly" by Patrick Jones; "No Defense" by Anne Yvonne Gilbert.
Chapter 6 - Undead in the Darkroom: "Carpathian Kiss", and "The Turning" by Avelina De Moray; "Eliven" by Viktor Koen; "Awakening II", "Satisfied" and "feeding" by Ralph Manfreda; "Die Nächtliche" and "The Vampire Skadi" by Michael Park; Special mention to "The Deadly Departed" by Avelina De Moray as the best Lucy Westenra ever; "Ready to be born again" by Jarno Lahti.
Chapter 7 - Cartoons and Comics: "You Raised a Vampire" by Gris Grimly; "Innocent?" by John Battelle; "Little Vampire Girl" by Sara Cappoli; "Red Eye" (Prize for the cutest vampire) by John Schwegel.
Chapter 8 - Bloodlust and Bittersweet Romance: "Midnight Affair" by Gracjana Zielinska; "A Hunger Like No Other" and "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night" by Vince Natale; "Thirty Days of Blood" by Mark Pexton; "Her Love" by Armand Baltazar; "If I was Your Vampire" and "Sunset" by Joana Dias; "Wild Rose" by Myke Amend; Death's Door" by Leslie Ann O'Dell; "I Miss You, Daddy" by Sabrina Tobal; "Our Last Embracement" by Gina Wetzel; "The Wolf" by Anne Yvonne Gilbert.
Chapter 9 - Dracula and His Disguises: "Death of the King" by Armand Baltazar; "Omhi" by Lauren K Cannon; "Sir Desmodus Rotundus" by Chris Ayers; bust "Nosferatu" by Thomas Kuebler; "Rise" by Patrick Byers; "Dracula's Pitt" by Woodrow J Hinton III; "Penangglan" by Chad Savage;"Beast" by Christine M Griffin.
Chapter 10 - Gothic Quarters: "Garden of Evil" by Akiko Crawford; "London After Midnight" by Patrick Jones; "The Exorcism of Lucy Westenra" by Avelina De Moray; "sacrificial Sanctum" by Watchrin Hanshin; "Spark of Sentiment" by Bruno Werneck; "Luna" by Samuela Araya; "forbidden Doorway" by Meredith Dillman; "London" by Gina Wetzel; "Ravenloft" by Jesper Ejsing.
Recommended book; both to leisurely contemplate the images but also as a source of inspiration.
You will find a small text quickly describing the background of most pieces and some hints how they were created. Most of them are quite impressive and this is a beautiful (and horrible, and disturbing, and grotesque…but it’s supposed to be like that) album. Mostly the Editors of this book picked wisely and this is a good presentation of some of the best Vampire images in a variety of techniques that will fill your eye.
I have a few quibbles though. I personally hate vampires with wings on their heads! I know that this is personal, but the silliness is so great that it’s uncontrollable. And there are several images with those weird head appendixes. More seriously now: The modern vampire art depends on some huge influences including obviously the classic novels of Carmilla and Dracula, the Classical movies (from Nosferatu, Bela Lugosi to the Hammer flicks), modern movies (such as “The Lost Boys”, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” or “Interview with a Vampire”), Anne Rice’s “Vampire Chronicles” and Vampire the Masquerade (and later “Requiem”) and its omnipresent “World of Darkness” which redefined the Vampire Gothic-Punk genre since 1991 and throughout 25 years.
Most of the above mentioned sources of inspiration are included in this book, but almost incomprehensibly there are nothing directly referencing “The Vampire Chronicles” of Anne Rice or “The World of Darkness/Vampire the Masquerade/Vampire Requiem”! They both deserved not only some pieces but an entire chapter dedicated to them such is the influence on all later series including the teen romance like “Twilight” to Charlaine Harris’ series. Some of the best artists in the world illustrated VtM such as Tim Bradstreet (and not only the books, but also the concept art of computer games such as Vampire Bloodlines), Lawrence Snelly, William O'Connor, Richard Kane Ferguson, Brom among so many others. To check what I’m talking about, just make a quick search using those names + Vampire or Vampire the masquerade (and then compare with the silly winged head vampires…just joking).
Back to the book. Divided in representative chapters, you will find several images (most of them unpublished) that are masterpieces. Below I highlight a few that fully caught my attention and that in my opinion are truly great.
Introduction - "Camilla" by Inessa Kirianova: "The Widow" by Michael Park.
Chapter 1 - The Aristocracy and Vitoriana: "The Lounge" by Bethalynne Bajema; "Wine" by Gina Wetzel; "Carmilla and the Queen of Spades", "Scarlet Heart" and "Victorian Succubus" by Virginie Ropars; "Vampiric Nobility" by Jason Juta.
Chapter 2 - Vampiric Vixens: "Anima Vorax" by Joana Dias; "La Diabolique" by Mark Pexton; "Bloofer Lady" by Michael calandra; "Beauty to Die For" by Christine Griffin; "Bloody Innocence" by Fernando Casaus; "Seine" by Armand Baltazar; "Bloodwine" by Tim Vigil and Nei Ruffino; "The Countess" by Tim Vigil; "Eternity in Hunger" by jarno Lahti.
Chapter 3 - Contemporary Goth and Urban Undead: "The Vampyre" by Mark Pexton; "Animal Instinct" by Fernando Casaus; "It's Oh So Quiet" by Eric Scala; "Bathory" by Jason Juta.
Chapter 4 - Graveyard Grotesque: "The damned" by Vince Natale; "The Dropdead Girl" by Samuela Araya; "Dreams of Blood" by jarno Lahti; "The Beautiful and the Dead" by Mark Pexton; "After and Before" by Fernando Santibáñez.
Chapter 5 - Vampire Hunters and the Hunted: "The Punishment" by Sabrina Tobal; "Kolchak Annual" by Woodrow J Hinton III; "The Hunters" by Sara Cappoli; "Urban Ninja" by Gracjana Zielinska; "Vampire Alexandria" by Neil Que; "In a Glass Darkly" by Patrick Jones; "No Defense" by Anne Yvonne Gilbert.
Chapter 6 - Undead in the Darkroom: "Carpathian Kiss", and "The Turning" by Avelina De Moray; "Eliven" by Viktor Koen; "Awakening II", "Satisfied" and "feeding" by Ralph Manfreda; "Die Nächtliche" and "The Vampire Skadi" by Michael Park; Special mention to "The Deadly Departed" by Avelina De Moray as the best Lucy Westenra ever; "Ready to be born again" by Jarno Lahti.
Chapter 7 - Cartoons and Comics: "You Raised a Vampire" by Gris Grimly; "Innocent?" by John Battelle; "Little Vampire Girl" by Sara Cappoli; "Red Eye" (Prize for the cutest vampire) by John Schwegel.
Chapter 8 - Bloodlust and Bittersweet Romance: "Midnight Affair" by Gracjana Zielinska; "A Hunger Like No Other" and "Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night" by Vince Natale; "Thirty Days of Blood" by Mark Pexton; "Her Love" by Armand Baltazar; "If I was Your Vampire" and "Sunset" by Joana Dias; "Wild Rose" by Myke Amend; Death's Door" by Leslie Ann O'Dell; "I Miss You, Daddy" by Sabrina Tobal; "Our Last Embracement" by Gina Wetzel; "The Wolf" by Anne Yvonne Gilbert.
Chapter 9 - Dracula and His Disguises: "Death of the King" by Armand Baltazar; "Omhi" by Lauren K Cannon; "Sir Desmodus Rotundus" by Chris Ayers; bust "Nosferatu" by Thomas Kuebler; "Rise" by Patrick Byers; "Dracula's Pitt" by Woodrow J Hinton III; "Penangglan" by Chad Savage;"Beast" by Christine M Griffin.
Chapter 10 - Gothic Quarters: "Garden of Evil" by Akiko Crawford; "London After Midnight" by Patrick Jones; "The Exorcism of Lucy Westenra" by Avelina De Moray; "sacrificial Sanctum" by Watchrin Hanshin; "Spark of Sentiment" by Bruno Werneck; "Luna" by Samuela Araya; "forbidden Doorway" by Meredith Dillman; "London" by Gina Wetzel; "Ravenloft" by Jesper Ejsing.
Recommended book; both to leisurely contemplate the images but also as a source of inspiration.
February 16, 2013
An excellent collection of really inspiring vampire art. Although it definitely solidified my preference for non-digital art, it is all quite impressive and lots of fun to peruse at one's leisure.
January 24, 2014
A very nice coffee table book with something to fit everyone's style. I found the scratchboard pieces very inspiring.
November 7, 2016
A nice collection of vampire art
December 31, 2014
There isn't a lot to be said about this book because it is an art book full of images of vampires. Some of them are absolutely amazing like the one on the cover. There are others that do not look quite as nice and a small amount that seem amateurish. Of course, this is mostly a matter of taste so your mileage may vary. Overall though, this is a strong book and I enjoyed looking through it. It will definitely be on my shelf for a long time to come.
October 31, 2016
Some really great art, alongside some not-so-great art. Nice as visual reference for interested in the topic
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews