Use symbolism in your vampire art

The ever-popular genre receives an injection of fresh blood from Liam Peters, who applies a deeper meaning to his bold composition

Although I’ve always wanted to paint a vampire piece, given the saturation of vampires in the media there’s a real need to try and set myself apart. While taking inspiration from my favourite vampire movie, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, my overarching aim is to create something contemporary in composition and concept without being too far removed from my usual style.

I start thinking of a vampire’s lust for human blood as an addiction as much as it is a physical need. Through this I start designing a red woman who’s symbolic of this bloody vice. What develops is an image of a vampire embracing this woman and her, in turn, gently holding his arm, urging him to keep going.

I try to push the composition a little more with the use of black encompassing the woman and shaping the flow of visual interest. This dark space prevalent in the image is not only a part of the vampire himself, but also symbolic of the empty hole within him that can never be filled. This insatiable lust for blood gives way to the title, The Great White.