Modern Celtic artists use various elements of traditional Celtic style to create new work today. Some adhere very strictly to form while using brilliant, modern colors, while others use more traditional colors to complete works that have made a very new and stylized version of the traditional design elements.
Traditional Celtic Design: The Gospels
Traditional Celtic art consists of a variety of stylized patterns and images that were used to illuminate the gospels of the bible during the middle ages. Fine examples of illuminated text can be seen in the Books of Kells, Lindisfarne and Durrow.
The example below is from the Book of Kells, housed at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. (Click on the image to see a larger view).

The Chi Rho page (shown above) from the Book of Kells is one of the most famous pages of illuminated script ever created. The page introduces St. Matthew's account of the nativity. This page has been the subject of hours of scrutiny by students and scholars alike. The complex relationship between text and decoration for which the Book of Kells, and all illuminated gospels are famous is well illustrated in this example.
The page gets it name from the abbreviated Greek word for Christ, which is displayed with initials as Chi Rho (Latin).

Detail from the Chi Rho page of the Book of Kells

Detail 2 from the Portrait of Christ in the Book of Kells shows a good example of a zoomorph, or animal design where the bodies are intertwined.

Detail from a Carpet page in the Book of Kells

The first thing that strikes the eye when looking at this piece is the overall layout of the design. The patterning on the page has been done to resemble a tomb stone. This layout is directly related to the character of the vampire story.

The second design element that is noteworthy is the color palette. While the traditional illuminated pages of the gospels used rich, jewel toned inks, this piece is deliberately devoid of those colors. In this piece the artist has chosen to use a predominantly black and gray theme, punctuated only by the use of blood red in deference to the subject matter.

On closer inspection, many of the traditional design elements are used, and used in the traditional way.

Detail 1 from Vampyre, shows a zoomorph of two rats. This section is from the middle section of the outer border. it is repeated on either side of the piece. This is fine example of using a very traditional element, in this case a zoomorph, to further the subject of the finished art work.

Detail 2 from Vampyre shows the intricate use of the traditional split ribbon pattern in the border work of the piece.

This detail of the spiral pattern used in the side borders shows again the use of traditional elements. Here the decorative border work is heavily impacted by the color palette. The effect is very different from similar use cases in the illuminated gospels.

The Wolf Zoomorphs from the lower corners of the piece again illustrate the use a highly traditional element used to advance the theme of the art work.

The skeleton head at the center top shows the signature vampire's fangs. The names of all the literary vampire 'firsts' are listed around the skeleton head.

Although Dracula is the most famous vampire in literature, this work is not devoted strictly to that story. Inscribed around the skeleton head at the top of the piece are the names of many literary vampire "firsts" and important milestone figures in vampire fiction.

• Ruthuen was the first vampire story to be written depicting the vampire as a nobleman. Prior to that point, vampires in stories were always deceased family members and peasants in the villages.

• Clarimonde was the first female vampire in literature.

• Varney was the first vampire serial. The series of stories were presented in installments in the 'penny dreadful' novels of the Victorian era.

• Camilla was the most popular female vampire in literature.

• Dracula was of course Bram Stoker's character, and the most enduring vampire of all time. Everyone knows the name Dracula.

• Orlock was the first 'silver screen' vampire, as played in the classic film Nosferatu.

• Lestat is the first modern day vampire and the newest installment in the literary vampire tradition.

In studying the lore of vampires from around the world, Marcel found many common elements that were used in the creation of this art work. The original idea for the piece was as the opening panel to a book. The final product stands as a well realized, and beautifully executed piece in the traditional Celtic style.

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