Horror art inspiration has a habit of turning up in strange places. It might come from a creature lurking in a video game, an unsettling scene in a horror film, a centuries-old legend, or an artist whose work makes you wonder what on earth was going through their head.
And sometimes, the things that stick with us aren’t even the obvious monsters. A strange silhouette, an empty corridor, an uncomfortable expression or something half-hidden in the shadows can be enough to get an idea crawling around in your head.
That’s what this part of Dreaded Designs is all about. We’ll dig into the darker influences behind horror art and look at what makes them work – from atmosphere, lighting and creature design to symbolism, storytelling and the wonderfully weird things humans have been frightening each other with for centuries.
The idea isn’t to copy somebody else’s nightmares. It’s to figure out what makes them so effective, pick apart the techniques and ideas behind them, and use what you learn to create something that feels like your own.
So wander through horror video games, folklore and mythology, cinema and the work of dark artists. There’s no particular order and no correct place to start. Just follow whatever catches your attention – even if it happens to be staring back at you.
Horror Video Games (Eerie Game Design & Atmosphere)
Horror video games can be an incredible source of inspiration for artists. The environments, lighting, creature designs and atmosphere all play a part in making these worlds feel unsettling, often before anything frightening has even appeared.
There is a lot we can learn from the way horror games use their visuals. A poorly lit corridor, an abandoned building, an unusual creature silhouette or carefully placed environmental details can completely change the mood of a scene and make the viewer feel that something isn’t quite right.
This section explores how horror video games use visual design to create fear and atmosphere, and how some of those ideas can inspire your own horror artwork. We’ll look at environments, creature design, lighting, colour, composition and the different visual styles used across the genre.
The individual articles for this section are still being developed, but you can explore the How Horror Video Games Inspire Eerie Art page now. New articles will be added there as the section grows.
Folklore & Mythology in Horror Art
Long before horror films and video games, people were telling stories about strange creatures, restless spirits, unexplained sightings and things best avoided after dark. Folklore and mythology have given horror artists an enormous collection of ideas to draw from, and many of those stories continue to influence the creatures and imagery we recognise today.
This section explores how folklore, mythology and local legends can inspire horror art, from Japanese Yokai and cryptids to traditional stories that have been passed down for generations. It’s not only about discovering unusual creatures either – these stories can inspire character design, atmosphere, symbolism and entirely new ideas of your own.
You’ll also find guides looking at how to design your own cryptids, use traditional influences in horror artwork, build atmosphere through visual storytelling, and explore artists whose work has been shaped by myth and folklore.
If you’d like to dig deeper, head over to Folklore & Mythology in Horror Art, where you’ll find all of the guides in this section together.
Horror Movies & Cinematic Aesthetics
Horror films are packed with visual ideas that can be pulled apart and studied as an artist. Lighting, colour, composition, costume, creature design and the environments surrounding a character can all influence how frightening, uncomfortable or memorable a scene feels.
Looking beyond the story itself can reveal just how much thought goes into creating that atmosphere. A character partly hidden in shadow, an unusual camera angle, a carefully chosen colour palette or an unsettling location can sometimes have more impact than showing the horror directly.
This section explores how the visual language of horror cinema can inspire your own artwork, including creature and character design, practical effects, cinematography, atmosphere and the different aesthetics found throughout the genre.
The individual articles for this section are still being developed, but you can explore the Horror Movie Aesthetics for Horror Art page now. New articles will be added there as the section grows.
Dark & Macabre Artists
Horror art has been shaped by artists who were willing to explore uncomfortable ideas, strange imagery and the darker side of the imagination. Looking at their work isn’t just about admiring the finished piece – it can help you understand how different artists use composition, texture, symbolism, atmosphere and design to create something memorable.
This section explores artists who have influenced horror, dark art and visual storytelling, looking at what makes their work distinctive and what we can learn from their approach. You’ll find artists working across very different styles, from surreal and biomechanical imagery to detailed illustrations and unsettling black-and-white artwork.
The artist guides take a closer look at figures including H.R. Giger, Zdzisław Beksiński and Junji Ito, exploring their influences, visual styles and the techniques that make their work so recognisable. You’ll also find practical ideas for taking inspiration from their approach without simply copying their artwork.
Head over to Dark & Macabre Artists in Horror Art to explore the full collection of artist guides.
Keep Finding New Inspiration
Horror art can take inspiration from almost anywhere. Folklore, films, video games and other artists can all introduce you to different ways of using atmosphere, character design, storytelling and visual style.
The important part isn’t to copy what already exists, but to notice what draws you in and work out why it works. A particular use of lighting, an unusual creature design or the atmosphere of a scene might be enough to spark an idea that eventually becomes something completely different in your own work.
As Dreaded Designs grows, more guides will be added across each area of horror art inspiration, so there will always be something new to explore. For now, have a look through the sections that interest you most, follow whatever catches your attention, and see where it takes your own artwork.
