Holiday Happenings - Salem, MA

Holiday Bat Art Prints | Gentlemen Bats – Salem MA

Whimsical Victorian Bat Art for the Holidays

Discover the enchanting world of Gentlemen Bats, the signature collection of Salem-based artist Nicholas Demakes. Known for his whimsical, Victorian-styled bat portraits, painted with an unconventional blend of coffee grounds and acrylic paint, Nick creates art that perfectly captures Salem’s Gothic charm. This holiday season, find unique gifts featuring his dapper bats dressed in formal Victorian attire—perfect for anyone who appreciates dark whimsy and artistic originality.

After graduating from Montserrat College of Art in 1994, Nicholas Demakes was finally free to pursue his true passion: art within the horror and fantasy genre. His Gentleman Bats series features anthropomorphic bats dressed as Victorian gentlemen, vampire characters, and supernatural figures. Each piece tells a story, blending Salem’s historic atmosphere with gothic elegance and unexpected humor.

The Art: Coffee, Acrylics, and Victorian Charm

What makes Gentlemen Bats truly distinctive is Nick’s innovative artistic process. He paints with coffee grounds mixed with acrylics and colored pencils—materials as unusual as his subject matter. This unique approach yields rich, sepia-toned works that evoke the charm of vintage photographs and antique portraits.

The Gentlemen Bats collection features characters inspired by classic vampire lore and themes related to bats. From Max Schreck’s Nosferatu to Gothic portraits, each bat-gentleman has a personality and backstory. Nick has expanded the series beyond bats to include Gentleman Cats, Dogs, Frogs, and even Squids—all rendered in the same distinctive Victorian-style portraits.

Perfect Holiday Gifts

Gentlemen Bats artwork makes exceptional holiday gifts for Salem enthusiasts, gothic décor collectors, and anyone who appreciates unusual art. Available products include:

• Limited Edition Art Prints (8×11″ matted prints)
• Original Paintings (one-of-a-kind coffee and acrylic works)
• 300-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles (11×17″ finished size)
• Sticker Sets (9-piece collections)
• Calendars featuring the Gentleman Bats series

The artist signs each piece, creating a conversation-starting gift that captures Salem’s unique character.

Where to Find Gentlemen Bats This Holiday Season

Salem Arts Association Holiday Artists Market
Saturday, November 29, 2025 (Small Business Saturday)
Meet Nick Demakes in person and shop his full collection

Year-Round Salem Locations:

• Peabody Essex Museum Shop (161 Essex Street) – Puzzles, stickers, prints
• Vampfangs – Prints and gothic décor
• Count Orlock Museum of Monsters – Art prints
• Hive and Forge – Local artist goods
• The Witch House 
• Charter Street visitor center(fallen angels art only)
• Black Cat Curiosities Shop

Shop Online:

Hellequin.com (artist’s official website)

GentlemenBats.com

PEM Shop online (shop.pem.org)

Beyond Salem

Featured Artist Recognition

Nicholas Demakes was featured in the Peabody Essex Museum’s acclaimed “Bats!” exhibition (September 2023 – July 2024). His Gentlemen Bats series was showcased alongside contemporary artworks and educational displays about bats, introducing his whimsical portraits to new audiences throughout Salem’s museum community.

Beyond Gentlemen Bats, Nick creates other fantasy and horror-themed art, including “Hellequin,” which is based on the folklore of the Demon Huntsman. His artistic philosophy embraces unconventional materials—he’s experimented with radiator patches and fruit juices alongside traditional mediums.