Why Do Fanart, Anyway?

[bansheeblue13]

Fanart...why do it? There are probably a million other more useful things to do instead...so why do this time consuming task which can eat up your precious time by the hour?

If you've got a story about how you got started...Tell it. If you've got a purpose that drives you...Tell it. This is the place to spill the beans about the whys and hows about fanart and you. So go ahead...I dare ya.

Since I started the topic, I'll tell my story first...I started drawing back in the seventh grade by copying the character designs in FFVII b/c my older brother was playing the game and I was just so fascinated by the complex story that it just drew me in.

Over the decade that I've been drawing, I've found that doing fanart really became my hobby and now eats up most of my free time, but that's ok b/c I'm really happy doing it. Now days I have a ton of old fanart art sketches that are almost obsolete, but just for fun I redraw the rest of the picture just to finish it. There's something fulfilling about competing all those sketches...they usually look alot better when they're done too.

[fallenangel]

http://www.fanart-central.net/pic-2034.html

Ew.


Also 7th grade. I <3 charcoal and needed a face. One led to a second and a third, and 6 years later, ta da ta da. I have no purpose other than, if I'm going to be drawing a person, it might as well be one I like.

I dunno, technically it's less fanart (which would be a fan's interpretation of an existing character) and more...."tribute work", given the fact there's really no difference between the people I draw in Life Drawing and Axl Rose, one's just insane. But same difference.
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[DG-sama]

I generally don't draw to much fanart but for me when I do draw it I think of it as a tribute to an artist, storyteller, or concept I admire, or if it's from a series by an artist/author that helped inspire my own style.

But everyone has thier own reasons.
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God damn you signature WORK!

[Paru]

I usually just draw whatever is interesting to me at the moment. Since most of what I'm interested in consists of Video Games and tv shows, etc. alot of what I draw is fanart. Pretty simple reason, I guess.
I also like drawing fanart because it gives me a chance to practice lots of different styles, depending on what I'm doing fanart of.
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a jelly calypso castle in the sky

[bansheeblue13]

you know i really didn't think anyone was really going to reply to this topic, but i'm glad i did get some sort of response.

Bravo good stories...there's nothing like a good human interest story.

[OMNI-X]

Personal gratification and enjoyment.

[Stratadrake]

For me, it depends on what strikes my inspiration the right way. Turn Cloud into an MLP, Inu into a parrot... it's rare for me to do straight fanart, usually I put a twist of some kind into it.

It's also rare for me to do the same fanart more than once. In which case, it's usually because of personal interest in that series.

In fact, I try to avoid doing the same thing more than once in general.
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[Squidman]

I do fanart partially because I like to see different takes on characters that I like, and contribute to the melting pot of takes on that character. Like the way that I draw Ganondorf may not resemble his traditional in-game look but I draw him that way to add my own take to the veritable library of different styles for drawing Ganondorf out there.

Also, mostly in the cases of fanart I do of anime characters, I do it because I don't really like the style that they were drawn in and wonder if I can make them look more animated, or give them more of a... I dunno... comic book look. Anime characters tend to look a lot flatter than North American cartoon characters (flash cartoons excluded) so I try to draw more of a lively, 3D feel into them.

Lastly, a lot of the characters I draw don't have a huge fanbase, so I draw them so they'll at least have *some* fanart in the event that other fans of that character go looking for pictures of them.
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[bansheeblue13]

I'm hoping that this topic will really grow to the point where most of the members of FAC will post. I think it would really neat.

[Fayore]

Actually, I draw mostly OCs. If I ever draw fanart, now, it's usually because I'm doing a clothing design study (or a style study, or something, etc). Although that almost never happens anymore, since I have a tendency to draw only portraits now. :/
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[Beatlechick90]

I do fanart becaus I see it as a way of giving props to people that I like and respect. However, I want to branch out and do non-fanart because art schools aren't really looking for that type of thing. Fanart will always be fun for me, though, and it gives me a sense of satisfaction.
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[KatWarrior]

Fanart for me isn't just because I like something, but it's a way to pull myself out of a major creative slump. I have a lot of original characters I could do something with, but my brain just won't let them come out of the graphite-end of my draiwng tool. So to warm up, loosen up, or whatever, I do fanart. Plus it's good practice that I can post for others to critique if the desire strikes me. I'm very protective of my originals and don't like them being where anyone can see/take them from me. A little egotistical maybe, but that's how it is.

Also, fanart gives you a means to relate to or associate with other fans. If and another person discover you like drawing the same thing, it could very possibly start a great friendship. I've had that happen a few times.

And, as was mentioned, I tend to like characters that no one knows or cares about, and I think they deserve some attention, so I give it to them. And with the hopes of attracting other fans, if they're out there.

I once heard fanart was a "waste of creativity" but I can't totally agree with that. I think it has the [i]potential[/i] to be, but that doesn't mean it [i]is[/i].
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[Kahvie]

This looks like a fun thread...I'll give my $0.02.

Personally, I don't do fanart very often, and even if I do, I never get past sketch form with it. I guess there is just a lot more to do when you have original characters. I did, however, start out drawing pictures of characters such as Charlie from All Dogs Go to Heaven, etc. when I was around five years old, which is fanart. I also have to admit that I have been itching to actually draw fanart or write fanfics again, simply because I can relate to characters in the games/movies/etc that I like.

So, I guess it all comes down to what interests you:).

[ChocolateCappuccino]

I draw fanart because Im a borderline fangirl and feel that I show appreciation for the person that created the characters that I like by seeing what those character looks like in my own personal style. Also, fanart is a great way to practice the eye-brain-hand thing without having to think too much. The fanart goes on the internet. Most original (unless its comic inspired) goes on peoples walls.
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[color=white]Minekura fangirl![/color]

[LunaticCrow]

I draw fanart beacause I lack the creative mind to create my own art.
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[Astronamymage]

I draw fanart when it is a request or after a book series. Mostly mythical creatures and ocs for me.
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[Meredianna]

THIS IS FANART CENTRAL.

anyway I like to draw both fanart and oc's...IMO I dont think drawing fanart is a waste of time, I think the more I draw the more I improve -_-


warn? why? wtf. I demand an answer.

[Stratadrake]

((Questions about the forum Warn system can be directed at the FAQ.))
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[Moonlightelf]

i get my head full of great ideas sometimes, so that is why i use those ideas by drawing. Also i love being artistic from my mind and love drawing them on paper. Making me feel that i have done something beautyful and sharing it with other people to be seen what i think, it makes me only to draw more, until there is artist block
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[Smexykage-sama]

I have like a period I don't draw fanart, and than I draw only fanart. It depends on my mood.
Why I do it? I like to put my favourite characters into situations they'll never find themselves into. Or just let them behave totally out of character. Or make parody's. I'll guess I'm more of a gag-fanart-artist than..... ^_^