Thank you. So much, for being such an incredible artist and so down to earth and so willing to interact with your followers and fans. You’re such a huge inspiration to me artistically and I am really just in awe of yourself as a whole. I always felt kind of crummy about doing so much fanart, but watching the pbs video with yourself and other artists made me feel so, so much better. I’m really grateful. |

Thank you. So much, for being such an incredible artist and so down to earth and so willing to interact with your followers and fans. You're such a huge inspiration to me artistically and I am really just in awe of yourself as a whole. I always felt kind of crummy about doing so much fanart, but watching the pbs video with yourself and other artists made me feel so, so much better. I'm really grateful.

Answer - Permalink

kaworoos

Fan art is simply a way to exert personal creativity using subject matters that are more accessible to others. Classical artists of the Greek, Roman, and later the Italian Renaissance are some of the most revered in history, yet they weren’t noticed for their personal works until long after they died. It was through their contributions to biblical and mythological creations that they reached an audience.

There is nothing about paying homage to fictional pop culture icons and characters that is less “art” than paying homage to fabricated gods, titans, and characters. They’re simply respective subject matters to interpret as we please. The way your creations are labelled is irrelevant so long as you enjoy making them. I can tell you that an illustration of mine that was done for fun, for free, and labelled as “fan art” is just as much “art” to me as the illustrations of mine that were commissioned for thousands of dollars or won awards. I made them and no matter how they’re defined, I will always love making them—and thus I have no reason to stop, right? Improve, change, hone, refine… absolutely. But never feel crummy about what you have created because of what genre has been slapped on to it. Creativity is everything, “art” in its many forms, is just an irrelevant word used to divide and deter. Thank you, and definitely do not stop.