F A N D O M

fan Fan Art Movies books Cartoons Games films tv harry potter Hunger Games

There is more to "Fan Art" than merely paying tribute to a good piece of work, be it a novel, cartoon, film, or any other cultural icon. Placing a familiar subject out of its ordinary context is amusing and incredibly rewarding when it is acknowledged by others who have also acquired the same cultural frame of reference. A bond is instantly formed between the artist and the viewer at the moment of reconition. The viewer "gets it" and delights in the fact of knowing what the artwork is about, and the artist has gained a fellow fan who can appreciate similar tastes. It's a win-win situation for the "in-crowd."

But, like I said, there's more to it. Though I don't pretend to be an expert on the phenomenon of fan culture, I can speak for myself based on my own experience. I was first a fan before I was an artist. A fan of books and movies. It was around 6th grade when I first encountered the works of young, book-loving, cinefiles who drew the characters from the novels and movies they adored. Sometimes the drawings were humorous, with unlikely characters being paired together, or villains extracted from their plots into new contexts devised by the artist. I loved it. I imitated it. And I grew addicted. I learned to draw human figures and expressions by drawing protagonists from books. I practiced the same face, over and over. Each new drawing was exhilarating to produce.

There's a part of the process that I enjoy most. Staying true to the original image and depicting just that. The author or screenwriter or actor had an image of the character in mind when they initially delivered it. The character was envisioned with a distinct personality, a set of expressions, an accent, a quirk, what have you. Being loyal to that produces realism to the fan art. But converting that into your own style or mood is what makes it art--and fun.

I do fan arts recreationally. I do it to pay homage to the writers, actors, directors, and creators who excited me with their stories. I do it to bond with fellow fans out there, I do it to keep my imagination stimulated. Mostly, though, I do it because I don't know what to do with myself sitting there facing the black end credits or the back cover of a novel that I found exceptionally entrancing. And so, I start doodling.

Here are just a few pieces, based on films, novels, cartoons, video games, and other cultural references. Hope you enjoy.