Understanding Fan Art: The Controversial Art Created by Fans

Discover the meaning of fan art and get inspired by works from some of the community's outstanding creators

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines fan art as “artwork based on popular works of fiction (such as books, movies, etc.) that is created by fans.”

In a wider sense, the term describes work based on existing creations or characters that can take a variety of forms—from illustrations and drawings to animations, sculptures, videos, and beyond. There's a huge variety of creative possibilities defined by people who reinterpret, pay tribute to, and even make money out of an original work or image created by someone else.

The impact of fandom

Creating fan art is a way of becoming part of a world the artist has fallen in love with. In fan art, the creators often add new elements to the original designs, creating a completely new vision of the work or featured character.

In some cases, fan artists take their reinterpretations to the next level, creating or expanding universes that tell new stories that are completely different from the original author’s vision.

The point of contention: is fan art legal?

Although the legislation varies in every country, some basic intellectual property concepts remain the same. For example, no one can ban fan art when it is made exclusively for creative purposes, but things change a bit when money’s involved.

In principle, the original author of a work is the only person entitled to profit from their creation and its derivatives. However, many fan artists have created platforms where they make their work and services available to clients, who are generally other fans. This has generated a huge controversy about whether or not fan art is illegal.

But if it is, why do these platforms and artists survive? The answer is simple: it would be very difficult for major content producers or artists to start fighting their own fans. Fan artists are almost always protected by an invisible code of exchange. They provide free publicity, so the owners don’t charge royalties for using their work.

Fan art projects

All over the world, fan art has positioned itself as a creative alternative that expands the appeal of the originals, because fan communities add their own vision to the existing concept in a free and personal way. These new interpretations pay tribute to the originals, and they also propose new narratives.

The importance of fan art has grown thanks to its impact among fan communities (fandoms), who exhibit their work on platforms like Instagram, DeviantArt, and Tumblr, as well as other sites specifically dedicated to publishing this kind of work.

Here are some examples of fan artists who have adapted original works to create their own incredible art.

Daniel Kordek

Poland

Daniel Kordek is based in Los Angeles where he works as a freelance illustrator and comic artist. His fan art covers a range of franchises, notably Disney and Marvel.

Fernanda Suárez

Chile

Fernanda has ten years’ experience as a freelance illustrator and now spends a large amount of her time creating personal works, which include portraits that reinterpret fictional characters.

Ernesto Cifuentes

Mexico

This independent designer, illustrator, cartoonist, and caricature artist specializes in digital illustration. His creations include versions of some of the most popular characters from the worlds of music and film.

Liz F. Caballero

Spain

This illustrator lives her fandom using traditional techniques and manga and anime styles to represent scenes from a range of fictional universes, such as Harry Potter.

Sakimichan

Canada

Canadian artist Yue Wang, aka Sakimichan, is known for her digital illustrations—especially her recreations and interpretations of cult comics and series.

Samuel Saitol

Brazil

Japan-based, self-taught artist Samuel Saito's illustrations are famous for their incredible hyper-realism, and his Insta profile is full of amazing pencil portraits of TV and film characters.

Michael Cerimonia

Italy

Another artist who only uses pencils to recreate iconic characters, Michael Cerimonia's striking images make his Instagram account a must-follow if you want to understand Fan Art.

Kirk Moffatt

Ireland

A fan of vector illustration, Kirk Moffatt uses Affinity Designer to recreate characters from his favorite series and films. His portfolio and Instagram account are packed with pop culture icons.

Bella Priemaleza

Indonesia

Freelance illustrator Bella Priemaleza specializes in semi-realistic digital painting with an Instagram account that pays tribute to pop stars.

UptheHill

Lithuania

Since 2015, UptheHill (aka Maria) has focused on reinterpreting the world of Harry Potter, giving characters new identities and creating new stories that have fascinated the fandom.

What do you think of these fan artists and projects? Let us know in the comments below.

English version by @studiogaunt.

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