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Dear Fan Art and Dear Original Art

A Turbulent Relationship

By 'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)Published 5 years ago 5 min read
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Photo by Sara Williams from Burst 

I grew up in an incredibly artistic community. Thinking back, I remember the Red Barn fondly, a place my siblings, mum, and I would go for art gatherings, Shakespeare workshops, theatre, and band practice. In town, there were two artists I remember often visiting, and my excitement for seeing them. The one was cluttered with art supplies, bits of paint on old wooden surfaces, and unique cups filled with paint water and pencil shavings. An extra plus was her Pokemon card collection. The other artist's home was on the river, mini Canadian flags in the grassy lawn. Jack always ended up spending most of the visit at his easel. Sometimes, I would just stare at his brush, enjoying seeing him fill the bristles with paint, then lean back with a squint.

Being around these creatives, it was instilled in me to make all art original, that the act of creating was about expression and emotion. Jack would say how art is not meant to look exactly like the subject, then you might as well use a camera.

Art is about expression.

Though my sister, brother, and I drew a lot of Pokemon and Yugioh when we were little, it was always distinctly for our own personal enjoyment. At the time, there was no concept of sharing it online (even more so because we had dial-up longer than our peers).

My sister made herself posters, and we would draw small versions we'd laminate with packing tape to use as toys (well, my sister drew all mine for me, being older and better at it). I'd draw people dressed to look like Pokemon, just Pokemon or Gundam Wing characters (Heero Yuy, specifically).

In my mind, though, as much as I drew other people's character, it was always with the mindset of using it to learn. On multiple occasions, people would tell me "you can trace art to learn," but it always was indirectly shrouded with or followed up with the concept that you should do it sparingly. On top of that, it was ingrained in the back of my mind that it would be grown out of. So, each time I drew someone else's character, I would analyze each shape. I'd decide if I wanted to integrate little pieces into my own work. For instance, I used to use Yugioh eyes in my art for a long time, which makes me laugh now.

As I continued to draw more and more, I would find myself instinctively trying to draw things I saw, but always with the need to change the style, or turn it into something else. For example, when I drew a soup can, I turned it into a monster with a soup can head.

Fan art became something I'd do as gifts, but otherwise I've had a slow developing discomfort about creating fan art. I start to feel guilty, like I'm not giving my own creativity or self enough attention. Or worrying maybe I'm trying to shamelessly get more of a social media following.

Through the years I've made so many characters, but as my style developed and I didn't update them, I slowly stopped drawing them. It used to be that my sketchbooks would be filled with character development, then it went to developing technique, then it went to developing style (more like a variety of styles).

Just a month ago, I found myself getting defensive about fan art, barking at people about how I tend to do more original art, like it's some mighty badge I can claim. (I just imagine Frida from Hilda, as she aggressively collects badges). Not long before, I did a fan expo where I drew fan art, making myself a bit of a hypocrite.

I believe in fan art. I also believe in original art.

Fan art, firstly, having enough love for something you feel moved to draw from it, or draw something you want to see is special. There are so many shows and games which just thinking of make me smile and excited. If that can motivate you to draw, that is a wonderful state to be in for drawing. I kind of lost that as I let myself feel shame for creating fanart, like it made me a criminal. No, you shouldn't be stealing and claiming it is your own. You should specify if you copied an exact image, or if you just borrowed a character. Someone (or many people) put energy into designing and creating that character. They deserve credit. But there is no shame in drawing fan art.

Secondly, fan art can be great for learning. For animators, it can help you learn how to draw in someone else's style. It can also help learn anatomy and technical skills. Honestly, just the fact it can motivate to start drawing is fantastic.

I'm trying to reteach myself that enthusiasm I once had for fan art. Now, I find myself sometimes doing it forced for others. And that baggage I made for my art affects my original art because it makes me so hyper-fixated on making them original that I can't even relax into the creating process. Even just trying to make my own defined style has become a burden, when it really doesn't need to be.

Thinking back to all those artists back in my hometown, I need to remember, art is about expression and emotion. That might take form of me appreciating a character I love or franchise that has made my life a little brighter. At the same time, I need to find that passion again for my own creations, so there can be characters I draw because the idea of drawing them makes my world a little brighter or deeper. And here's the trick. I am allowed to look at other characters and take pieces I really want in my own characters.

I hope you can give time for self-expressive art, however that takes shape.And I hope you got something out of this, and thank you for reading.

art
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About the Creator

'Toto' (Aleksina Teto)

A Canadian designer, writer, typographer, and artist.

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