Do you draw original art, fan art, or both?

[dividedbyblue]

Three weeks for Dreamwidth: Do you draw original art, fan art, or both?

I draw both. I go through periods where I mostly draw original art (pen drawings and acrylic paintings), but for the past few months, I’ve mostly made fan art. These are pencil drawings of my current favorite lesbian ship, Mafin (Sueños De Libertad).

In many ways, this fan art has had a positive effect on my artistic practice as a whole. I felt that I didn’t feel much connection anymore with my original art, and making fan drawings of a couple I love so much has helped me reconnect with my artistic work. It also let me explore a medium (pencil drawings) that I’ve abandoned since my youth and rediscover it again.

I’ve been thinking of expanding it and maybe starting to make acrylic fan art paintings. I want to explore mediums in fan art that I usually only use for original art, but now try to use them in another way. This should be a fun experience.

Comments

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> In many ways, this fan art has had a positive effect on my artistic practice as a whole.<<

That's a good thing.

>> I felt that I didn’t feel much connection anymore with my original art, and making fan drawings of a couple I love so much has helped me reconnect with my artistic work.<<

Progress. You might think about what other things you feel passionate about, as possible art subjects.

>> It also let me explore a medium (pencil drawings) that I’ve abandoned since my youth and rediscover it again.<<

Also helpful.

>>I’ve been thinking of expanding it and maybe starting to make acrylic fan art paintings. I want to explore mediums in fan art that I usually only use for original art, but now try to use them in another way. This should be a fun experience.<<

Go for it! Fanart is a great practice approach for people who don't like technical exercises that don't actually make art. What you learn can then be used on any future art, original or fan.

Re: Thoughts

[dividedbyblue]

Hi! Thanks for your reply!

Yes, fanart is an excellent practice approach, as you sometimes need to find what you connect with (or connect with again after you lose the connection to other things) so that you find motivation to experiment again and create things.

"What you learn can then be used on any future art, original or fan.”

I hope for this, indeed. That I can use these experiences with the fan art I’m currently making to grow as an artist, to branch out. I think often we tend to have these thoughts like ‘I should be doing this/ should be doing this’ in art or in art exercises for yourself, that you neglect to find what resonates with you and makes practise fun (again).