Art is theft, and then there's fan art..

In my last post, I suggested that creating fan art is a "joy." Is it though? Creating anything is complicated, and there are some downsides to making fan art. I actually didn't see the value in it for a long time. 

Recently, drawing fan art has become a hobby of mine, and I have to say, it's making me really happy. Now, I'm looking forward to creating lots of silly drawings involving my absolute favourite, The Kids in the Hall, and my new obsession, Monty Python. 

I came close to realizing the joys of fan art long ago, when I would illustrate song lyrics at my desk during my worst-ever job. Unfortunately, I didn't recognize how much it brightened my day, and stopped drawing for a really long time after that. 
Lyrics from "Range Life" by Pavement

From my experience, here are some excellent reasons for making fan art: 

1. You like making art, but you get stuck, and then feel miserable

It turns out, to get better at a craft, you need practice. Practicing with just your original subject matter can be tough. It can feel too vulnerable or too uncertain. Don't let yourself get in a creative rut. Want to know the easiest way to practice without self-consciousness? Remove the self! Have some fun with some existing material you enjoy.

2. You are bored, and you just want to lose your sense of time and get in a flow

In other words, you want a hobby. Hobbies are tricky. I've tried them all, and some are really demanding. If you are a grown-up with a job, most hobbies require too much effort, so we scroll and scroll instead. Fan art gives great dopamine, and there are many points of entry, depending on your skills. Also, if some days all you can do is scroll, now you have a topic for a deep dive. Instead of doomscrolling, you are sourcing inspiration!

3. You want your imagination to become more entertaining

Fan art keeps your favourite entertainment accessible in your brain at any given moment. Typically, when you have a project on the go, musings and questions will come to mind throughout your day. If your project is fan art, then the musings and questions can be very entertaining, especially if you're into comedy like I am. You might laugh when it is inappropriate, but it's worth it.

And now, here are some negative feelings I associate with fan art.  Just get over it!

1. Feeling unethical

I have come to accept that art is theft. You can't really avoid the influence of others on your style, if you consume art and entertainment at all. Fan art is just taking that a step further. Don't try to pass off copied images or wording as original and I think you’ll be fine. Add your own spin on whatever it is you're doing, and you're golden. I wouldn’t monetize anything… maybe a fanzine at a low-key event, tops.

2. Feeling unoriginal

A surprising thing happened almost immediately when I started embracing fan art. I suddenly remembered several projects of my own that I want to complete, and felt more excited than I had in a long time. Nothing is all-or-nothing. 

3. Feeling like a big nerd

Maybe you are a big nerd. That's great! Being a nerd is awesome. Free your mind and be authentic, dweeb.

4. Feeling parasocial

I think there is some risk for artists' feelings to get hurt, when they want original creators to react to their fan art. The wise Shotgun Jimmie once sang, "Keep your distance from your muses, for your heart is bound to break." What is fan art if not creating for a muse? Well... there are the other fans, for starters. Those are now your people, and their reactions are the most fun. 

I think there is a difficult nuance when comedy serves as inspiration. When you admire funny people who make you laugh, you can end up wanting to make them laugh, too. Wouldn't it be nice? Don't count on it. 

So yes, fan art comes with some baggage, but it's a solid way to spend some time dreaming and creating. I feel pretty committed to making much more in the future, what, with the popular blog and all. 

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