Fanart, which can be singular or plural, is graphic representations of various media forms with a large following. There are many different types of fanart, all of which are similar to fanlit. People write fanlit stories, plays, and screenplays based on characters or worlds that have already been created. As the name implies, this work is usually created people who are big fans of a certain character, show, fictional world, or something similar. Artists usually paint, draw, or use other graphic forms to copy, represent, explore, or extend the life of a created character or world in fanart instead of writing.
Fanart can take many forms, and it may begin when children are young and want to draw their favorite cartoon character. Those with artistic talent may be able to draw or recreate a favorite character from a comic book, TV show, video game, or film. Reproductions of art based on Japanese manga and anime are a common type of fanart. People can create new adventures for a comic book character combining drawing and writing.
Aside from manga and anime-inspired art, popular books and movies are often the source of a lot of fanart. The Harry Potter series, Tolkien’s work, the Star Wars series, and others, for example, can stir up the souls of artists, causing them to create a plethora of representations of the characters or world. Fanart museums or galleries can be found on a variety of websites. Those who finish a work of art can submit it to these websites for consideration. The only reward is usually sharing one’s love of a fictional thing with others.
The majority of the time, art that is inspired created works is not sold. A distinction is usually made between those who have been granted permission to write new stories about a favorite character or world and those who do so simply because they adore the characters or world. New people hired to extend someone else’s creations are usually fans who have their own vision of how to proceed. Artists rarely have to worry about copyright violations as long as unlicensed fanart isn’t sold. When people charge for their artistic works, this issue can become complicated.
Fan artists may be inspired artists who receive licensing or are contracted to create new work. Alan Lee’s work, which was featured in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, is now available in illustrated versions of Tolkien’s work. There are fan artists who appear to be heavily influenced Lee’s style or who copy it.