Is fan Art Illegal? 

If you’ve ever been to an Artist’s Alley at a comic convention, the thought,

 has surely jumped into your head.

Easily half the artists exhibiting at any mainstream Comic Con or Anime Show make and sell fan art. And by “fan art” I mean merchandise featuring characters the artist does not own: prints, buttons, tee shirts, key chains, hats, tote bags—I even saw Captain American mittens at the last show I attended.

Surely Marvel owns the right to Captain America,

even if that sweet girl sitting at the booth was the one to knit the mittens.

When it comes to fan art: What is legal, and what is not?

There is a lot of myth that clouds the truth of fan art in regards to what you can and cannot be sued for.

Perhaps you’ve heard some of the following myths:

If I only sell fan art at conventions, and not online or in stores, it is okay.

If I’m not making a profit from my fan art, it is legal to draw someone else’s characters.

One show I exhibited at had such a strict “No Fan Art” policy that convention staff members actually policed the alley throughout the show. I was scolded for having a (not for sale) image of Harley Quinn on my commission sign

No? You have almost no rights to create such works

If you currently (or plan to) sell fan art at a show, online, or as one-of-a-kind original commissions,

If you currently (or plan to) make fan art without intent to sell, just for the love of the fandom,

I know people personally who have been told to stop selling items by one of the “Big Two.” I even have personal experience in the matter in regards to treading too close to the line—in a

So watch this video and be informed. “I didn’t know it wasn’t legal” does not stand up in court.

What do you believe in regards to fan art in Artist’s Alley? Do you think it is okay for creators to get noticed by making and selling fan art? Or do you think creators should use their own characters and stories to garner attention in the industry?

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I don’t think the intent is ever harmful with fan art (although sometimes it is, in order to make a quick buck.)

Just like anything that features a trademark (brands, items, characters) we’re subject to legal threats by riding on other’s coat-tails. We all do it in some form – hoping we don’t get caught.

Ah yes, the great fan art debate. It’s so dicey, wrapped up not in just what’s legal, but what companies generally ignore for the sake of the artists involved (commissions for example). I’ll say, though reasonably I could probably get away with it, I’ve been moving fan art out of my portfolio. I’ve had some in there, and frankly it is the top seller for myself and many artists, but the risk isn’t really worth the reward. Moreover, fan art quickly becoems a distraction from your own work, and you can find yourself producing art just to hit trends (known this to happen with several artists).

The one thing that will happen when you switch away from fan art is your audience will immediately alter away from the mainstream Spider-man/Batman fan. You’ll get more indy folks, art collectors, webcomic readers and new comic readers. It’s an excellent example of how what you decide to produce also helps dictate the kind of audience you recieve, and why trying to alter your own work to fit an audience is often not the way to go.

“fan art quickly becoems a distraction from your own work”

WWII Cap. America print I created as an exercise to get comfortable using Sketchbook Pro when I had my free trial. The other was a Poison Ivy commission for a paying customer. I had made him wait extra long so I put a lot more work into it as a “thank you for being awesome with the wait / I’m sorry” bonus. It turned out so nice I colored it and used it for a print.

Apart from that, I have so many projects going on, I’d rather devote that time to The Dreamer or Paper Wings. Between the two there’s seldom much “extra” left over. The list of “fan art” I’d love to do just as, well, as a fan! not for sell, is long but art-for-fun-time is scarce these days.

I’ve thought about doing a “sketch a day” warmup Tumblr for a month or something. Just to get back to drawing characters that don’t wear tricorn hats and frock coats… but I digress!

Let the rest of us handle the non-tri corn hat wearing characters. You gotta draw what makes you great.

Oh, I remember seeing this before and completely agree. I’d love to see fan art of Misfit Supers, but I wouldn’t wait anyone to my characters for their own profit. I personally hadn’t thought much all about it before this video, wanting to create and sell my own original ideas, assuming most artists want the same.

Scott, I think around here, Chris & I are wired that way and we’ve definitely attracted a crowd of “Personal Project First!” creators around us.

As Jake hit on below, the Batman Fan Art crowd doesn’t always (usually?) translate to your indy project. Yup, my Poison Ivy print often gets a lot of attention, but it seldom translates into Dreamer sells.

This year I’ve all but eliminated anything but Dreamer at my table and it hasn’t hurt me at all. As Jake pointed out, when you push your personal project, you attract the people interested in Indy Comics. And that’s exactly what I’ve found!

Cool insight – I’m glad you decided to do that becaus Dreamer totally stands on its own!

If a patron covers the cost of your material, and you donate the piece as a gift, it doesn’t qualify as an actual sale, yet you can still receive compensation.

I’m one of those who hardly ever make fanart, not out of any high-minded principles or fear of retribution but because it just doesn’t interest me. I look *looking* at fanart, but the impulse to make it? Not there.

I’m making plans to attend two conventions next year, partly as a marketing drive for my comic-in-production “Icefall”, and I’ve been wondering if I should make fanart of other works to draw people to my table. Between this video and the responses so far, the answer is leaning back to “no.” The risks are too great, the chances of it translating to actual interest in my project is too small, and, well, I just don’t have the time to put out Icefall and associated art AND make fanart of other stuff – even if it’s stuff I like.

Question? Would you be okay with someone taking a character from Icefall and having them interact with Doctor Who and a wookie?

The best way for an artist to build a fan base is to do something people can really, really relate to. Unfortunately, one of the best ways to relate to people is by doing art of something they recognize, i.e. fan art. Fan art sells. Fan art gets you recognition. Fan art can make you the popular artist everyone wants to be when they set out to make their scribbles. And the awful truth: the majority of popular artists out there made their fortune off of doing works of characters they didn’t own. Yes, there are exceptions, but for the most part, this is true.

Does this mean an artist should only do fan art to get recognized and build a fan base? Maybe. But then you have to weigh if you’re creating art to make money or if you’re creating art to be happy. The majority of work I do is creator-owned because it makes me happy to tell my own stories and share them with the world. However, the awful truth is that my creator owned work doesn’t make me very much money. I couldn’t even think about living off my CO work at this point. Fan art for artists is a means of survival and an inevitability. And like the man in black in the video, it can lead to real, paying work.

True. There are other things I suppose I could do besides trying to make a quick buck off of more familiar characters, but I do enjoy creating the fan art that I make. Otherwise I wouldn’t do it so much.

Does that change the legality of it either way? No, but as I said in my post, the mere existence of the gray area lets me continue on with fan art without too much worry.

Will I get to a point where I could practically attend conventions fueled mostly by my own characters? Sure, it could happen. But even then, as long as that gray area’s there, I’d probably still try to enjoy kicking out new fan art every now and then.

Tis true, fan art wa initially the only way I could break even on a table. That’s less the case these days, but then I’m a better artist, my portfolio is a lot bigger, and I have more of a name locally. I have the luxury now of goign to a convention and not necessarily requiring fan art to make the money, but that wasn’t always the case.

Frankly, I think most publishers know this is the situation, and that’s why we don’t see companies en-masse cracking down on fan art in general. There’s a certain threshold of money, interest, and professionalism below which you just aren’t worth persuing.

Not to say people shouldn’t consider the ramifications if they do fan art and get tagged, mind. There’s definitely a safer route that way, it’s just that every path has it’s own trade offs.

“And the awful truth: the majority of popular artists out there made their fortune off of doing works of characters they didn’t own.”

This is true! Most comic book rock stars got the exposure through drawing Spider-man or the X-Men or whoever.

But cool things have happened through the years like Art Baltazar’s Wolf Boy landing him the Tiny Titans gig. Blue Monday’s Chynna Clugston doing work on Ultimate X-Men. And Scott Christian Sava (Dreamland Chronicles) did a 3D Spiderman mini-series. David Mack got his Daredevil run via his creator owned series Kabuki. Jeff Smith did a Shazam! comic after Bone before starting Rasl. Terry Moore wrote Spider-man Loves Mary Jane after Strangers in Paradise wrapped up.

The thing I think is so interesting about THESE comics is that the independent creator is asked to work on the mainstream titles as a result of the character of their own work. No one else is going to draw a comic like Art Baltazar, Jeff Smith or David Mack. It’s a different approach into those same jobs, but this route allows you to have a style and “brand” to your work. You don’t have to turn yourself into a Marvel or DC clone.

The penalties involved with trademark infringement are pretty frightening. I think it’s fair if a big corporation, like Disney or Marvel, goes after another company that has unlawfully taken their images or intellectual property. But it’s kind of dispicable if they go after independent artists who made a couple bucks at a con with something they created themselves. It’s a weird situation… I love when I see someone else draw my characters and share it online, but I wouldn’t be happy if I saw someone selling it in an artists alley. So I understand why everyone needs to protect their property… There’s a few cons around here that have completely banned fanart too.

Personally, I’m more impressed by artists who come up with their own properties and characters. There’s lots and lots of great artists on deviantart that ONLY post fanart. And they’ve built a big following off that, but they can only go so far with material that’s already licensed. I think a lot of people would much prefer to see their talents put into their own ideas and creations, or at least try to balance out the fanart with original projects.

I’m one who unashamedly throws fanart into my artist alley prints catalog. I like the idea of a community of “fan artists” and appreciate the notion that any respectable fan artist isn’t trying to usurp creative control over the properties in question.

Yes, most of my income at conventions probably comes from fanart, be they prints or commissions. Honestly, it’d be nice to make more off of Bonnie Lass stuff, but so far there hasn’t been an overwhelming interest (the comics sell well enough if I take the time to pitch them, but I’ve been sitting on certain prints for years now). Fanart is just how I personally make conventions worth the time and energy at the moment.

I honestly don’t know how I’d feel if I stumbled upon anyone else hawking Bonnie Lass pinups at a con… Part of me would want to establish some kind of stipulation, but I think I’d frankly be super elated and appreciative off the bat. If I were to calculate how profitable Bonnie’s been for me so far, I’m pretty certain I’d find myself in the red, but that, I feel, is more on me, and even if there were other independent artists out there making some scratch off their own depictions of her, I don’t think I’d feel that was doing any extra harm. Pinups (which I think fall under the category of “art for art’s sake”) seem harmless to me; anything else (that’s not parody or satire) is where I draw the line, for myself and others.

In a very niche example, this past summer I was thrilled to be part of the Six Season and a Movie art exhibit, a tribute to the TV show Community. The organizers did everything they could to keep things under the radar, so as not to get struck down by Sony/NBC’s lawyers—ultimately they didn’t seem to want to bother. But series creator Dan Harmon gave the exhibition his personal blessing, even attending the opening with some of the cast and crew (some of whom contributed to the gallery as well). It was, I thought, just a really cool, if not rare, example of the creator(s) appreciating the fans appreciating the show, even if Harmon himself doesn’t have reigns over the property.

But getting back to the broader scope, the legality of it all is essentially black and white. The artists and even the rights holders are the ones who create the gray area. Because there is currently and allowance for that gray area, I don’t feel pressured to purge my catalog of fan art right now. At the same time, I do have my own limits as to how far I’ll go to make that fan art part of my usual stock.

at the end of the day, if you feel you can’t afford to work the alley with out fan art, you need to rethink the reason for going to artist alley and why you’re doing what you do

Considering how many professional, big two artists do commissions which would technically fall under this definition as a means of supplementary incomce, and are in fact often encouraged to do so by their employers in some cases, I think that may be a bit too reductionist and judgemental to sum up the situation. It’s dicey, and dicey for a lot of fine reasons, but I don’t think that’s a unilateral pass to come down on people who do or have done fan art and question their motives.

For example, plenty of people in artists alley really do just want to draw Spider-man. That’s a valid personal goal. And some actual Spider-man artists were found exactly that way, so it’s not exactly that cut and dry.

I appreciate what you’ve said here because it is a somewhat complex topic, and we should reduce it so simply.

One thing, I’d like to add to what you’ve said that has made me curious is, whenever I’ve applied to Marvel or DC, and Marvel in particular, they specify that they want you to show work based on THEIR characters. That’s something that has always been a bit boring to me, it’s like, why do I want to put ALL that effort into drawing something that I have no use for other than showing to them? Unless, what if there is another use for that art, for sales for instance, be it sequential or pin-up? So, in a way with just their submissions, they encourage you to base your art on their content, but it seems ludicrous to think that artists wouldn’t use that art that they produce for submission for some sort of income. I don’t think artists are trying to be so sly to make it seem like they created Spiderman, Batman, etc. They are just trying to capitalize on their work and the market.

Anyway, that’s just another thought to add to yours that stuck in my mind 🙂

This was sent to me via Twitter in regards to this whole conversation. Sean Murphy is a creator whose book is published by Vertigo. What do you guys think? Of his experience and his response?

It’s hard to argue with anything he said. His Wolverine situation might be an edge case (and the Gary Friedrich lawsuit he alludes to was an even more extreme edge case), but it’s still a concrete example of how the trademark owners can and will step in if they think you’ve gone too far. And what constitutes “too far” is pretty much at their whim. Which ties in with what Wattles mentioned in the video: Ultimately, it’s up to the court to decide what “fair use” is, and most of us don’t have the resources to go ten rounds with Marvel/Disney’s legal team.

The message seems to be that, at best, you shouldn’t depend on fan art for your bread and butter, because anything you make from it can be snatched away at a moment’s notice.

You know J. Kevin, this is where I come out. But it is interesting to hear all the different sides.

When you boil it down, legally it just isn’t right to sell it. Period. Apart from that you’re just choosing to break the law but you don’t have a leg to stand on if someone does get upset.

It doesn’t help that the publishers have never expressed a clear policy about these things. I guess they don’t want to squash their own freelancers doing sketches, because they know it’s an important supplement to their income (plus it helps promote the books they are working on). But that then opens the door for every Tom, Dick, and Harriet to join in.

I wonder if it would be possible to set up some kind of licensing program…you pay Marvel an annual fee, and/or a percentage of sales, agree to certain restrictions (e.g., no porn), and you get an I.D. number that you put on every sketch that identifies it as “officially licensed”. Eh, it would probably be unenforceable.

Agreed J. Kevin Carrier! If such laws can be enforced with music (i.e.: paying a fee to play commercial-free music at a restaurant), companies should be able to create and enforce some kind of licensing program for artists.

I got an AA table for the first time at a con this year and despite having some fairly nice cheap prints, sales were really low. Most of the images I sold were drawn AT the con and were fanarts to boot. I want to point out that the people in the AA with the best sales were either selling cute merchandise, OR My Little Pony prints. OTL.

As someone who draws primarily original content, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, my artwork is good (but not amazing), and on the other, the series is based on is original, so it’s not very popular. In order to make money off of my original content (and not have to resort to selling MLP merch…), I need a baseline of popularity. Let’s be honest, it’s unlikely that I’m going to get any sort of popularity JUST producing original content. The amount of eyeballs I’m going to attract will just stay low for a very long time.

I started doing fanart this past week (ironic, eh?) in order to pull in eyeballs from some fans of series or works that were like mine. I really didn’t want to, but in such a competitive market it’s almost a necessary evil to get started. I know it’s not legal, but it’s better than trolling forums going, “Hey people! Read my comic! (link)”. At least, I think so. .____.;;;

I’ve built my fan base (online and at comic conventions) entirely on original content. Yup, I started out with a table full of just Dreamer comics and a banner and worked my way up.

If you’re just starting to have tables at conventions don’t take that first experience (or three) as the baseline. Shows run by different organizations, and in different locations, will have different attendees. Wizard shows, for examples, almost all my business is in pritns. The local Dallas show? Comics and comissions. From what I’ve heard of SPX or APE? Mostly original comics. Your convention attendance can gear you for an audience as much as anything and there are more and more shows geared to the indy creator over the fan crowds.

Thank you so much for posting this! When I first started doing cons and didn’t have much original contest I did do fan art prints with that same mentality of trying to get people over to the table. Over the past year or so now that I have plenty of original content I have stopped displaying fan art on my tables. I am not sure if this counts but I do have small prints of “classic” monsters. My take on Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, things like that that are public domain or more of concepts then say my take on Wolverine. People seem to like them. My work is horror related so it is a good way to talk about my comics.

A couple of things I do offer at my table are sketch cards. I have worked on official Marvel and DC sets so I have some of the extra “Artist Proof” cards for sale. While I guess technically it is fan art I am given permission by the company to do with what I please with those even if it means commissioning them or selling them.

Also I am part of a local draw blog that changes themes every week and most of the topics are of IP’s (Marvel, Star Wars, etc) and I will put those one of a kind pieces in a bin with other original pieces. Speaking of that I do offer commissions at my table and almost all of the time I get asked to draw a famous character. How do others handle commission requests if they are concerned about the legality of that?

Definitely an interesting topic and I have often wondered about the legalities of it especially seeing those tables int he alley that are just prints of other companies characters.

It’s “their creations” using unoriginal, already owned characters. If someone can draw Darth Vader or Sailor Moon so dArn beautifully, then they should probably be expending their energy into original characters and not profiting off something they essentially stole. Stop selling things that don’t belong to you.

Very educational video. Thanks for the post Lora! I’ve always been super curious about IP and fan art, and this answers some of these questions I’ve had for years! Cross-posted it on my tumblr (with a link back to this post), since it does seem like something people should be aware about.

This is a great post. As someone who draws parody and satire *of superheroes*, I would like to hear more about this. In particular I wonder which problems you found with one of the big two.

Sorry I ask a bit late, I wasn’t aware that you were posting again till recently.

What if you make illustrations or a manga about a celebrity (actor or singer) you like, is that illegal?

I’ve been suspicious of late, more and more so, and now I’ve bitten the bullet and went searching for straight answers. I got them, and I’m grateful.

I built my popularity on parody comics, using it, like so many artists (especially in countries like Australia, where the arts industry is worse than appalling.) to build my popularity…

However, the cost to my artistic integrity is too high. I draw far far more original things now, putting a lot of effort into my works, but all anyone asks for is the parody comic, and that was drawn rather terribly and rushed so I could get it out every week without having to concentrate too much on it.

It’s horribly disheartening. You draw a lot of fan art with the idea of getting know and it works… but that’s all you’re known for from that moment onwards. Drawing people in with original art is hard, I know, but it’s a hell of a lot more satisfying because those people appreciate you for YOUR work, not the work you can churn out that is a pale shadow of someone elses.

Without doing fanart, I would never have been able to start working as a proffessional.

And I bet this is the case for alot of current proffessionals (though certainly not all).

Prohibiting fanart from being made is like shooting yourself in the foot to prove that the gun is yours.

I’m not saying that it is okay to bend the rules and earn money on someone elses IP, what I am saying is that without having done fanart of certain IP’s, I would never had been contacted by the IP holders to do work for them. And without that, I would have rapidly been forced to stop doing art whatsoever, therefore not evolved into the artist I am today, and the artist I will be tomorrow.

Thank you for sharing this Lora! You’ve heard me go off on this before at conventions, but this is a -very- neat and tidy summary of it, and underscored proof from someone higher up at one of those companies (the laywer) about how it really works.

Sorry, but Conglomco Corporation has made their characters into public figures. Fan Art is simply an effect of this desired idolatry, and has been the fuel behind their multi-billion dollar film extravaganza. They have trained at least two or three generations of humans, primarily Americans, into subservient worship of their properties. Six Star Wars movies in six years? What, like 20+ Marvel movies lined up until 2029? Most people only buy those properties. Disney Princesses are like officially a drug, just look at any social network. So yeah, sure, do your own thing and get absolutely nowhere. Work harder on your own thing for pennies, like the cheap outsourced labor these Corporations are profiting off of. You’ll probably get a lot of ‘that’s cool, bro’ while glancing at whatever ‘official’ corporate crap they actually purchased. Or exploit the idolatry and draw ’em all without clothes on.

And this is coming from someone who has an entire original universe and storyline I’ve been working on but I’m too scared to develop it because (A) Conglomco is always known for ripping off other artists works with their army of lawyers, (B) realizing popularity isn’t so much created as it is manufactured by those who have financial backing to push their product the farthest and (C) becoming disheartened and cynical at what audiences actually like, want and will spend money on. I’m really really sick of doing fan art and pinup fan art, but the fear of being broke and homeless is the only thing pushing me.

Ah, last thing, and I promise I’m not a troll, but of course in terms of the courts, fan art is ‘illegal’. But that’s because the courts are there for those who have power. Of course the courts will rule in Conglomco’s favor. But at the end of the day it’s somebody doing actual physical labor/work for a product that is original and finding one person to compensate. Someone taking Amazing Fantasy #15 and reprinting it and saying he made it, uh yeah, that’s a criminal. But we’re talking about something like usually a $20-$100 artwork drawn by someone to help eat a meal or pay for their electric bill. Fanartists are simply today’s ‘starving artists’. And I think that, despite all my naysaying about corporations, they haven’t exactly tackled the matter. If it was like say Jay-Z doing fan art, throw the book at him, because he’s not a starving artist. But most of us, and pretty much most artists in general, are starving artists. Going after them would be like going after homeless people.

personally I love looking at and making fan art, but the fan art that I do make is for personal use, I use it to practice and to improve my own skills in art styles (because I’m rubbish at drawing hands and really I get a lot of benefit from tracing hands) but I would never sell it, and really I don’t think anyone should sell fan art, because the people that made the characters originally probably worked hard on it, and I would never sell anything that wasn’t an original character by me, but then again, fan art can also be “inspired by” and that’s just a whole fuzzy area because you can say “oh this was “spirited away” inspired” and it can look nothing like it and no one will get it, but its still fan art in a way, which is weird….

I get what a lot of people are saying and really, it is basically a black & white issue in terms of what is legal and not legal.

Where it gets super grey is when the major comic book companies themselves print massive amounts of blank sketch covers that are sold at conventions and comic book shops for the sole purpose of a fan getting his or her favorite artist to draw whatever they like on that blank sketch cover.

I suppose one could make the argument that an artist doesn’t have to accept payment for doing such work – or, they could offer to do the cover strictly for ” a tip” that just happens to be a certain amount. But then again, one could also make the argument that if the major comic book companies didn’t want people in artist alley drawing their characters, they wouldn’t print and produce material that encourages artists to do just that.

That’s when it stops becoming black and white and gets a whole lotta grey.

What trips me out is that the big two print blank covers for artists to do their own drawings. Maybe I don’t understand that situation well enough, but if they make blank comic covers for artist’s renderings it doesn’t seem like they could have much to say in court. What do I not understand about the blank covers?

This is an amazingly enlightening video and discussion. I have also fallen down the fan art hole as a regular Alley exhibitior in the last year and its hypnotic. A lot fun but this has well and truly shaken me out of the ignorance of ‘everyone seems to be doing it….’ I will be rethinking my approach to Artist Alley from now on, and returning to my original art with renewed vigor. Thanks guys.

So in conclusion…I canNOT sell a T-Shirt with characters that have similarities to the *cough*”Supernatural” characters *cough* sam *cough* and dean*cough cough* even if I don’t say it’s them? Even if I just have a chibi or anime version selling in a shop and there is nothing stating that they are the same characters?? No? Too risky?

If I create a commission for John Doe of Superman and sell it to him for $100, how is that illegal? How could such a “violation” possibly be pursued? Are the cops gonna raid his home, and rip the thing off his wall?

I mean, realistically, how could such a ban ever be enforced? Unless one of us posts it on his website, no one can ever know. It might be wise to have a few “Dr. NoName” in your portfolio, to use as sales tools. But once an individual approaches you for a personal commission, I think you (and he) are pretty dam safe.

Whenever I see fan art for sale online or on tables, I tend to flinch. By all means making fan art is fine to do and there are some amazing interpretations out there, but making a profit off of it seems to run into an ethics problem.

Here’s another thing to consider: let’s say you worked years, decades even, to create a story and characters that people love, and you might be rather protective of how or if its merchandised. How would you feel seeing your characters drawn by someone else, something they didn’t work years to craft, and they make a thick wad of cash off of it?

Fair-Use question? (from article “Is Fan Art Illegal?”)

Hello, I have a question regarding a “fair use” claim.

1) A writer (not me) created an “original” character, but that character exists in Warhammer 40K’ world. (For example, I can create a fairy named Shu, but she would exist in Tinkerbell’s world)

2) The writer commissioned an artist (not me) to draw the character.

3) The artist’s work was rejected from a forum because it is classified as “fan art”

4) The artist claimed that the artwork falls under “Fair Use” and insists that the artwork is NOT “fan art”, and NOT even “derivative”.

Thank you for your time; I really hope you can help shed some light on this issue.

I make ‘themed’ bracelets. Example: A video game that I play uses the colours: Black Red and White on their armor. Is that ok? I’ve used the Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman…etc, colours for making my bracelets as well. Will I get in trouble for that? Also, I’ve started making duct tape wallets. I’ve had several request from friends and family for popular characters to be on their wallets. They pay me a small amount for the time/materials it took to make it but is that ok for me to do?

As someone who has sold fan-art at cons before I agree it does leave a sort of slimey “should I be doing this?” feeling afterwards. But when it comes down to it – people go to Cons to buy things from franchises they already follow. Originals sell yes, but not nearly as much as the trademarked stuff. And that’s just people, if you’re not a big artist yet then people just aren’t interested in what you personally have to say. Of course some people are – but the ratio of people interested in artists vs. people interested in their favourite movie franchise leans hugely in the latter’s direction. This is my business, and I need to cater to what my cliental want.

I have never done much fanart but cut back recently anyway. I do use my best fanart work to help me gain some notice and to be a lean to at my table in case not much is sells, but that is one 1 single item….an my dragons usually sell a little….the last couple years were awful for the whole con so I havent touched artist alley in 2 yrs from the huge failures since I lost a lot of money….its not just not selling, its being away from your day job that would be paid you hourly that whole weekend…oh, the cut stings if you work min wage..I was so very broke (they got a gallery space anyway for cheaper, but art doesbt sell well there, however I don’t need to be present all day and can work if I want).

Regardless of who you are and how hard it is, what us so very irritating is when some people only make fanart and relies heavily on woman figures to sell themselves. Last time a girl did this and everyone else got treated like a nobody in comparison (most of us also girls)…she was abusing her looks with a seductive costume no less as well….so you can’t say none of them are shortcutting or cheap….she was only doing comic characters and nothing else. She wasn’t awful but certainly not the best artist either, it was her subject over all else that brought the boys flocking like a herd of cattle.

What confuses me is official contests run by T-shirt companies calling for fanart designs… like what? you can do that? Isn’t that even more illegal? The company makes money off your work too and could easily just stick to their own theme ideas…?

A very grey area indeed. On the one hand yes, this is not your IP, but on the other, some companies turn a blind eye/are ok with it as its promotion and doesn’t hurt their bottom line really. Not unless the artist was trying to earn super competitive dollars or trying to pass off the IP as their own original creation that wasn’t derivitive. Each case is different though really.

I know of some artists who have actually gotten paid gigs with the IP holders to become official artists because their fanart was found by the IP holder. I imagine the fact that those artists amased a following because of that art was a selling point to the company too.

I guess what it boils down to is personal choice/risk but also more importantly INTENTION if you choose to go down that path. Are you making that fanart because you have an emotional connection to that IP and want to connect with others through it? Or are you pumping it out to make a quick buck because it’s easier than creating and building your own IP? I think the latter is more problematic.

I have had fanart in the past on my table at cons, it was only rarely one piece among original stuff. And what I found was my original stuff was more popular. Fanart helped draw new people to my table, and we connected over the character/series, but eight times out of ten, after that experience they bought something original instead of the fanart.

It’s also probably only within the last 100ish years that the issue of fanart has become as big as it has in terms of profiting from it. All those religious and mythological paintings, frescos and mosiacs are fanart technically.

As always, this issue brings a good debate, but I think the big question is really, what is the intention in relation to creating and selling fanart. If it’s purely for profit thats where it becomes very problematic.

I hope with this tpp thing thats going on i will still be able to draw my favorite anime characters after this.

I personally want to start doing conventions, and I usually don’t use already made characters. I make my own original character, but I thought it would be nice to have a couples of known character pinups just for the heck of it . People go to “COMIC” conventions to admire just this , whether it be someone’s variation of cosplay or to just get a print of a known character from a artist they like. They are Artists for God sakes! Already a struggle career to launch, but if Big Wig companies start but picking on this, then what’s the point of comicon ? lets be honest, there are possibly bigger issues !

IF i draw fan art for my self and never post it on the internet is that fine

I’ve always been very confused by the fanart issue. What the lawyer says makes sense, but if it is so straight up illegal then why is it so widespread/visible and not enforced? Think about MAD Magazine, that book was basically one big fanart book where they made fun of and depicted every IP known to man. They have portrayals of specific actors, movies, etc. Do they get written permission from the legal team of every single property and actor before they create an issue? If so then I don’t see how they could ever get an issue to the stand. How do TV shows like MAD TV and SNL get away with spoofing other properties? The reason it is such a gray area is it appears almost random when property owners choose to enforce it.