I had to think back really hard to when I got my first fanart.... It was years ago on the work "Nice To Meet You" I think? Geeze, super long ago. And someone suddenly tossed a fanart of a turning point scene and I recall being a giggling dork and super happy for like two weeks. It was awesome!
I look forward to when I get more someday, but lately, it's just been "make art friends, do trades or bribe/commission them into drawing your babies".
I do miss that fanart rush - mostly that it means someone else likes my characters enough to just be a fan.