Fanart vs. original art

[Mane]

For the majority of my "artistic career" on the net I've been doing nothing but fan art , images and fan comics alike . Almost every fandom I've been part of has inspired me to do fan work for it, and I have always enjoyed doing that immensely. But I've always told myself that the moment I'll start down the path of original work I will stay there and stop with the fan art. But it's not an easy thing to do. Fan art is my way of expressing the love and appreciation I have for a certain story and I really like sharing that with others from that community. Honestly, if fan artist would be a viable option as an official profession I wouldn't think twice about choosing it. But there's this little thing concerning the legality of it all. You see, while I do think there is an unspoken consent from the majority of the copyright owners ( I really believe you can only benefit from having fans create and share things based on your work) it's not something you're technically allowed to do. Or at least profit from it. I do not wish to make money off of it, but I know that fan art tends to get you more attention, which might lead people to go and check out your original work.

Long story short, if I get money (through support and such) from people that found me through fan art, can that get me in trouble? Is it safer to stay away from fan art altogether ?

[somvi]

In reality copyright holders rarely take action against fan artists but still, (copyright or not) you would be profiting off another persons hard work. I guess it depends if this actually bothers you or not.

So you're known as a "fan artist" - that alone won't get you into trouble unless you're selling truckloads of bootleg merch and you happen to live in a country with strict copyright laws. Maybe you get tips and donations for what you do but, as long as your donation goals/paywalls aren't along the lines of "$100 and I draw a didney princess", there's nothing to worry about. Probably.

[Mane]

Profiting off another's hard word does bother me, and I never planned on making money with fan art. And I definitely won't set it as a goal or anything.

Don't other well established artists, who do official work for publishing houses/studios and stuff also draw fan art from time to time ?

[AnnaLandin]

It's one of those inevitable things on the internet that you will get more attention for fanart - it's just the nature of the thing. I have a bunch of Tumblr-followers who found me through fanart, and now stick around for my original art (I've always drawn both, with a heavier emphasis on original art) - and some of them do support me on Patreon and have occasionally bought stuff via my Gumroad-store.

But that doesn't mean I've made money on fanart, because I don't sell fanart via Gumroad/Patreon - I use those to sell and support my original art - all of the rewards and all of the goals are about and for my original work. The fanart I do just for fun, and post for free.

I think that as long as you aren't directly selling fanart, you're fine.

[shazzbaa]

I don't think Fanart vs Original has to be an either/or. :") Lots of established artists draw fanart. It's a great way to get involved in communities and not just yell about your own stuff all the time! Plus, lots of artists GET paying work with companies based on their fanart. Homestuck, Undertale, and My Little Pony all come to mind as works where a lot of Officially Licensed Artists got the job after the creators saw their fanwork and liked it!
It's not like you aren't allowed to get paid if your hands don't REMAIN PURE AND UNTAINTED BY FANWORK. You just can't sell someone else's stuff.

Long story short, if I get money (through support and such) from people that found me through fan art, can that get me in trouble?

I TOTALLY GET WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM but imagine like....making this case. xD

"Look at this copyright infringement!!"
"This... this looks like people giving an artist money in exchange for their original work?"
"Okay, but see, every evening, they draw a piece of fanart for free."
"um, okay."
"So people MIGHT be finding them through that fanart! Some of their supporters MIGHT LIKE their fanart!!"
"uh"
"THEY MIGHT BE BENEFITTING INDIRECTLY FROM OUR IP!!"

I think you'll be okay

[Doubtcent]

Maybe I should get into fan-art... All I do is original stuffs. 0-0
Then again, I always like to create original concepts and stuff, so maybe I should avoid it unless I'm just having fun. Whatever.
Never mind.

[kkitty]

I know that most people are okay with it as long as you're just doing commissions. It only hurts a company when it becomes mass factory production.

[Mane]

so maybe I should avoid it unless I'm just having fun.

Fun is the key here. I once tried to do fan art as a present for a friend and it was from a story I personally did not follow or enjoy, and it was kind off a chore. Unless you want to draw fan art/comics for a series you like I don't think one should.

[Kayke]

I don't have moral problems making money off of fanart if it's just a little money (like print sales at a comic con or art show) and the thing the fanart is of is a big property. I do fanart from time to time of shows/comics/movies/games I like and sometimes sell the prints, but I wouldn't sell prints of something indie like another webcomic or Undertale or something.

I know this isn't really the question you were asking, but it's totally fine to keep doing fanart after you start primarily doing original art. A lot of the professional artists I know still do fanart in their spare time.

[somvi]

Don't other well established artists, who do official work for publishing houses/studios and stuff also draw fan art from time to time ?

Yep established artists do as well but at that level there's more risk involved and a better understanding of what's really off limits. Like seeing an artist sell prints of Marvel's X-Men while employed at DC would probably raise a bunch of legal issues and is obviously unprofessional. Then again, their own art probably gets more attention so it doesn't make much sense to spend much effort on other things.

An example of fan art I like is Takato Yamamoto and Yoji Shinkawa's Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2:

Yamamoto (fan art version)

Shinkawa (original designer)

Both are top level illustrators but I believe a simple agreement was made between the two artists in this case. Apart from that, the two interpretations are completely different but you can recognize who did what on the style alone.

I hope you do find a way to make fan art without worrying about copyright monsters and at the same time I hope your own style is recognizable regardless of the character you're drawing