Do people prefer original works or fanart?

[GrooveOnABA]

I went to anime convention recently. I spoke to one of the artist's and asked her about her sales. She sold sonic and Pokemon stuff. But people never bought her original characters. What do you think makes someones own art stand out and why do you think people may prefer fan art? As an artist, I'm curious as to whether an original work would hold more value to a buyer or nice fanart.

 

[X y b e r - S k u ll]

I think for original works, based on what I see, the ones that really pop-off and do well are the ones that a very unique visually/visually striking. It's no secret that fan art tends to do better since it's based off of something already existing, and it's very simple to just ask for something like that but in a particular artists own style, rather than something unfamiliar to them.

Me personally; I like a bit of both, but I do find myself more curious about original ideas nowadays, especially if their genuinely interesting.

I guess ultimately it comes down to the old adage: You gotta give the people something they didn't know they wanted.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

The devil you know and all that... Its a safe bet with fanart, for both artist and consumer. Artist has access to an already existing community, and consumers get more of what they want.

Original works carry a big risk in on itself, which requires far more effort to get your foot on the door so to speak, at least if you want it to sell, and not just do it for the sake of it.

For me, I don't care either way, if its interesting it will catch my attention.

 

[contrail_]

It depends.
Touhou is one example where people prefer the fanart

 

[silada]

It is really difficult to put out something really original today, a lot of what we consume today is simply pastiche, a recollection of old styles reinterpreted and recycled. Original is always preferable, but as long as the fan art respects the original art style, no problem.

 

[saturnsh2x2]

As an artist who's been posting on socials for a while, I can say it's usually a mix. A lot of the stuff that blows up is usually fan art, though I have had drawings of my OCs reach up to 8k likes at one point.

Fan art tends to do better because there's already a built-in audience for it, but if a piece or design is striking enough, it'll gather attention regardless.

 

[Janunba88]

It depends. I can like non-fetish fanart just as much as the original art, and there are rare cases where I prefer the fanart because the original art doesn't have a style that appeals to me (but anything is better than AI-generated art).

 

[plaindillo]

I think fanart is tied to the interest of the property. Original works are tied to the interest in the art. People tend to gravitate to fanart because they care about whatever property its attached to, and like when artists portray characters they know in a way that's appealing.

On the other hand, you really have to be one to appreciate the creation of art to be into original works or ocs. When an original work is new to you, its really your pure appreciation of the art, not linked to any prior interest in the work. I think in that way, its a little harder to sell something unique rather than something marketable (and that can be said for a lot of art forms these days).

As for me, I'm an artist, and as much as I love fanart, I'm happy to support other artist's original works as much as i can, because I know what it is to want to create something youre passionate in, and have others support you for it. Plus, so much variety.

 

[Jdan-S]

Fanart. Familiarity sells.

When people search for art, they would look for what they're already interested in or what's currently trending. They would be less interested in characters that they know nothing about, regardless of the art style's quality.

NSFW is a similar yet different case. Rather than specific characters or series, people would be looking up their kinks. For example, if someone draws inflation or foot fetish art, then people would find that artwork because of the fetish and the art quality. The character's identity comes second, or may not even be relevant.

People would only begin paying attention to original characters if they become actual characters rather than just cool looking illustrations. If an original character has an interesting backstory, then people need to know about it in a way that keeps them engaged, such as through a webcomic series.

 

[ArchienineZXAdventArchienineZXAdvent's icon]

I like both but never thought about the rest of people.

 

[Need4Power]

I like looking at fanart online, but I would rather buy original works. Feels more special that way. There's tons of fanarts for everything nowadays, but an original (= innovative and good) work of some obscure artist is rarer to come by.

 

[PrismRed]

I think fanart is tied to the interest of the property. Original works are tied to the interest in the art. People tend to gravitate to fanart because they care about whatever property its attached to, and like when artists portray characters they know in a way that's appealing.

100% this, it's two completely different things, those who prefer fanart usually only has interest in a specific property regardless of the artist, and vice versa.

 

[GrooveOnABA]

I think fanart is tied to the interest of the property. Original works are tied to the interest in the art. People tend to gravitate to fanart because they care about whatever property its attached to, and like when artists portray characters they know in a way that's appealing.

On the other hand, you really have to be one to appreciate the creation of art to be into original works or ocs. When an original work is new to you, its really your pure appreciation of the art, not linked to any prior interest in the work. I think in that way, its a little harder to sell something unique rather than something marketable (and that can be said for a lot of art forms these days).

As for me, I'm an artist, and as much as I love fanart, I'm happy to support other artist's original works as much as i can, because I know what it is to want to create something youre passionate in, and have others support you for it. Plus, so much variety.

I bought some stuff from her. If I really really liked it I probs would of bought more. Her own ocs weren't bad, but as you all of been saying. It's easy to have emotional attachment to established stuff you already like. I felt bad because she said no one ever buys her ocs ;(

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 11:21 PM

I like looking at fanart online, but I would rather buy original works. Feels more special that way. There's tons of fanarts for everything nowadays, but an original (= innovative and good) work of some obscure artist is rarer to come by.

There wasn't much variety, it wasn't a very big convention.

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 11:23 PM

Fanart. Familiarity sells.

When people search for art, they would look for what they're already interested in or what's currently trending. They would be less interested in characters that they know nothing about, regardless of the art style's quality.

NSFW is a similar yet different case. Rather than specific characters or series, people would be looking up their kinks. For example, if someone draws inflation or foot fetish art, then people would find that artwork because of the fetish and the art quality. The character's identity comes second, or may not even be relevant.

People would only begin paying attention to original characters if they become actual characters rather than just cool looking illustrations. If an original character has an interesting backstory, then people need to know about it in a way that keeps them engaged, such as through a webcomic series.

That's true, maybe if she had a story behind them people would buy. I don't have any ocs other than one. But I imagine something similar already exists lol. I like to do fanart of both sonic and jirachi. But I don't have that sort of digital style. My stuff isn't as good lol

 

[Tsukishima]

I will never pretend I can speak for people, but I prefer original art 95% of the time compared to fanart. Fanart has the typical outcome of playing it too safe and thus can result in just becoming unrecognizable after a while. I prefer fanart on the sole exception that people take creative liberties on the character, either portraying someone as the embodiment of gloom when officially they're happiness incarnate, or doing a morbid, cute & creepy style (my favourite) of the character in question.

Original art has the benefit of being unrestrained from the license of being tied to a property and I think in a world of art, expression, personality and creativity is key.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

Like many, depends.

Some artist have some great style that highlight stuff from characters that are missing on the 'official' art, so I can prefer them.

 

[Michael Frank]

I think for original works, based on what I see, the ones that really pop-off and do well are the ones that a very unique visually/visually striking. It's no secret that fan art tends to do better since it's based off of something already existing, and it's very simple to just ask for something like that but in a particular artists own style, rather than something unfamiliar to them.

Basically me with the artstyle of Megaman Zero, damn some bosses in that game look stylish as fuck:

Rockman Zero Official Complete Works : CAPCOM : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Mega Man Zero outside of Japan.

archive.org

Just look at it, the guy made a robotic frog look stylish!

Me personally; I like a bit of both, but I do find myself more curious about original ideas nowadays, especially if their genuinely interesting.

Like when the japanese draw Transformers

Transformers Visual Works [トランスフォーマービジュアルワークス] : TOMY : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Transformers Visual Works

archive.org

They just nick it the right way. And make some improvements on the original designs.

I guess ultimately it comes down to the old adage: You gotta give the people something they didn't know they wanted.

Like how i want games to look more like the artwork:

Artworks Of Guilty Gear X 2000-2007, English translation + full scans : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

EDIT (June 2, '23): Included the image for step 20 of the Daisuke May illustration walkthrough twice. Archive will take a while to prepare the new file for...

archive.org

Imagine a hack n slash that tried to replicate the style of something like early Guilty Gear, i wish that more artists went full style on their games art direction nowadays, it can be done and in some cases was done already (look at something like Okami or Gungrave), but they need to put effort on it.

 

[X y b e r - S k u ll]

Basically me with the artstyle of Megaman Zero, damn some bosses in that game look stylish as fuck:

Rockman Zero Official Complete Works : CAPCOM : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Mega Man Zero outside of Japan.

archive.org

Just look at it, the guy made a robotic frog look stylish!

Like when the japanese draw Transformers

Transformers Visual Works [トランスフォーマービジュアルワークス] : TOMY : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

Transformers Visual Works

archive.org

They just nick it the right way. And make some improvements on the original designs.

Like how i want games to look more like the artwork:

Artworks Of Guilty Gear X 2000-2007, English translation + full scans : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

EDIT (June 2, '23): Included the image for step 20 of the Daisuke May illustration walkthrough twice. Archive will take a while to prepare the new file for...

archive.org

Imagine a hack n slash that tried to replicate the style of something like early Guilty Gear, i wish that more artists went full style on their games art direction nowadays, it can be done and in some cases was done already (look at something like Okami or Gungrave), but they need to put effort on it.

You’ve got good taste

 

[Morgan Katarn]

 

[Michael Frank]

You’ve got good taste

It's acquired with time and searching, but honestly i'm quite grateful for the invention of the Internet, if you know how to search you can find amazing art in various ways. Recently i found this OVA called Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still, it has some breathtaking animation.