fan art
Unauthorized tribute drawings
Fan art is artwork created by admirers of existing media—films, video games, comics, anime—depicting characters, settings, or scenes from the source material.
It ranges from amateur sketches to polished professional-quality pieces, shared widely online in fan communities.
Fan art occupies a legal gray zone, technically unauthorized but generally tolerated by copyright holders: She posts her fan art on social media.
Unofficial stories using existing characters
- cosplayDressing as media characters
- fanworksUnofficial creative derivatives
- conventionsAccepted social practices
- headcanonUnconfirmed fan-created backstory
shipping · fanbase · otaku · fanzine · fanpage · fanvids · roleplay · geekdom
Picture explaining something
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- drawingMarks forming a picture
- paintingPigment on canvas
- portraitArtistic depiction of someone
poster · wallpaper · design · composition · style · aesthetic · rendering · coloring
Expression of deep respect
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- admirationDeep respect felt
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
devotion · reverence · acknowledgment · respect · recognition · salute · reimagining · interpretation
New understanding of something
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- parodySatirical imitation
- pasticheImitative artistic tribute
- alternate universeHypothetical divergent reality
fusion · remix · stylization · what-if
fanfic
Unofficial stories using existing characters
- cosplayDressing as media characters
- fanworksUnofficial creative derivatives
- conventionsAccepted social practices
headcanon · shipping · fanbase · otaku · fanzine · fanpage · fanvids · roleplay · geekdom · subculture
illustration
Picture explaining something
portrait · poster · wallpaper · design · composition · style · aesthetic · rendering · coloring · shading
homage
Expression of deep respect
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- admirationDeep respect felt
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
celebration · devotion · reverence · acknowledgment · respect · recognition · salute · reimagining · interpretation · love letter
reinterpretation
New understanding of something
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- parodySatirical imitation
- pasticheImitative artistic tribute
alternate universe · fusion · remix · stylization · what-if
- fan eventsmeet and greets, Comic-Con, conventions, meet-and-greet, anime convention
- passion projectsblog, podcast, novel writing, DIY projects, indie film
- Wall Postersmusic posters, band posters, concert posters, tour posters, signed posters
- submissionssubmit, query letter, application, entry, request
- character artcharacter design, character sheet, reference sheet, turnaround, pose
- Stan Culturestan, fandom, stan accounts, fancams, BTS Army
fan artstudio art
Practical visual arts discipline
promotional art · licensed merchandise · concept art · cover art · movie poster
art, fan, artist, fans, artistic, artistry, artwork, artisan, fanned