... I would like to present to you...
… ten clay characters...
… nine printed errors...
… eight adapted palettes…
… seven Schitt shoes…
… six movie dresses…
… five gold wings…
… four paper pests…
… three growing bathers…
… two storytellers...
… and a lazy day in space.
(Disclaimer: Another post with lots of Instagram images
embedded in them, so if they don't instantly load, give it a
second or refresh the page, that seems to have worked for me.)
second or refresh the page, that seems to have worked for me.)
A lot of this years posts have been heavily inspired or related to Fandom, about the shows I love, the characters who have imprinted on me and things that bring me joy. Which when I realised, I half thought about scrapping todays post entirely, and instead changing it up to just acknowledge illustrators I like, or find something more meaningful or high brow to post, but why? To prove that I’m not someone who watches too much television, or gets too immersed in webcomics? To prove that I’m a grown up and have grow up taste? That I’m embarrassed that I find enjoyment in something silly or considered childish? I will admit I am a scared person, I don’t push myself into situations or into doing things because I’m afraid, but does that mean I should hide something that brings me joy?
I dare you to find someone who isn’t part of a fandom, even in a minor sense, and one of the things I love as a fan is seeing the art that others have created. Because it’s an expression of joy and excitement, and brings you and other fans together, and I love that.
So, no shame, no back tracking, Day 11, our penultimate day, is about some of the fandoms I love and the wonderful way other artist have expressed their love for them… and we’re going by fandom so I can squeeze in even more wonderful stuff for some of them!
Bridgerton
(2020 - present)
Since I've already posted about certain shows and films I've enjoyed in 2022, lots of them are going to appear in this post too. It only seems fair, and some of them I have lots, some one or two that I just find really quite beautiful. This is the case for Bridgerton, both of the season two protagonists Anthony and Kate...
A look. A glance. A glimpse. A meeting of eyes. A flicker of their true feelings. Averting their eyes from one another. Bridgerton is full of looks or lust, love, wanting, longing and every emotion in between, but particularly between these two characters, and I love how illustrators Tasia M. S. and Costa Kassah, have captured those looks between them.
Link || Bridgerton (2020 - present) || Netflix || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes || Instagram || Twitter
Link || Tasia M. S. || Website || Instagram || Twitter || Pinterest || Art Station || Redbubble || Domestika
Link || Costa Daniel Kassab (CosmicGlow) || Website || IMDb || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Vimeo
Encanto
(2021)
Oh my god, Disney's Encanto (2021) was wonderful, and sweet, and moving and has made me cry every time I've watched it, while also leaving me with the songs going round and round in my head for days after. Lucky I wasn’t alone, for ages after the film was released and more and more people watching, my Instagram feed was full of people creating their own interpretation of the characters, in many wonderful ways…
A movie about multi-generational trauma, the need to please and serve within a demanding family, where your magical gifts are what not only the thing that makes you special, but needed and important. So the fact that Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz) lack any seems to make her less than everyone else, she'll never be enough, she’ll never be as special as her sisters, even when she's ever bit as important. It's a film that is heart-breaking because of how familiar that feeling is, but the message is that you don't need to be special to deserve to feel loved, safe, needed or wanted.
And people took it to heart, embracing the characters in this film, feeling a familiarity there and turning them into wonderful pieces of colourful and emotive artwork.
`
Link || Encanto (2021) || Disney+ || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || Spotify
Link || Marta Garcia Navarro (Margana_mgn) || Instagram || TikTok || Facebook || Etsy || Art Station || InPrnt
Fleabag
(2016 - 2019)
I was incredibly late on the Fleabag (2016 - 2019) bandwagon, despite being repeatedly told how good it was and how incredibly uncomfortable, yet funny, and beautifully written it was.
“I have a horrible feeling I am a greedy, perverted,
selfish, apathetic, cynical, depraved, morally bankrupt
woman who can’t even call herself a feminist.”
Created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who also played the titular character, Fleabag has no filter, seemingly few morals, and enough bluster to just about make it through the day by using her often inappropriate sense of humour and wit as a front, and by breaking the fourth wall to tell us exactly what she means, all while trying to cope with the anger and grief of losing her mother, then best friend and pushing away anyone who could potentially help. Fleabag is an incredible damaged character who is just trying to cope.
Fleabag talking to her best friend about losing her mum:
Fleabag: “I don’t know what to do with it.”
Boo: “With what?”
Fleabag: “With all the love I have for her. I don’t know where to put it now.”
Boo: “I’ll take it.”
[Fleabag laughs]
Boo: “No, I’m serious. It sounds lovely. I’ll have it.”
“I want someone to tell me what to wear every morning. I want someone
to tell me what to eat. What to like, what to hate, what to rage about, what
to listen to, what band to like, what to buy tickets for, what to joke about,
what not to joke about. I want someone to tell me what to believe in, who
to vote for, who to love and how to tell them.”
Fleabag's dark and damaged, but incredibly funny. You want to see what terrible thing she gets up too, because for all of it, those little moments of honesty are so relatable that you can't help but love her.
And then there's the Hot Priest.
The fan artwork for Fleabag heavily features the relationship between her and the Hot Priest (Andrew Scott). Appearing in her life in the second season, that relationship was everything, and sparks a change in our leading lady, so it's understandable why people focused on it. However, I particularly like character illustrations by Bev Johnson, of all those little facial expressions she has, those little looks she gives us, the ones that keep us as her confident. I'm currently re-watching and enjoying every depraved moment, particularly those fourth wall breaks, something when it’s featured in tv and film I always love.
It’s just a really beautifully written and thought out show, that I adore because as ridiculous and grotesque as it can be at times, it’s really poignant and speaks to that internal monologue in my head. One hundred percent recommend.
Link || Fleabag (2016 - 2019) || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || BBC iPlayer
Link || Butcher Billy || Website || Wikipedia || Instagram || Twitter || TikTok || Facebook || Pinterest || Tumblr || Behance || Redbubble
Link || Lalopi (Lalopi.jpg) || Instagram
Heartstopper
(2022 - present)
Heartstopper (2022) fan art appreciation time...
(Tori Spring, Charlie's sister is a character we don't get to spend that much time with but every moment is perfection. Tori is awesome.)
... I could have made an entire post just of Heartstopper fan art. I just love the way people have captured this adorable pair and how much they’ve embraced the story both as a webcomic, books and television series. There will be more in the future, especially as not only is season two probably going to be released in the next few months, but the webcomic is also returning soon, thus more content, more fan art and probably me posting more of it here!
Sorry… not sorry.
Link || Issy (Noodle_and_tea) || Website || Instagram || Twitter || TikTok || YouTube || Etsy || Ko-fi || Redbubble
Link || Krolestwo_krukow || Instagram
Link || Lix (iixieskz) || Instagram
Link || Nate Swineheart (Unlevelednate) || Website || IMDb || Instagram || Twitter || Tumblr || YouTube || Vimeo || Ko-fi || InPrint
High Fidelity
(2020)
High Fidelity (2020), the TV show was so perfect, yet short lived, I’ve not really found too much fan art of it, however this illustration by Abbie Hildago has stuck in my brain since I found it…
… they’ve perfectly captured that lackadaisical, borderline judgemental attitude that Rob (Zoe Kravitz) has, especially when standing at the counter of her record store, Championship Vinyl, with Cherise (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) and Simon (David H. Homes), creating top five lists, putting the world to rights, and judging the customers choice of record. That look, that attitude, is such an integral part of the story that’s shown in the book, the film and then the show, that an artist capturing that is also really important. For me, this illustration captures just that and really well.
Link || Aggie Hidalgo (_spotlessmind_) || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook
Hocus Pocus II
(2022)
I did not particularly enjoy Hocus Pocus II (2022), which made me really sad, because the original movie has always been one of my favourites and a halloween staple for my little sister and I. When the announcement came that they were doing a sequel nearly twenty years after it’s original release, I will admit I was sceptical that it would be good, and it wasn’t the worst, but it was unnecessary, and one of my biggest issues with it, which is some respects is completely stupid, was the film stock. Why does everything have to be so bright and clean? Some movies need that grittier old school film stock to add to the atmosphere, particularly what is essentially a comedy horror movie for kids.
So why is it here? Why highlight fan art for the sequel when I didn’t particularly enjoy it? Because I love the original Hocus Pocus (1993) and around the time of the sequels release, lots of people were posting their fan art for the original. This happens around Halloween anyway, but in amongst these illustrations was this one by Miranda Parkin, of the young Sanderson sisters brewing a spell over their cauldron, and I love that glow that’s emitting, shining up onto their faces and highlighting those iconic personalities of Winifred, Mary and Sarah, coming from these young actresses.
One thing I did enjoy from the sequel was the sisters being exposed to the lotions and potions of modern skincare routines, but my god did this whole movie need to be made a little grungier. Even for modern day it was way too clean and colourful. Got to love the Disneyfication - though, to be fair, it a Disney movie - but does everything need to look like it came straight out of kids show on the Disney Channel?
Bitter old biddy here, but I’ve been a fan of Hocus Pocus for most of my life, sue me if I wanted more! I still appreciate the fan art.
Link || Hocus Pocus II (2022) || Disney+ || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes || Instagram || Twitter
Link || Hocus Pocus (1993) || Disney+ || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes
Link || Miranda Parkin (Parkinart) || IMDb || Instagram || Twitter || TikTok || YouTube || Ko-fi || TeePublic
Link || Hocus Pocus (1993) || Disney+ || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes
Link || Miranda Parkin (Parkinart) || IMDb || Instagram || Twitter || TikTok || YouTube || Ko-fi || TeePublic
Labyrinth
(1986)
Another, literally life long love and fandom for me is Labyrinth (1986). I was barely one year old when this movie came out and hadn't even entered the world when it was being filmed, but my whole life later, I can and will watch this movie multiple times a year, and any time I see it on television I will leave it on because I never tire of it. It never gets old or stale, it’s never boring, it’s always beautiful and fascinating and it always makes me happy and inspired seeing the amazing work of Jim Henson. Honestly, if I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life, it would probably be Labyrinth, and I think I would be quite happy.
This Nathanna Érica illustration, of Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) and the Fireys, has lived rent free in my head since it was uploaded at the end of 2022. It reminds me of some of Mary Blair’s concept art for Disney in the 1940’s and 50’s, but Érica’s use of texture and colour to depict the Fireys is so beautiful and feathery, I adore this, am jealous of it and want a print of it so badly it’s kind of ridiculous.
I have a lot of Labyrinth fan art, saved across various social media sites, but this one, this one had to be on its own because of how wonderful I think it is.
Link || Nathanna Érica (theartofnathannaerica) || Website || IMDb || Instagram || Facebook || Designers.org || Tumblr || Behance || Etsy
Our Flag Means Death
(2022 - present)
There are some times when fan art has made me want to watch a show. Where time after time I log into Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter, and the illustrators and creators I follow are raving about a show, creating intriguing artwork, and making me annoyed that it’s not available for me to watch. This was the case for Our Flag Means Death (2022 - present) until the beginning of January 2023, when it began streaming in BBC iPlayer, however, I may have used nefarious ways to watch it in 2022, and it hadn’t stopped me gathering fan art in my saved images…
Okay I went a little nutty, but there is such a range of styles that I couldn't decide which illustrations to post in relation to gentleman pirate. If you haven’t come across Our Flag Means Death, it is about Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) a gentleman turned pirate, the crew of the Revenge and his relationship with the infamous (and very real) Edward Teach, a.ka. Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), and the funny, stupid and the borderline insane antics that they get up to in this romantic pirate comedy.
Weirdly not the only show I watched in 2022 about pirates in love, I also enjoyed Black Sails (2014 - 2017), but when it comes to fan art Our Flag has my heart.
Link || Our Flag Means Death (2022 - present) || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes || Instagram || Twitter || BBC iPlayer
Link || Sphinxmothra || Instagram || TikTok
Link || Sphinxmothra || Instagram || TikTok
Link || Emily Colby (emcolbs) || Instagram || Twitter || TikTok || YouTube || Ko-fi || Redbubble || InPrnt
Link || John Oakwood (kerkusa) || Instagram || Twitter || Tumblr || Etsy || Ko-fi || Redbubble || InPrint || Gumroad
Schitt's Creek
(2015 - 2020)
The boop. This illustration, by Costa Kassab (again) of Alexis Rose (Annie Murphy) booping Twyla (Sarah Levy) on the nose, perfectly captures a very sweet moment from the penultimate episode of a show I adore, and it encapsulates both of these characters really well. When I found this, it really made me happy.
So does Alexander Jackson’s portrait of the Rose family, but in a different way. Their comical, cariacture-ish illustration is definitely a depiction of the family at the start of their stay in Schitt’s Creek (2015 - 2020), the boop being at the end, their stance and attitudes definitely shifting from first season to last.
But the boop. ❤️
Link || Schitts Creek (2015 - 2020) || Netflix || IMDb || Wikipedia || RottenTomatoes || Instagram || Twitter
Stranger Things
(2016 - present)
Last year brought with it Stranger Things, Season 4 in two parts, and also the introduction of Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) to break my heart…
There is so much fan art out there for Stranger Things, every season my Instagram feed is overrun with it, which I love, but I think with season four the overarching storylines of Max (Sadie Sink) and Eddie, as well as the emotional rollercoaster in regards to Will (Noah Schnapp), have lead to some really good artwork and animation.
Obviously I really love the ones involving Eddie, I thought he was a great addition to the cast, and I like how many let him and Chrissy (Grace Van Dien) be happy, but I also have a really soft spot for the baby Billie, Eddie and Steven series by Fox a.k.a. wrecked_fuse, which delves into the fandoms obsession with this throuple and the complicated romance so many imagined them in.
This season also resulted in a lot of musical fan art and animation, but we’ll talk about them in the next post…
Link || Stranger Things (2016 - present) || Netflix || IMDb || Wikipedia || RottenTomatoes || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || YouTube
Link || Billy Butcher || Website || Wikipedia || Instagram || Twitter || TikTok || Facebook || Pinterest || Tumblr || Behance || Redbubble
Link || Emmi Hyvärinen (itsemimii) || Website || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || YouTube || Etsy
Link || Narcotics Nickie (nopeferatu) || Instagram
What We Do In The Shadows
(2019 - present)
Finishing with another series and fandom I’ve already mentioned my love for, What We Do In The Shadows (2019 - present), and one, very particular and favourite character…
It’s Doll Nadja of course! And this illustration by Sphinxmothra, is another that lives rent free in my head as the perfect rendering of Nadja and Doll Nadja (Natalia Demetriou).
Link || What We Do In The Shadow (2019 - present) || IMDb || Wikipedia || Rotten Tomatoes || Instagram || Twitter || Facebook || BBC iPlayer || Disney+
I love fan art. I love fandom. I love that artists take time out of their day to create them, just because they love a show or character so much that they have to express it through their art. Sharing their favourite moments, sometimes your favourite moments and those little looks that are so indicative of those characters that you love, fan artist find a way to capture a fandom in so many wonderful ways, whether it’s an illustration, painting, animation, music, sculpture, fanfiction or anything in between… it’s showing love.
Showing love for something is one of the most wonderful things in the world. Never be ashamed of it.
And that’s that. Day 11 done and duster, and we have one more day left. Part twelve, our musical interlude, and final day of this stupidly long and ill-named “12 days” of 2022, will be up soon…
Listening: Fans - Kings of Leon
No comments:
Post a Comment