Hey, dA, it is FAN ART WEEK!

Yes, that's right! ^projecteducate's schedule is moving right along, and this week is the Artist Relation's Department Fan Art Week! There will be a week long mini-contest, lots of get togethers in #FanArtdA (our official Fan Art Chat Room), collaborations and just some general goodness!

Hi, I'm your Fan Art Gallery Director...

If we haven't already met, we should, I'll introduce myself first! My name is Juli, and I am your humble Fan Art Gallery Director. This means that you can come to me with your fan art questions, your fan art Daily Deviation suggestions, suggestions, love, food, anything! I welcome each and every note I receive, and I am always honored to be able to help in anyway I can.

Technically speaking, what IS Fan Art?

By the guidelines and precedents set here at dA by staff and members, Fan Art is categorized as artwork created that is based on copyrighted material (such as movies, tv shows, books/novels, comics, cartoons, and even other artist's characters.)

Sometimes it really feels hard to define the line between what Fan Art is or isn't and what really makes a fan art piece, but if you go by the above, and then think about what it ISN'T then you can get a solid idea.

I often hear people say things like, 'Juli, what if my piece is inspired by a book or movie [ etc ]?' If you've taken a concept and turned it into something completely original without the usage of the copyrighted material (such as characters) and made it your own, it is not Fan Art.

Here are some informational articles posted previously regarding Fan Art on deviantART:

- Fan Art & Celebrities: [link]
- The Overlooked Art: Fanfiction: [link]
- Fan Fiction & Literature: [link]

And the last two volumes of the Fan Art Community Newsletter:
#4 : [link]
#3 : [link]

My opinion on Fan Art?

Fan art, to me, is something that is so special and dynamic that often times people don't know how to react to it. How frequently I see people feeling ashamed for posting it or putting it into a different gallery other than fan art because they somehow feel it lessens the quality and love they put into it by placing it under Fan Art.

There is a stigma surrounding Fan Art, especially here on deviantART --sometimes it feels like people, both fan artists and the people who judge the fan artists, have forgotten what Fan Art really means. I counter no judgement or opinions, because all have some validity, but it is important to express the way I approach my department.

Fan Art is a way to show appreciation for someone else's creation. It is a way to express your love for your favorite book that you grew up reading, or a way to draw your favorite video game character in a kick-ass new setting that goes well beyond the original creator's universe. You are passionate about Fan Art because you know it is one of the deepest ways to pay tribute to something that has inspired you.

The root of it all is love, gratitude, and the desire to create more than what was originally handed to you and that is what we all should be passionate about when we create fan art, fan fiction and when we are browsing deviantART's galleries stocked full of beautiful fanwork.

Fan Art Week!

All of that being said, Fan Art Week will be about learning to appreciate the works which we create from and the people who have created them for us to enjoy. It will be about the excitement and gratitude that should go behind each and every piece, even if you are drawing for practice or popularity. There are a lot of technical aspects we could learn about legalities, but the bigger picture this week is the passion behind fan art and that is what we will focus on.

Fan Art Week Activities

A lot of our activities will be held in the Official Fan Art channel, #FanArtdA! Here is the chat schedule:

Tuesday - Intro Chat, 8pm - 9pm EST
-This is a time to join in and ask questions, hang out, familiarize themselves with the Fan Art Gallery Director and make new friends! Bring your questions, suggestions, and most importantly, your fan art!

Wednesday - Fan Art Collaborations, 8pm - 9pm EST
-Join in and pair up with someone to collaborate on an artwork or fan fiction (or both)! Random and funny twists will make this exciting an unexpected! The top collaborators will receive a prize!

Thursday
Villains in Books, Film/TV, Comics and Games Trivia! 4pm - 5pm EST
- Join in with =joannastar & =bewarethepossums as they bring you these fantastic rounds of trivia!


- Fan Art Beach Party, 8pm - 9pm EST
- Bring your beach towels and surf boards, as we kick off our beach themed party! Random trivia from Books & Comics with prizes! Share your fan art and get positive feedback. Scavenger hunt games! Quickfire art & fan fiction assignments!

Friday - Fan Art Week Farewell Party, 8pm - 9pm EST
-Random trivia from Movies, TV Shows & Cartoons with prizes! Share your fan art and get positive feedback. Scavenger hunt games! Quickfire art & fan fiction assignments!



Other Non-chat Activities:
- Fan Art in Style Contest
- Spot that Character Contest!* (TBA)
- Community of Fan Art Love: [link]
An ongoing project for the fan art department! Why don't you, in the spirit of Fan Art week, join in?
- Notable Fan Artist News Articles
- Fan Art Favorites News Articles
- Many more things!

_{* = new addition not reflected on ^projecteducate's journal currently.}

How you can join in!

In addition to joining the festivities, you can show your Fan Art pride by doing any of the following:

- Create fan art!
- Comment on fan art!
- Make a journal feature of your favorite fandom fan art!
- Feature some underappreciated fan artists in a journal or news article!
- Get creative and hold your own collaborations or competitions!

If you any of the last three, send a note my way ( to ^ArtisticAunJuli ) so I can include your journal/article and your name in a contributor's section!

Sport our stamps!

<sub>(many thanks to =kasumichan2003 for this stamp!)


(many thanks to =bewarethepossums for this stamp!)</sub>

So without further ado, Fan Art Week has now officially begun!