Meet Charlotte! Also known as ‘panda_138,’ she is a 27-year-old artist and fandom member from Wales.
Describe yourself in three words.
Creative. Socially awkward. Stubborn.
How long have you been drawing?
I guess, like most, I’ve been drawing since I was very young. I remember when I was 14, I had an amazing art teacher who really made me start to take more interest in the subject [of art] and really pushed me to start improving my skills. From there, I’ve been really lucky to study both fine art and 3D computer animation at university. Although, after damaging my wrist, it’s only recently that I’ve been able to start drawing again, after a nearly four-year break.
Tell us about your process. What’s involved? How much planning is involved with each piece, and how long does it usually take you to do a typical drawing?
Oh god, I guess it depends on the idea. For some pieces, once I have a clear picture in my head of what I want, I’ll usually just start a rough sketch in Photoshop and work on it until it looks right, and from there, I’ll outline and color. I can usually get these done in about two to three days. For other ideas, if I’m struggling with the poses, I’ll go back to pencil and paper and try to work it out till I’m happy enough to transpose that to digital, which can take up to a week. Other ideas just get to remain forever on my list collecting dust.
What do find most difficult to draw?
Feet and shoes. I usually try to avoid drawing those if I can get away with it.
How did you get involved in the Shadowhunters fandom?
I was nagged by my friend to read the books in 2010 and I’m so glad I did. I fell in love with the characters and the world. I remember getting excited when I learned it was being adapted into a movie and being hugely disappointed with how that turned out.
When I heard it was then being adapted into a TV series, I’ll admit to being hesitant, as I was worried it was going to be another let-down. I am now so happy that I started watching it from day one; the producers, screenwriters, and actors have done an amazing job.
Who is your favorite character to draw and why?
I really can’t choose between Magnus or Alec. I love getting the chance to draw them and I enjoy the challenge of trying to make them look more like Matt and Harry. I do, for some strange reason, find Magnus easier to draw; unlike Alec, who I can sometimes find a struggle. I do also enjoy drawing Simon and should probably stop being lazy and start on the ideas that I have.
What ships do you ship, and why you love them so much?
Malec mainly (obviously), but I do also enjoy Clace. I love TV Malec because the way in which it’s being portrayed makes it feel like a very pure relationship between two people. Matt and Harry’s portrayal of the characters feels very real and honest. It also makes a change that the characters are shown as a healthy LGTBQ+ couple.
What is your favorite episode of Shadowhunters and why?
My favorite episode is 2×18. I purposely avoided any spoilers for it and I’m so glad I did. Jamie Gorenberg wrote a phenomenal episode which Amanda Row just brought to life in the best way possible. Getting to see the Malec relationship develop in between seeing Magnus struggle with his responsibility was emotional to watch. I also loved that we finally got some Maia backstory and can’t wait for how Season 3 develops the Maia/Jordan plot further.
What has been the best part of your fandom experience so far?
Getting to talk to and know all the different members of the fandom has been amazing. As it had been so long since I had drawn anything [when I first became a fan], I was really nervous to start posting my art, but I’ve been blown away by how kind and supportive everyone is. It’s that more than anything that makes me want to keep drawing for the fandom.
What has been your favorite work of art you have created so far in this fandom?
This is actually kind of hard to answer. I usually end up only focusing on what I hate about a piece I’ve made. If I had to pick one, it would be the Malec IG proposal, just because it turned out exactly how I had pictured it in my mind.
Like what you see? You can follow Charlotte on Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.
