Meet Lana! Known as ‘lanamakesart,’ they are a 21-year-old artist and fandom member from England.
Describe yourself in three words.
Passionate. Creative. Queer.
How long have you been drawing?
I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil. My dad was an artist and taught me the basics and I’ve been drawing ever since, and I studied art and design as part of my secondary and further education. It’s always been a big part of my life!
What kind of medium or equipment do you use?
For digital art, which I hugely prefer, I use my Wacom Bamboo One tablet with Paint Tool Sai and Photoshop. When it comes to traditional art, I’ll use my Promarkers with my Letraset paper, Prismacolor pencils, and a variety of Sharpies, other markers, and fine liners on thick sketchbook paper, and occasionally watercolor pencils and paint.
How did you get involved in the Shadowhunters fandom?
I started watching the show about halfway into Season 1 and since I didn’t know anyone amongst my friends who watched it, I started tweeting about it and re-blogging lots of stuff on Tumblr, so that was my first delve into the fandom. I’ve only recently gotten more directly involved by making art over the last few weeks, which people have been really kind and lovely about.
Who is your ultimate favorite character to draw and why?
Magnus Bane; no doubt about it! He’s stunning, has amazing hair and outfits, and his magic is always fun to depict. As well that though, he’s also genuinely my favorite character on the show and the one I personally identify with most, so I think that plays into how much fun I have drawing him. It’s just a joy to bring him to life over and over again in different pieces. He’s awesome and I love him a lot.
What ships do you ship, and why you love them so much?
Malec. I won’t even waste my breath with any others. Obviously, there’s the fact that this is such good representation, an interracial bi/gay, m/m couple, but it’s much deeper than that – it’s healthy representation. Both these men have their demons, the things that weigh them down and the things that try to divide them. Yet they are supportive, loving, committed, caring, and they fight for what’s right and what they believe. They bring out the best in each other, they encourage self-love and they only become stronger after each fight they face – and those fights are never for the sake of it; they’re about things that actually matter, things we can all relate to our own lives in some way. That’s what makes them beautiful and the best couple on the show by a long, long shot. They’re just two people in love trying to make sense of it all, and it’s amazing to see.
What has been your favorite episode of Shadowhunters?
So far, I’d have to say “Love Is a Devil” [2×08] stands out a lot. Alec being assertive with his mother about his relationship with Magnus; Magnus throwing Max the party and being wonderful with him; seeing the extent of Alec’s guilt over Jocelyn’s death; Magnus saving Alec from the ledge; and seeing Magnus put up his wards and fight Iris so effortlessly which really shows the ease and power of his magic. I also love “This World Inverted,” [1×10] purely for everyone’s alternate selves, especially Izzy, Magnus, and Alec, and obviously Church and Chairman Meow. I think I can safely say after 2×18 though, that’s gonna be my new favorite.
What has been the best part of your fandom experience so far?
A few things actually; I love how incredibly kind and accepting people are of my presence as a fanartist, I love seeing everyone else’s amazing work with art and also with well-written, novel-length fanfictions, and I especially love how no one can beat Matthew Daddario as biggest fan of Alec, Malec, and…cows?
Like what you see? You can follow Lana’s art on Twitter and Instagram.
