Interview with the Fanpire Series 1: Two Benartists, Cécile and Pei, discuss Benedict, fan art and fandom

Name : Cécile Pellerin
Age : 16 years old
Country : France

Self-taught artist.

Twitter : @HippoCecile
Facebook : Cécile P. Dessin
Society6 : Cécile Pellerin

What acting role convinced you that Benedict Cumberbatch was best?

I discovered Benedict in Sherlock. I didn’t know him before. So I was pretty impressed by his acting. I’d never seen an actor like him before. So I started to like him a lot. Then I saw Hawking and that was the moment I said: “wow he’s gifted.”

What’s your favorite Benedict role?

Well, without doubt, Sherlock. Because the chemistry Sherlock has with John makes his character very interesting and I got attached to him easily.

What’s your least favorite Benedict role?

I’ve never thought of the least favourite but probably Paul Marshall from Atonement. Even if I love the film. I will never like him ahah !

Pick your favorite Benedict quote

“When it comes to clothes, working with Martin Freeman has been an education.” His wardrobe is unique, you can’t deny it !

About fan art

In one sentence describe your job/role

With the only skills I have, I make my days more beautiful spending time drawing actors and people seem to like it.

You’re an artist? Oils or acrylic?

Neither of the two ! I use graphite pencils, coloured pencils or watercolour painting. But I think I’ll try someday. Acrylics are good but it’s very hard to make all the different colours.

Is there an artwork that you are most proud of? 

Actually there are two. The first is a portrait of a homeless man based on a photo by Lee Jeffries. I made this drawing on black paper with a white pencil and a white pen. I’m proud of this one because it gives the emotions I wanted it to give and because it was the first portrait I did on black paper. The second portrait is on black paper too and it’s Benedict. This time it was the first portrait I did with coloured pencils. And James Rhodes sent it to Benedict so yes I feel proud !

How did you start making art?

I started when I was 9, I don’t know why. Maybe because I wanted to be less bored and shooting the wall with a gun wasn’t a solution to me ! Ahah ! Now I make art because it makes me happy, it makes the “all same days” a bit different.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done ?

Once I took the crazy decision to draw Benedict’s eyes on a huge cardboard. Well, that was my worst and best decision of my life. It was a long work with all the details but when I posted WIP on Twitter I saw that people were very excited about it so it gave me strenght in a way.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to do what you do?

You need patience, passion and practice to make realism or hyperrealism. It’s the rule of the three P.

How do you know when an artwork is finished?

Well, when I sign it ! Ahah 😉 An artwork is finished when everything you’ve pictured in your head is on the paper.

What is your most important artist tool? Is there something you can’t live without?

I can’t live without my rubber. I do lots of mistakes!

 About the fandom

 

If you could change just one thing about the fandom with the wave of a magic wand, what would it be?

I don’t know, we’re cool, aren’t we ? I don’t think we need to change something.

Anything to say to your followers/fans?

I’d like to say thank you to them. I don’t think they know how much they’re important to me. On my page and on Twitter they’re always there to comment, to share, to fav and RT. Every artist needs an audience, a “fandom” to support him/her otherwise he/she couldn’t live.

Name : Vereen Tjoeng but you can call me Pei 😀
Age : 30
Country : Indonesia
Also known as : Cumbermuffin / Cumbercupcakes

Cake baker and decorator

Twitter : @vereentjoeng
Website : cumberclay.com

About Benedict

 

What acting role convinced you that Benedict Cumberbatch was best?

Frankenstein

What’s your favorite Benedict role?

Khan

What’s your least favorite Benedict role?

None 😀

About fan art

 

In one sentence describe your job/role

Cumbercollective /cake baker and decorator.

Is there an artwork that you are most proud of? 

Sherlock-John-Mary wedding cake

How did you start making art?/Why do you make art?

I started to make Ben cupcakes a year ago for his birthday project / because I love doing it and he never stops to inspire me 😀

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done ?

The wedding cake, I spent a lot of time to decorate it 😀

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to do what you do?

You need to have the passion and lots of practice 😀

 About the fandom

 

Did you have any other online presence or experience?

I run my cake instagram account: delightfullycake

Why did you choose to write/express in yourselves in the Benedict Cumberbatch fandom? I’m sure there are other actors who’s work you’ve admired before, right?

I get bored easily with other fandom, but this fandom is very fun and addictive, just like Ben hehehe.. and thanks to this fandom, I meet lots of new friends, I read more books, I watch more movies, I listen to more radioshows/audiobooks, I get involved in charity, improve my English and basically I learn a lot from it.

Are there misconceptions that people have about this fandom, or yourself? 

People still think cumber collective as screaming teenagers who only care about Ben’s looks, I think we are more than that. This fandom is full of intelligent, funny, inspirational ladies, I learned a lot and I’m grateful to know some of them 😀

For those interested in exploring the Sherlock/Benedict Cumberbatch fandom where would you tell them to start?

Watch Sherlock and his interviews. (because he is brilliant actor and Ben being himself is the best thing ever.)