Welcome to a new edition of Danmei Dreams’s artist spotlight, featuring Pu. These spotlights highlight some of the incredible, creative, and cool artists making danmei fan art. The artists will share some of their favorite work, talk about their process and approach, and you can find out how to follow their work and support them. You can see previous editions of artist spotlights here.
Today we’ll be focusing on Pu, an incredible artist. Keep in mind that much of the content below is NSFW, so please only proceed if you are legally able to and consent to read about NSFW themes and view NSFW art.
Archived, I don’t post as much there as I do in bsky, and if i do post it, I censor or cut. My desire is that fandom exits there, so I try to invite them more to my active account at BSKY!) (NSFW/SFW)
Pu’s artwork captivates me with a simmering sense of yearning present in each image. There’s something visceral in these illustrations, a sense of need unrealized even in scenes where the characters seem to be getting everything they want. Pu’s sketchy, linear drawing style reinforces that sense of the unfinished, with an implication of motion even in a still work.
Take this fem Hua Cheng as an example—the long lines of her hair contrast with her arched back, while one leg seems to step forward even as her hands remain stationary behind and above her head. This isn’t an image of someone at rest or at peace, a perfect representation of Hua Cheng’s unfulfilled vows and hunger.
Some of my favorite scenes in danmei are about that delicious conflict of desire and possibility, so I was excited to commission Pu to illustrate two of those for Danmei Dreams: the first is a view inside the coffin scene in Heaven Official’s Blessing. I adore how well Pu captures the tension, danger, and tenderness of this scene through perspective and positioning.
The second is this moment when Xiao Chiye and Shen Zechuan are sparring in v.1 of Ballad of Sword and Wine: “His next punch struck at empty air, but as Shen Zechuan spun to evade the blow, Xiao Chiye’s hand brushed against a lock of inky hair that had fluttered up in the rain. The rain-soaked lock slipped reluctantly past Xiao Chiye’s fingertips, leaving them damp and tingling, as if wanting more.” The energy in this picture is so palpable, I can just feel the sexual tension wafting off of them here.
Meet Pu
Can you introduce yourself and share a little bit about your background as an artist?
Hie! I’m Pu! I’m a 28 years old brazilian who likes to sketch things and thinks too much. My main job is as a psychologist and I work with various non-profit organizations here in my place. I also have this love for expensive, difficult to understand books. I’m on a journey to become a psychoanalyst and this has a lot to do with my nsfw artworks hahaha. Mainly, I started this as a desire to express what I wanted to see in the fujoshi/fudanshi/fujin world online, and I got through a lot of good experiences because of it! I treat my art within a safe place of a hobby. I used to think I could excel in design just because I liked to draw, but no, I liked to draw specific things, and those things have to be aligned with my hobbies.
What was your introduction to danmei?
I have friends in São Paulo that were already into danmei. I always saw them here and there talking about this someone called “Binghe” and – I really wanted to get to understand what was all that about? But I had a fear of approaching it because I knew absolutely nothing about danmei. Like, they fly on swords? They cultivate and it’s not fruit and vegetables? I also knew very little about the history of China and all that, culture wise, is inside the danmei stories. Since I like to deep dive into all the things that I somehow get to like a lot, specially those that have to do with a different culture, I felt like I had to learn from a safe trustworthy place something among the line of Chinese Homosexuals 101 before reading. So it took me a lot of time to finally have the courage to do it!
How long have you been creating danmei fan art?
I am a sprout. I have been creating danmei art for approximately one year now.
Creative Process
What inspires you to create new works of art?
My NSFW artwork is directly linked to two desires that I have:
The first one is to understand how to portray bodies with a specific focus on them. I find erotic art heavily linked to this type of POV in drawing (Like the fact it portrays some eroticized piece of the body, be it the genitals or not), so I thought to myself, why not start drawing it? I would improve my art if I did, and so I started. I found out that many of the erotic artists out there improved their arts doing these, and it’s true!
The second reason is sublimation! Speaking about a little of psychoanalysis here, sublimating that desire for the art of eroticism into my drawings made me very satisfied. I love to go to events and places that celebrate the body and the art of BDSM, and I find that this is something that is much more liberating. Although I am not someone who is very much open to relationships or sex, I can always sublimate these erotic POVs into my art, and since then, I’ve been much more comfortable with sexual themes in life. It healed me, together with my therapy, gender-sexually wise. So be freaky, yes.
How do you choose which danmei scenes or characters to illustrate? Are there specific moments, themes, or characters that inspire you the most?
LONG HAIRED BOYS.
When I noticed that that was the main look for characters in ancient china themed stories, I just gorged myself on it. I remember going into places on the internet to understand and try to visualize, for example, the design for Hua Cheng (clothes and weapon wise) and it brought me, again, to the history of ancient China. It’s beautiful to understand every single detail. I remember this video I saw of a particular village that had this tradition of creating handmade beautiful jewelry, and how that was one of the inspirations for Hua Cheng. This is it! I love this type of detailed love for a design.
I love cunning characters, funny characters and sarcastic characters. But what gets my attention is the problematic ones. I felt very wary of two characters in my first months reading danmei. They must not be named (LOL). But its about the capacity of the writer to bring such character and make you consume it, think about it, suffer for it, create a narrative that brings “what if” to the place, not necessarily seeking a reason for the antagonist to be ‘rejected’ or to be the ‘loser’ of the story.
Characters, for example, as Hasen in Qiang Jin Jiu. He is not problematic at all, although it’s a story that portrays the ambiguity of war. When a writer makes me like (not necessarily agree with) a ‘’bad’’ character, I know the story is good. Maybe that comes with my profession? I couldn’t be a psychologist if I was so judgmental and aversive to themes that are uncomfortable, so perhaps that’s how I see these characters. (IT’S TOTALLY OK TO NOT LIKE A BADDIE!!!!)
Artistic Style
How would you describe your art style? Has it evolved since you started creating danmei fan art?
Sketchy, dirty, fluid. I’d stay it feels like you would feel when intoxicated by alcohol and you’re leaning on your favorite person. Like a warm hug and a tender smile?
And it did, considerably! I know it’s because of the boys with long hair – I just know it. 😉
Fandom and Community
How has the danmei fandom influenced your art? Do you feel a strong connection with the community?
The fandom was like any other fandom of popular things: There’s the enthusiasm of collaborating, creating and sharing, and there’s also the conflicts of opinion and all that is about narrative and OOC and etc. I find it absolutely normal, but I do think that the X type of algorithm and recent policies on blocking/muting helps to create a place that feeds on conflicts. That made me realize it was time to go to BSKY.
But regarding my art, danmei made me realise I knew nothing about hanfu, and that I had to search for the name of the belts and the reasons and symbols that go with these clothes. The good thing is that whenever I had to draw NSFW, I could just strip them bare! 😉
What is your favorite part about creating art for a danmei fan art?
It’s the long haired boys…
Have you received any particularly memorable feedback or reactions from fans of your art?
One time Severine (@sevnightmode) called me “the horny pencil guru”. I was never the same after that. Thank you sev (sending kisses).
What’s next for you as an artist? Do you have any upcoming projects or themes you’re excited to explore?
I’m always trying to improve my art in my own pacing. Every artist knows that we have this cycle of learning/adapting that sometimes feels like “What, I draw since childhood, how is it possible that I just forgot how to draw”? It literally feels like you can’t connect with whatever brain cells you cultivated throughout years, and it sucks. Art Blocks sucks. I don’t particularly like those trends of “draw everyday” no, there’s always a bad drawing day, just go home, go sleep. It isn’t nice and it’s very emotionally heavy.
I remember one day as I was drawing I told my friend “This is too right, the anatomy is too perfect, I feel like I will never do something like this in my life,” as this is luck mixed with experience. The truth is that you’re always learning, even when it looks somewhat strange. The fact for me though, it’s that I always try my best, and because of that, I know it’s worth it.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in danmei fan art or art in general?
Treat your art with respect. Love it, do not share with anyone in a self-deprecating way. Your art is an extension of yourself. If you treat it with respect and continue to love it and share without comparing it to others, you’ll soon realize that’s how everyone is doing, regardless of skill or pacing. It’s a mix of not giving up and realizing what you can bring to yourself and put into your art, what you can learn or express. It can be daily, it can be one in a year, it doesn’t matter.
We all know AI art is just – so cringe. In times such as these, when people think machines can make art, are you going to treat your art less than what it deserves? It’s art by humans, and everyone has a story and something to express, be it writing, drawing, painting, singing, etc. It’s exclusive!
Fun Questions
Do you have a favorite danmei couple that you enjoy drawing the most? Why?
Hualian… Bc Xie Lian is relatively simple, but has a nice face for blissed out expressions, and Hua cheng has that eyepatch and he looks darky -meow ;D
What’s your favorite danmei scene and why?
The fight in the snow in Qiang Jin Jiu, where Xiao Chiye and Hasen fight. I was eating my fingers with the tension, the pacing of the writing, the whole scene just– it just hit me at the beginning and grabbed me by my neck with the, “A figure that bore a striking resemblance to Xiao Fangxu stood in the doorway.”
It was the thrill. The way it was violent, but cold and silent. You may know the strength of someone based on how much they can lift or punch, or even by the size of the body, but I believe that nothing compares to the rage-filled disposition of someone who seeks revenge. Tit for Tat, no thinking.
The same thing applies to Calamity Xie Lian for me (which is one of my favorite characters). It’s the point that all the thinking, all the game and machinations of reason go away, and all that’s left is something primal and pure, not necessarily untainted. Something that you’re made with, but not of, but in that moment, it’s everything that’s on the surface and a cold climax in a narrative.
Appreciation
It was such a great experience collaborating with Pu on the commissions for Danmei Dreams as well as this post. It felt like they understood the subtexts of the scenes and the emotions I wanted to capture so well. If you love their art as much as I do, please consider supporting them via commissions, and following them on social media. I’ll be eagerly anticipating the art they share next.
Archived, I don’t post as much there as I do in bsky, and if i do post it, I censor or cut. My desire is that fandom exits there, so I try to invite them more to my active account at BSKY!) (NSFW/SFW)
