Spotlight on a Haunting Danmei Fan Artist: lexasz

Welcome to a new edition of Danmei Dreams’s artist spotlight, featuring lexasz!  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 and support them.  You can read previous editions of artist spotlights here.  Today we’ll be focusing on lexasz, whose beautiful images evoke melancholy and tenderness in equal measure.

Why I Love lexasz’s Art

Do you ever encounter an artist whose every work leaves you just a little bit changed?  lexasz is this kind of artist for me.  I started following her on bluesky amongst a large group of artists when I first started Danmei Dreams, and every time one of her works would cross my feed I would just stop and stare.

Part of it is that this art style is unique in many ways, bringing a different kind of beauty to the fandom. That’s part of why I reached out to lexasz and asked her if she wanted to be featured on the blog.  It’s not just novelty for novelty’s sake, though. The way in which lexasz uses her unique capture the tender emotional moments of her subjects is both heartbreaking and exquisitely beautiful all at once.

I find that for me, lexasz’s pieces always have a melancholy quality about them, but in the best possible way.  When we see Xie Lian and Hua Cheng together, it’s reflecting the tenderness of them amidst an otherwise lonely landscape.  In her compositions, style, and form, lexasz manages to convey the exquisite ache of their relationship.

Without further ado, let me introduce lexasz!

Meet lexasz

Can you introduce yourself and share a little bit about your background as an artist?

Hi, I’m lexasz, a freelance artist from Russia. Drawing has been my main passion since childhood, but I didn’t really start until I was 20. From a simple hobby, drawing has become my main job and a break from all worldly affairs at the same time.

What was your introduction to danmei?

I’ve heard about danmei for a long time — briefly, through conversations on social networks, discussions, quotes, fan art. However, I became really interested only after another edit on TikTok about Hua Cheng. There was so much beauty and mystery in him that I wanted to know who he was and where he came from. That same day, I watched TGCF donghua non-stop and immediately ordered several volumes so I could experience their story all the way through.

So far, I’m familiar with only a small part of the works of this genre, but every day the desire to discover more is only getting stronger.

Creative Process & Style

What inspires you to create new works of art?

Different music, movies, or atmospheric videos can inspire. At such moments, the thought flashes through my head that this particular fragment is about these characters and I need to portray it.

However, usually no one sees these sketches except me and they more often remain in the most remote bins.

How would you describe your art style?

I think I could describe it as a bit messy and chaotic.

A long time ago, I tried to draw a clear line and bring the drawing to purity, but it only upset and exhausted me. I found myself losing the joy of creativity in the pursuit of the “ideal.” Every time there was “i need to fix this” all over again, and there was no end to it.

Now I no longer pursue the goal of making the work perfect, without flaws. Small strokes, textures, irregularities — all this has become my passion. These details fill the work with breath and become something very personal.

Are there any particular artists or art movements that influence your work?

Among the artists I sincerely admire, I’m most impressed by the works of: 離城 (Twitter: @licheng199).

Their works seem to come to life on the screen. Each canvas is not just a drawing, but a real painting, saturated with mood, depth of color, expressive strokes. I literally pray for these works — they resonate so strongly in me.

What is your favorite part about creating danmei-inspired art?

I don’t really want to repeat myself, but… Long-haired men are my everything.

Future Plans & Advice

What’s next for you as an artist? Do you have any upcoming projects or themes you’re excited to explore?

The main thing for me right now is to continue developing and honing my skills. I strive not only to improve my technique, but also to better understand how to convey feelings, emotions, and inner peace through creativity.

I want my work to speak for me, so that in every image, line and color, people could feel emotions, the true meaning and the mood in which this work was made — without words, but very clearly. 

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in danmei fan art or art in general?

Don’t be afraid to create, dream, and try new things. Mistakes are part of every artist’s path. Every mistake is a step forward, an opportunity to get to know yourself deeper and do better next time.

It’s important not only to strive for results, but also to enjoy the process itself. Don’t force yourself into the framework and expectations of others — give yourself the freedom to be who you are, feel, experiment and go your own way. True inspiration is born in sincerity and joy, not in perfection.

Fun Questions

Do you have a favorite danmei couple that you enjoy drawing the most? Why?

That’s definitely Hualian — they were the beginning of my first real acquaintance with this genre. They immediately caught my heart. In their looks, in every dialogue, in the quiet moments of tenderness and pain, there was something alive, real, and touching to the point of goosebumps.

Their love, sincere and bright, full of pain and hope is exactly what I needed too. This is the type of connection that doesn’t require unnecessary words, the kind of interaction that’s felt even in silence. They’ve become more than just characters to me. 

They evoke emotions in me, inspire and give me that quiet comfort in a world of chaos.

What’s your favorite danmei scene and why?

I love a lot of scenes, each one leaves its mark in its own way, but one of those that has especially sunk into my soul is the scene in the Hualian coffin. Their awkward, tremulous interactions in the cramped space made my heart beat faster.

Outside of danmei, what other genres or fandoms do you enjoy creating art for?

I can’t say I belong to any particular fandom. Everything happens spontaneously: I see an interesting character on the Internet, and that’s it, they capture my attention completely. It’s like I’m falling into this image and catching hyperfixation on it.

Appreciation

lexasz is an incredible artist, and I’m sure you can tell as well as I can by looking at her art that she’s creating something truly special here.  Please make sure to follow her and keep up with her work, share your appreciation, and let her know how much of an impact she’s making in the danmei fan art community.

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