Sadly, the fact is that fanart gets more viewers than your own works. It's a known fact. Some artist do it so they can get free publicity from people who don't notice their works until fanart is done. And I am not just talking about fanart of OCs, but also licensed characters. People say don't focus on the # of people you like your work, but they forgot that they too depend on their art to make a living, and how can you if not a lot of people know you?

Obviously more people are going to like something they’re familiar with than something new they’ve stumbled on

It’s one reason why my Once Upon a Calamity series is updating so slow

There’s not a lot of interest in it in comparison to my pony work