Complete Guide to Commissioning D&D Character Art (2025 Timeline + Brief Template)

Heading into the holiday season. If you want character art for the holidays or your January campaign, you need to start now.

Most artists close their books by mid-November for the year. The good ones are already booking into December. And if you're thinking "I'll just wait until January," know that everyone else has the same idea – making Q1 even more competitive than the holidays.

This guide covers everything: timeline planning, pricing expectations, ownership rights, brief writing, and most importantly – how to actually get your commission done before 2026.

Part 1: Understanding the D&D Character Art Commission Process

What Actually Happens When You Commission

1. Initial Contact (Day 1-3): You reach out, artist responds with availability
2. Quote & Agreement (Day 3-5): Price confirmed, terms agreed
3. Payment (Day 5-7): Usually 50-100% upfront
4. Brief Review (Day 7-10): Artist reviews your description, asks questions
5. Creation Phase (Day 10-25): Artist works on your piece
6. First Delivery (Day 25-30): You see initial version
7. Revision Phase (Day 30-40): Changes and adjustments
8. Final Delivery (Day 40-45): High-res files delivered

That's 6-8 weeks total in ideal conditions. During Q4, add 2-3 weeks.

Types of D&D Character Art Commissions

Part 2: Pricing and Budget Planning

What Determines Character Art Pricing

• Artist experience: Hobbyist vs. professional
• Complexity: Tiefling warlock costs more than human fighter
• Style: Realistic takes longer than cartoon
• Deadline: Rush fees add 25-50%
• Commercial rights: Personal use vs. streaming/publishing
• Revisions: Unlimited vs. 2-3 rounds

Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

• PayPal fees: 3-5% for international artists
• Currency conversion: Another 2-3%
• Extra revisions: $10-30 per change after included rounds
• File formats: Some charge for PSD or vector files
• Commercial license: $50-200 extra if you stream/monetize
• Rush delivery: 25-50% premium for faster turnaround

Part 3: Ownership Rights (Critical for Streamers/Content Creators)

What You Actually Own When You Commission Art

Unless explicitly stated otherwise:

• You own: Personal use rights (profile pics, home game, personal printing)
• You DON'T own: Copyright, commercial rights, reproduction rights
• Artist retains: Right to display in portfolio, sell prints, use for promotion

Rights You Should Clarify Before Commissioning

Use Case	Rights Needed	Typical Extra Cost
Home game only	Personal use	Included
Discord/Roll20 avatar	Personal use	Included
Twitch streaming	Commercial use	+$50-100
YouTube thumbnails	Commercial use	+$50-100
Selling merchandise	Full commercial	+$200-500
Publishing adventures	Publishing rights	+$300-1000

Part 4: Writing the Perfect Character Art Brief

The 5-Section Brief That Gets Results

Section 1: Core Identity (50 words)

• Name, race, class, subclass
• Age and gender presentation
• One defining personality trait
• Example: "Kira, female hill dwarf Life cleric of Moradin, 127 years old (middle-aged for dwarf). Motherly battlefield medic who's seen too much war."

Section 2: Physical Description (100 words)

• Build (athletic, stocky, lean)
• Skin tone (specific: copper, porcelain, ebony)
• Hair (color, length, style, texture)
• Eyes (color, shape, expression)
• Distinguishing features (scars, tattoos, marks)

Section 3: Equipment & Clothing (75 words)

• Armor type and condition
• Primary weapon
• Notable accessories
• Color preferences

Section 4: Pose & Expression (50 words)

• Facial expression for this piece
• Body language
• Action or resting pose

Section 5: References & Avoid List (25 words)

• 3 max reference images
• What you DON'T want

Part 5: Finding and Vetting Artists

Where to Find D&D Character Artists

• Direct artist websites: Best for guarantees and protection
• ArtStation: Professional quality, higher prices
• Twitter #DnDart: Wide variety, check reputation carefully
• Reddit r/characterdrawing: Budget-friendly, quality varies
• Discord servers: Community-vetted options

5 Questions to Ask Before Commissioning

1. "Can you show me D&D-specific work you've done?"
2. "What's your current queue and realistic delivery date?"
3. "What happens if I need changes after the included revisions?"
4. "Do you provide WIP updates?"
5. "What's your policy if I'm not satisfied with the final piece?"

Part 6: Q4 2025 Action Plan

If You Need Art for the Holidays:

By October 1: Start researching artists
By October 7: Have brief prepared
By October 14: Commission placed
By November 15: First version received
By December 1: Final art in hand

If You Need Art for January Campaign:

By October 15: Begin artist search
By November 1: Narrow to top 3 choices
By November 15: Commission booked
By December 15: WIP update received
By January 5: Final delivery

Part 7: Gift Commissioning Guide

Commissioning Art as a Gift: Special Considerations

Giving character art as a holiday gift requires extra planning:

• Information gathering: Need details without spoiling surprise
• Revision challenges: Can't ask recipient for feedback
• Delivery format: Digital vs. printed considerations
• Backup plan: Gift certificate if art isn't ready

How to Secretly Get Character Details

• Ask the party: "I need everyone's character description for my DM notes"
• Check their D&D Beyond or Roll20 profile
• Have another player casually ask about their character
• Look for their Reddit posts about the character
• Commission a "party portrait" to get everyone's details

Final Q4 Commission Tips

• Book now, brief later: Secure your slot even if character details aren't final
• Consider digital delivery: Shipping physical prints adds 2+ weeks in Q4
• Have a backup plan: Screenshot of WIP + "final coming soon" works as a gift
• Communicate holidays: Tell artists your hard deadline upfront
• Pay immediately: Many artists don't start until payment clears

The difference between getting your perfect character art and settling for something generic is starting now. Q4 waits for no one, and neither do the best artists' schedules.