
Direct Artist vs. Marketplace Commissions for D&D Character Art: The Real Differences
Every D&D player faces the same choice: commission directly from an artist's website or go through a marketplace like Etsy or ArtStation?
The marketplace feels safer. There's buyer protection, reviews, and that familiar checkout process. But direct commissions promise better communication, faster delivery, and often better prices.
So which actually delivers? I've commissioned through both routes multiple times, tracking everything from first contact to final delivery. Here's what actually happens with each option.
The Quick Comparison
Factor | Direct Artist | Marketplace | Winner |
---|---|---|---|
Average Price | $100-200 | $120-240 (after fees) | Direct Artist WINNER |
Turnaround Time | 2-3 weeks | 3-5 weeks | Direct Artist WINNER |
Payment Protection | Varies | Built-in | Marketplace WINNER |
Communication | Direct, fast | Through platform, delayed | Direct Artist WINNER |
Revisions | Flexible | Strictly limited | Direct Artist WINNER |
Quality Control | Artist reputation | Reviews + platform | Tie |
Pricing: The Hidden Marketplace Tax
Direct Artist Pricing Structure
- Base price: What you see is (usually) what you pay
- Payment: PayPal, Stripe, or direct transfer
- Fees: Only payment processing (2-3%)
- Typical full portrait: $100-200
Marketplace Pricing Reality
- Base price: Starting point only
- Platform fees: 6.5-10% added
- Transaction fees: 3-5% more
- "Extras" for basic features: +$20-50
- Same portrait after fees: $120-240
Real Example: A character portrait listed at $150 on Etsy ended up costing $187 after platform fees, transaction fees, and "high resolution file" upgrade. The same artist charges $150 flat on their website, including hi-res files.
Turnaround Time: Why Direct Is Faster
Direct Artist Timeline
- Day 1: Email artist directly
- Day 1-2: Get response, confirm details
- Day 3: Payment, artist starts
- Day 10: WIP update (optional)
- Day 14-21: First version delivered
- Day 16-23: Revisions complete
Marketplace Timeline
- Day 1: Place order through system
- Day 2-4: Artist sees notification
- Day 5-7: Details confirmed through platform messages
- Day 8: Artist actually starts
- Day 20: First update (if any)
- Day 25-35: Initial delivery
- Day 30-40: Revisions (if included)
Why the difference? Marketplace artists juggle multiple platforms, deal with notification delays, and often batch their commission work. Direct artists prioritize their website clients and communicate immediately.
Communication: The Make-or-Break Factor
Scenario: You Need to Change Your Character's Hair Color
Direct Artist:
Email/Discord message → Response in 2-4 hours → Change made same day
Marketplace:
Platform message → 24-48 hour response → "That counts as major revision, $15 extra" → Payment process → Change made in 3-5 days
Direct Artist Communication
- Email, Discord, or preferred platform
- Real-time conversation possible
- Screen shares for live feedback
- Easy to send references
- Build ongoing relationship
Marketplace Communication
- Locked to platform messaging
- Character limits on messages
- Attachment restrictions
- No notification customization
- Time zone delays compound
Revisions: Flexibility vs. Rigid Rules
This is where the biggest difference shows:
Direct Artist Revision Approach
- "Let's get it right" mentality
- Minor tweaks often free
- Major changes negotiable
- Relationship matters more than rules
- Can discuss changes before counting them
Marketplace Revision Reality
- Exactly 2-3 rounds, period
- Everything counts as a "round"
- Additional changes: $10-30 each
- Platform enforces limits
- Disputes go through customer service
Real Example: Needed to adjust my dwarf's beard style and armor color. Direct artist made both changes free, calling them "quick fixes." Marketplace artist counted each as a separate revision, exhausting my included rounds.
Payment Protection: The Marketplace Advantage
Let's be honest about the one area marketplaces clearly win:
Marketplace Protection
- Full refund if not delivered
- Dispute resolution system
- Platform holds payment in escrow
- Clear terms of service
- Customer service backup
Direct Artist Protection
- Depends on payment method
- PayPal Goods & Services helps
- Artist reputation is everything
- No automatic refunds
- Self-advocacy required
The Reality: Established direct artists with proper businesses (like FondlyFramed) offer money-back guarantees that match or exceed marketplace protection. Random artists on Twitter? That's a different story.
Quality Control: It's Complicated
How Each System Ensures Quality
Quality Factor | Direct Artist | Marketplace |
---|---|---|
Portfolio Verification | Self-policed | Some verification |
Reviews | Testimonials (if any) | Detailed review system |
Consistency | Same artist always | May outsource |
Specialization | Often specialized | Jack of all trades |
Accountability | Reputation based | Platform enforced |
The Key Insight
Marketplace reviews tell you if an artist delivers something. Direct artist portfolios show you if they deliver what you actually want. Big difference.
When to Choose Each Option
Choose Direct Artist When:
- You've found an artist whose style perfectly matches your vision
- You want faster turnaround (under 3 weeks)
- Your character needs specific D&D knowledge
- You might need multiple revisions
- You want to build an ongoing relationship
- You're commissioning multiple characters
- The artist has established business practices
Choose Marketplace When:
- You're commissioning from an unknown artist
- You need maximum payment protection
- You're comfortable with rigid revision limits
- You prefer hands-off transactions
- You're price shopping multiple artists
- You want to see extensive reviews first
- Timeline isn't critical (4+ weeks okay)
The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
Direct Artist Hidden Costs
- International payment fees: 3-5%
- Currency conversion: 2-3%
- Rush delivery: 25-50% premium
Marketplace Hidden Costs
- Platform fees: 6.5-10%
- Transaction processing: 3-5%
- "Premium" delivery: $10-25
- High-resolution files: $10-20
- Commercial license: $50-100
- Source files (PSD): $25-50
- Additional revisions: $10-30 each
Final Price Comparison: $150 portrait from direct artist = $150. Same $150 portrait from marketplace = $195 after typical add-ons.
My Recommendation: The Hybrid Approach
After commissioning dozens of pieces both ways, here's what actually works:
- Find artists on marketplaces (use their reviews and portfolios)
- Check if they have a direct website (most do)
- Commission directly if they're established (save 20-30%)
- Use marketplace for unknown/new artists (protection worth the premium)
Red Flags for Direct Commissions
- No terms of service or commission info
- Only accepts friends & family PayPal
- No examples of finished commissions
- Won't provide references or testimonials
- Prices seem too good to be true
Green Flags for Direct Commissions
- Professional website with clear pricing
- Established payment processing
- Written terms and conditions
- Money-back guarantee offered
- Active social media with finished work
- Quick, professional communication
The Bottom Line: Which Actually Wins?
For established artists with proper business practices, direct commissioning wins on almost every metric except payment protection – and even that gap closes when artists offer guarantees.
For unknown artists or your first commission ever, marketplaces provide valuable protection that's worth the 20-30% premium.
The sweet spot? Artists like FondlyFramed who combine direct commissioning benefits (better price, faster delivery, unlimited revisions) with marketplace-level protections (money-back guarantee, secure payment, clear terms).
Final Verdict
Direct Artist: 8/10 – Better value, faster delivery, superior communication. Only weakness is payment protection with unknown artists.
Marketplace: 6/10 – Good for discovery and protection, but you pay premium prices for average service and rigid rules.
The Winner: Direct commissioning from established artists gives you everything marketplaces promise at better prices with faster delivery.
Ready to Commission?
If you want the benefits of direct commissioning with marketplace-level protection, check out my commission process. $149 for a fully painted portrait, 14-day delivery, unlimited revisions, and a money-back guarantee if you're not completely satisfied.
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