The Gift That Shows You've Been Listening (Even If You Don't Play D&D)

How to give fantasy fans the "how did you know all these details?" gift without understanding a single thing about their campaigns.

Written by Jan 👋

Last Christmas, Rachel gave her husband a portrait she'd been secretly planning for three months.


Him—as his D&D character. The warrior he'd been playing every Friday night for two years.
 

The character he talked about constantly. The one she'd heard endless stories about but never fully understood.


Rachel doesn't play D&D.


She doesn't know what a "saving throw" is. She can't tell a beholder from a mind flayer. When her husband says "we TPK'd," she just nods and smiles.


But when he opened that portrait on Christmas morning and went completely silent?


She knew she'd finally gotten it right.

"How did you... when did you learn all these details? The armor. The axe. Even the way he's standing. You got it exactly right."


Rachel told me later: "I don't understand D&D. But I understand him. And this proved I've been paying attention."


That's the power of a gift that bridges two worlds—the one where he's an accountant, and the one where he's a hero.


But Rachel almost didn't commission it.
 

Because she was terrified of three things.

What Almost Stopped Her (And What's Probably Stopping You Right Now)

If you're reading this, someone you love disappears into fantasy worlds regularly.


Every Friday night, they're in their campaign.
 

Every weekend, they're lost in Baldur's Gate or Elden Ring.
 

They light up talking about their character's backstory, their latest quest, that epic moment in session 47.
 

And you want to show them you've been listening.
 

But here's the problem:


You don't speak this language.

You don't know a cleric from a paladin. You can't tell if "multiclassing into warlock" is good or bad. When they say their character is "Lawful Good," you just... trust them.


So every birthday, every Christmas, every anniversary, you face the same impossible challenge:


How do you give a meaningful gift about something you don't understand?

You've tried the obvious options:


The gaming merch. Another t-shirt. More dice they don't need. A figurine that sits on a shelf.


They smile. They say thank you. You both know it missed.


Because those gifts say: "I know you like fantasy stuff."


Not: "I see what this means to you."
There's a difference. And they feel it.

 

But commissioning custom art?
 

That's where the fear kicks in:

Fear #1: "I don't know enough to get this right"

You've heard him mention his character's name. Something about a sword? Or was it an axe? And the armor—was it silver or was that a different character?

 

"I know nothing about this stuff. What if I describe everything wrong and the artist makes something completely off?"

Fear #2: "What if the artist takes my money and ghosts me?"

You've heard the horror stories. The artist who disappeared after taking the deposit. The one who promised updates and went silent for months.

 

"There have been numerous reports of ghosting throughout the years—artists disappearing after taking a commission."

 

You'd rather give him dice than risk losing $200 to a scam.

Fear #3: "What if I commission it and it doesn't even look like him?"

The whole point is for him to see himself as his character. If the face is wrong, if it doesn't capture his likeness, if it looks like a stranger...


You've wasted money and disappointed the person you're trying to impress.

 

"When you commission a painting you are never quite sure of the result."

Here's exactly what happens:

Step 1: You tell me about HIM (not about D&D)


I don't need you to explain spell slots or armor classes or what his character's "build" is.
 

I need you to tell me who HE is:

Is he bold or thoughtful?

The leader or the strategist?

Does he rush into danger or calculate every move?

Is he the protector type or the clever planner?

You already know this. You've watched him play. 

 

You've heard him talk about his character.
 

And here's the secret: His character is just him, amplified.
 

The quiet guy who always has a plan? That's his rogue.
 

The one who tries to protect everyone? That's his paladin.
 

You don't need to know D&D. You know HIM. And that's all I need.

Step 2: You send me what you've collected
 

Rachel did something smart. When her husband talked about his character, she took notes on her phone:

"Silver armor with blue trim"

"Uses a longsword and shield"

"Stands really straight, proper posture"

"The protective one in the group"

When he showed her art other people had drawn, she screenshot it.


When his D&D group posted campaign recaps with character descriptions, she saved them.
 

She didn't understand what any of it meant.
But she gathered the details. And I translated them into art.
 

That's the system:


You collect the pieces. I assemble the portrait.


You're not expected to be the art director. You're not supposed to know what "half-plate" looks like or what color "radiant damage" should be.


You just show me what you've observed. And I handle the rest.


Plus, you send regular photos of him (any photos—vacation selfies, date night pics, that one where his face is clear).


If you can see him, I can transform him.

Step 3: You see the complete portrait BEFORE it's finished


This is the part that changes everything.


You don't gamble on this.


In 14 days, you see a polished, full-color portrait where you immediately know:


"Oh my god, that's him. That's exactly what he described."


Or: "Hmm, something feels off."
 

Both reactions are totally fine.


Because if anything's wrong, we fix it.
If the armor's the wrong color—we change it.


If his expression isn't quite right—we adjust it.


If you want to add his character's signature weapon—done.


We refine it together until you're genuinely excited to give it.

 

"I did three revisions and I couldn't be happier with the results." — Katie M.


"Jan was so patient with my many requests. She got it perfect." — Rebecca F.

 

And here's my promise:


If you look at that preview and it doesn't feel like him—if something's just wrong—you get every penny back.


No store credit. No "let me try again." No guilt.
 

Just a full refund and my apology.
 

I've done this 500+ times. I'm confident in my work.
 

But your confidence matters more than mine.

Why This Works (Even Though You Don't Play)

Rachel told me something after she gave her husband his portrait:

 

"He kept asking, 'How did you know about the scar on his armor? How did you know he dual-wields? How did you get his stance exactly right?'"

 

Here's what she actually knew:
 

Nothing about dual-wielding mechanics. Nothing about armor types. Nothing about D&D combat.
 

But she'd listened.
 

Every time he mentioned his character, she made a note. Every time he showed her art, she saved it. Every time his friends posted about the campaign, she read it.
 

She didn't understand what any of it meant.
 

But she collected enough details for me to work with.
 

And when he opened that portrait, he didn't see "generic fantasy art."
 

He saw proof that she'd been paying attention for two years.
 

That's what you're really giving:
 

Not just art.
 

Proof that you've been listening this whole time.

What Happens When You Get This Right

Here's what Rachel's husband said:


"You don't even play D&D. How did you... when did you... I can't believe you noticed all of this."
 

That's the moment.
 

Not just "cool gift, thanks."
 

But: "You've been listening this whole time. You care about what matters to me."
 

Because that's what this gift actually says:

"The thing you love isn't silly to me."

"I don't have to understand it to respect how much it matters to you."

"I see you—both the guy who goes to work every day AND the hero you imagine being."

That's what you're really buying.


The moment he realizes you've been paying attention.


The moment the portrait goes up on the wall, not hidden in a drawer.


The moment every time someone visits, he proudly explains: "My wife commissioned this. That's my D&D character."

 

"My husband said it was the most thoughtful gift anyone's ever given him. That I really saw what mattered to him." — Katie M.

"But I'm Still Nervous About This..."

I get it. Let me address exactly what you're thinking:

"What if I didn't collect enough details?"

That's fine. I'll help you fill in the gaps.


When you order, I send you a simple questionnaire:

"What's his personality like?"

"What do you know about his character?"

"Any screenshots or notes you saved?"

If there are blanks, I'll ask follow-up questions. Or I'll use my knowledge of fantasy tropes to fill in what makes sense.


The goal isn't perfection. The goal is showing you've been listening.


And even if you only have the basics, that's enough to create something meaningful.

"What if he notices something's not 100% accurate?"

Here's the thing: he won't care.


When someone gives you a thoughtful gift, you don't nitpick the details. You focus on the fact that they tried.


Rachel's husband didn't say "Actually, my character's sword is slightly longer."


He said: "I can't believe you paid attention to this."
 

The emotion overrides the technical accuracy.


But if you're worried, we can always adjust things during revisions if you have more information later.

"How do I know you won't just disappear after I pay?"

Fair question. Here's the proof:

Find me on Instagram @fondlyframed (real person, real work, real daily activity)

500+ verified customer reviews you can read

I respond within 24 hours to every order

This is my full-time career (3 years), not a side hustle

The horror stories you've heard? They're about hobby artists who ghost because they got busy with their real job.


This IS my real job. Your portrait gets scheduled, worked on, and delivered. Period.

"What if it doesn't look like him at all?"

Then you get your money back. I'll say it one more time because it matters:


If the preview doesn't immediately make you think "that's HIM," you get a full refund.


You're not stuck with something that missed the mark.


You're not pressured to accept it anyway.


You're not told "well, you approved the sketch" (there is no separate sketch—you see the full thing).
 

You either love it, or you get your money back. Those are the only two options.

"What if I need it by Christmas and it doesn't arrive in time?"

Tell me your deadline the second you order.
Right now (mid-October), we have plenty of time:

Portrait preview: 14 days (early November)

Revisions: 1 week (mid-November)

Printing & shipping: 1-2 weeks

In your hands: Early December with weeks to spare

But here's what happens every single year:


Mid-November hits. Everyone realizes Christmas is 5 weeks away.


My commission slots fill in 48 hours.


And then you're stuck with dice and a t-shirt, promising yourself you'll "do it right next year."


I only take 15 commissions per month to maintain quality.


Right now in mid-October, there are spots available.


By early November, I'm fully booked through January.

The Actual Cost (And What You're Really Paying For)

Solo portrait (just him as his character): $99-140
 

Couple portrait (both of you as fantasy characters): $160-200
 

That's more than dice. More than a t-shirt. More than another book he won't read.
 

But let's talk about what you've already spent on gifts that didn't land:

Portrait preview: 14 days (early November)

Revisions: 1 week (mid-November)

Printing & shipping: 1-2 weeks

In your hands: Early December with weeks to spare

Solo portrait (just him as his character): $99-140
 

Couple portrait (both of you as fantasy characters): $200-280
 

That's more than dice. More than a t-shirt. More than another book he won't read.

But let's talk about what you've already spent on gifts that didn't land:

That collectible figurine still in the box: $45

The fantasy books gathering dust: $60

The gaming accessory he used once: $80

The "limited edition" thing that wasn't actually special: $50

Total spent on forgotten gifts: $235
Total "wow" moments created: 0

Now imagine this:


You hand him a wrapped frame on Christmas morning. He opens it.
 

His face changes.


Not the polite smile. Not the "oh, cool, thanks."
 

Real surprise. Real emotion.


"Wait... is that... that's MY character. That's exactly how I described him. How did you..."


That moment—where he realizes you've been listening this whole time—that's what you're actually buying.
 

And it lasts.
 

The portrait hangs in his game room, his office, maybe even the living room.


Every time he walks past it: A reminder that you see him.


Years from now, he'll still be showing it off.
 

Because this isn't another thing.


It's proof of the day you proved you really see him.

What Happens Next

If you've read this far, you're probably tired of giving gifts that get a polite "thanks" and disappear.


You're ready to see his face change when he realizes you've been listening.


You're ready to give the gift he's still talking about next year.

Here's what happens when you order today:

Within 24 hours: 

 

I'll send you a simple questionnaire. Easy questions like:

"Describe his personality in 3 words"

"What do you know about his character?"

"Any notes, screenshots, or details you collected?"

In 14 days: You see a complete, polished preview.
 

For the next week: We refine it together until you're genuinely excited to give it.
 

By early-mid November: You have the final file, printed and shipped (if you want physical), with plenty of time before Christmas.
 

And then you have that moment.

Or you can wait.


Order closer to the holidays when my schedule is packed and deadlines are impossible.


Pay rush fees (if I even have availability).


Or end up with another "close enough" gift from Amazon.


Watch him smile politely while you both pretend it's perfect.


You already know which choice you want to make.
 

The only question is whether you'll do it while there's still time to get it right.

The Reactions Speak for Themselves

Jan was INCREDIBLE to work with! I would 100% recommend her to anyone who wants custom art made. I asked her to turn my husband into a fantasy character and Jan was super communicative, impressively timely, and you can tell she really cares about her work. I hope some day I can come up with a reason to work with her again. Thank you so much Jan!!

-Steve M.

Verified Customer

Um, I'm not sure how to even quantify/qualify how awesome this experience was. I came to Jan with a backstory, a couple of “vibe” photos, and a pic of my husband and his pets. Jan worked with me to create exactly what I was looking for as a Father's Day gift. The picture is hanging above his Lego castle collection and looks great.

-Mary L.

Verified Customer

Fantastic job! I had a recreation of me and my husbands ESO characters. I had a bunch of requests and questions which were all answers. Wonderful picture!

-Rebecca F.

Verified Customer

This portrait turned out so much better than I ever imagined. My husband is going to love it. I would not hesitate to order another in the future!!

-Britney B.

Verified Customer

FondlyFramed

4.9

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74 Reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does my order include?

1) A custom hand-painted portrait

 

2) My Heroic Money Back Guarantee

3) Unlimited revisions until it's perfect

 

4) 2-week turnaround on your first concept

What if it doesn't actually look like them?

This is my biggest promise to you: if that first preview doesn't immediately feel like them, you get every penny back. No partial refunds, no guilt trips. The likeness is everything - without it, the gift fails.

How does the Money‑Back Guarantee work?

After I deliver your polished concept (in around 2 weeks), you will have 3 days to decide if the art feels right. If not, just email me, I'll refund you in full.

Once I start revisions, the guarantee ends. Simple, risk‑free, and there so you can commission with confidence.(See the full Refund Policy for the fine print.)

 

I truly believe everyone deserves to see their vision come to life. This guarantee is just my way of making sure you feel safe jumping in.

How long does this really take? I need it by [specific date].

You'll see the complete portrait preview in 14 days. Then we refine until perfect (usually 2-3 days). If you need it by a specific date, tell me upfront and there are some rush fees that can skip you to the front of the queue if neccesary.
I've never missed a birthday, anniversary, or holiday deadline. But December books fast - I can only guarantee Christmas delivery for orders placed at least 2 weeks ahead of time.

But I literally know nothing about fantasy stuff. Will this still work?

That's exactly who this is for. You don't need to know the difference between a wizard and a warlock. 

Just send photos and describe their personality ("brave but goofy" or "the strategic type"). 

I translate everything else. About 70% of my clients start their message with "I don't know anything about fantasy."

 

P.S. — I know clicking "order" for custom art feels risky. You're probably imagining horror stories about artists disappearing or delivering something completely wrong. 

 

Here's what actually happens: After you order, I'll personally reach out to walk you through everything. No confusing forms or technical terms. Just me asking simple questions like "Would you say they're more serious or playful?" 

 

In two weeks, you'll be staring at their portrait thinking, "How did she capture them so perfectly?" And if not? You get your money back. But honestly? You're going to be planning your second commission before the first one's even done.

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