How Long Does a Character Art Commission Take? (Complete Timeline Breakdown)

You've found the perfect artist. Their portfolio is exactly the style you want. You're ready to commission your D&D character.

Then you see it: "Current turnaround time: 2-4 weeks."

And you think: "What does that actually mean? What are they doing for 2-4 weeks? Why does drawing take that long? Can I speed it up? Is this normal?"

These are fair questions, especially if you've never commissioned art before. When you order something on Amazon, it arrives in 2 days. When you commission custom art, you wait weeks.

The timeline confusion creates two problems:

First, it makes people hesitant to commission. "If I order today and it takes a month, will it arrive before Christmas?" becomes a math problem that makes you anxious.

Second, it creates unrealistic expectations. People assume "2-4 weeks" means "exactly 14 days" and get frustrated when reality is different.

After completing 500+ character commissions, I can tell you exactly what happens during those weeks, why different processes take different amounts of time, and what actually affects your timeline.

By the end of this guide, you'll know whether you have enough time for your needs, what you can do to speed things up, and which processes waste your time versus which deliver faster.

The Two Commission Processes (And Why One Takes Longer)

Before we dive into timelines, you need to understand that not all commission processes are the same. There are two fundamentally different approaches, and they have very different timelines.

The rest of this guide will explain both processes, but understand this: the multi-stage sketch-approval process isn't inherently better. It's just more common. The streamlined approach often produces better results in less time.

Traditional Process Timeline (3-6 Weeks)

Let me walk you through what happens in a typical traditional commission so you understand where all those weeks go:

Total timeline: 22-24 days minimum, often extending to 4-6 weeks when you factor in communication delays, revision rounds, and approval waits.

That's where traditional "3-4 weeks" estimates come from. And honestly? It's not that artists are slow—it's that the multi-stage approval process creates inherent delays.

Streamlined Process Timeline (2 Weeks)

Now let me show you how a streamlined process works, and why it's actually faster AND produces better results:

Total timeline: 14-21 days from order to final delivery. Guaranteed 2 weeks to polished preview, then however long you need to perfect it.

Notice how this is actually faster than the traditional process, despite producing higher-quality results? That's because eliminating mid-process interruptions lets the artist work efficiently.

Why the Streamlined Process Is Superior

Let me be direct about why I think the traditional sketch-approval process is flawed:

Problem #1: Rough Sketches Are Impossible to Judge

When an artist sends you a rough sketch and asks "Does this work?" they're asking you to imagine the final result from incomplete information.

Can you tell from a basic line sketch whether the armor will look cool when detailed? Whether the expression will feel right when rendered? Whether the pose will have the impact you want when colored and lit?

No. You're guessing. And if you guess wrong, you're stuck with it because "you approved the sketch."

With a polished preview, you're judging the actual art. No imagination required. It either looks like your character or it doesn't.

Problem #2: Multiple Approval Stages Create Delay

Every approval stage adds wait time:

• Artist sends sketch → Wait for your response
• You request changes → Artist revises → Wait for your response
• Artist sends line work → Wait for your response
• Artist sends color preview → Wait for your response

If you take 2 days to respond at each stage, that's 8 extra days added to the timeline from communication delays alone.

The streamlined process has one approval point: the polished preview. One decision. No scattered delays throughout the process.

Problem #3: Revisions Are Limited When You Need Them Most

Most traditional commissions include "2-3 revision rounds." Sounds fair, right?

Here's the problem: you waste those revisions on sketch adjustments ("move the arm") and line work tweaks ("change the hair"). By the time you see the finished colored version and realize something fundamental doesn't work, you're out of revisions.

Now you're stuck accepting something that's "pretty close" or paying extra for additional revisions.

With unlimited revisions on the polished preview, you're refining the actual finished art. You can perfect it without worrying about running out of changes.

Problem #4: Artists Can't Do Their Best Work When Interrupted

Creating art requires flow state—deep, focused immersion in the work. When an artist has to stop every few days to send you a sketch for approval, they lose that flow.

They're constantly context-switching:

• Work on your piece for 3 days
• Stop to send sketch
• Wait 2 days for your response
• Switch to another client's work
• Your approval comes in
• Switch back to your piece (losing time re-familiarizing)
• Work for 3 more days
• Stop to send line work
• Repeat...

When an artist works straight through from start to finish without interruption, they stay in flow state. The result is more cohesive, more inspired, and completed faster.

What Actually Affects Commission Timelines

Regardless of which process an artist uses, these factors affect how long your commission takes:

Factor #1: Complexity of the Character

Complexity Level	Traditional Process	Streamlined Process	What This Includes
Simple	2-3 weeks	10-12 days	Basic clothing, minimal armor, standard pose
Moderate	3-4 weeks	12-14 days	Detailed clothing, medium armor, active pose
Complex	4-5 weeks	14-16 days	Heavy armor, multiple weapons, dynamic pose
Very Complex	5-6 weeks	16-18 days	Full plate with emblems, magical effects, unique race

Why complexity matters: More details = more rendering time. But notice how the streamlined process is consistently faster at every complexity level? That's because eliminating approval delays compounds the time savings.

Factor #2: Portrait Type

Portrait Type	Traditional Process	Streamlined Process
Bust (shoulders-up)	2-3 weeks	10-12 days
Half-body (waist-up)	3-4 weeks	12-14 days
Thigh-up	3-5 weeks	14-16 days
Full-body	4-6 weeks	16-18 days

For detailed comparison of portrait types and what each includes, see my complete portrait types guide.

Factor #3: Artist's Current Workload

This affects both processes equally. If an artist has 10 clients ahead of you in the queue, you wait regardless of which process they use.

How to assess this:

• Check their commission status page
• Ask directly: "When would you start working on my commission?"
• Look for warnings: "Queue is full, 6-8 week wait before I even begin"

Popular artists during busy seasons (October-December) can have 4-6 week queues before your work even starts. This is separate from the actual creation time.

Factor #4: Your Responsiveness (Traditional Process Only)

This is a huge factor in traditional commissions but barely affects streamlined ones.

Traditional process:

• Artist sends sketch → You take 3 days to respond → +3 days to timeline
• Artist sends lines → You take 2 days to respond → +2 days to timeline
• Artist sends color preview → You take 2 days to respond → +2 days
• Total added: +7 days from slow responses

Streamlined process:

• Artist asks clarification questions Day 1 → You respond → Work begins
• You see polished preview Day 14 → You respond → Refinements begin
• Maximum impact of slow responses: 2-3 days

The streamlined process is more forgiving of normal human response times.

Factor #5: Clarity of Initial Information

This affects both processes, but differently:

Traditional process: Vague information gets caught during sketch stage. Artist sends sketch, you realize it's wrong, revisions needed. Timeline extends.

Streamlined process: Vague information gets caught upfront through thorough review. Artist asks all questions before starting. Work doesn't begin until information is complete. Timeline stays consistent.

Using a structured character description template (like the Ultimate Character Blueprint) eliminates this issue entirely. Get it from my character description guide.

Rush Options: Can You Speed Things Up?

Short answer: Sometimes, but it always costs more and sometimes compromises quality.

Rush Level	Timeline Impact	Typical Cost Increase	Quality Impact
Priority queue	Skip ahead of other clients	+25-50%	None (just paying to jump the line)
Express delivery	Compressed timeline (halved)	+50-75%	Slight (artist working faster than ideal)
Emergency rush	Completed in 3-7 days	+100-150%	Noticeable (corners get cut)

My honest take: Rush fees are fine for jumping the queue, but trying to compress the actual creation time usually backfires. Artists rushing their work produce worse results.

A better solution: Choose the streamlined process from the start. You get 2-week delivery at standard pricing, with quality that's actually better because the artist worked in flow state rather than rushed.

Red Flags: When "2-4 Weeks" Means "Maybe Never"

Not every artist who promises timelines actually delivers. Here's how to spot problems:

What to look for instead:

• Specific guaranteed timelines: "Polished preview in 14 days or refund"
• Clear process documentation
• Recent positive reviews mentioning meeting deadlines
• Refund policy for missed timelines
• Communication commitment: "I respond within 24 hours"

Seasonal Considerations: When Commissions Take Longer

Commission timelines aren't consistent year-round:

October-December: Gift Season Crunch

Normal timeline: 2-3 weeks

During gift season: 4-6 weeks (or queues close entirely)

Why: Every artist gets flooded with Christmas gift commission requests. Queues that are normally 5 clients deep become 20+ clients deep.

What to do: Order by early November if you want Christmas delivery. Expect longer waits or higher rush fees. Artists using streamlined processes often handle this better because they can work through commissions faster.

January-February: Post-Holiday Reset

Timeline: Back to normal (2-3 weeks) by mid-January

Why: Artists finish holiday backlog and return to standard schedules. Great time to commission—shorter queues, refreshed artists.

March-May, September-October: Optimal Times

Timeline: Standard or faster (potentially 10-14 days)

Why: Off-peak seasons. Lower commission volume means shorter queues and potentially faster turnaround.

How to Minimize Your Timeline (Without Rush Fees)

Want your commission completed as quickly as possible? Here's what actually works:

Strategy #1: Choose the Streamlined Process

This is the single biggest factor. An artist using the streamlined polished-preview approach will consistently deliver faster than one using traditional multi-stage approvals.

Time saved: 7-14 days compared to traditional process

Strategy #2: Come Completely Prepared

Have your character description fully ready before you even contact the artist. Use a structured template so nothing is missing.

Time saved: 2-4 days of clarifying questions and information gathering

Strategy #3: Respond Quickly When Needed

Check email daily. When the artist asks clarification questions or sends previews, respond within hours, not days.

Time saved: 3-7 days of waiting for responses (in traditional process)

Strategy #4: Order During Off-Peak Times

Commissioning in March means minimal queue. Commissioning in December means you're client #20.

Time saved: 2-4 weeks in queue time alone

Strategy #5: Choose Simpler Options (If Timeline is Critical)

Half-body instead of full-body. Standard pose instead of complex dynamic action. Every simplification reduces creation time.

Time saved: 2-4 days depending on what you simplify

My Commission Timeline (And Why I Can Guarantee It)

I use the streamlined polished-preview process exclusively because I've seen how much better it works:

Standard turnaround: 14 days from order to polished preview delivery

The process:

1. Day 1: You order and receive the Ultimate Character Blueprint instantly
2. Day 1-2: You fill out the Blueprint, I review it thoroughly and ask any clarifying questions
3. Day 2-14: I create your polished portrait without interruption (no sketch approvals)
4. Day 14: You receive complete polished preview—actual finished art, not a rough sketch
5. Day 14: You decide: "This is them!" or "This isn't right" (full refund if it's not right)
6. Day 15+: If approved, unlimited revisions until it's perfect

The guarantee: Polished preview delivered in 14 days, or you get a full refund. No vague "2-4 weeks." A specific date I commit to.

Why I can guarantee this:

• I limit commission slots—never overbook
• I work full-time on commissions (not juggling other jobs)
• The Ultimate Character Blueprint eliminates information delays
• No mid-process approvals means I work straight through
• I've done this 500+ times—I know exactly how long each stage takes

Most clients' total timeline: 16-18 days from order to final files (14 days to polished preview + 2-4 days of minor refinements)

That's faster than most "rush" services, at standard pricing, with better quality because I'm working in flow state rather than rushing.

Check current availability and exact turnaround dates here.

Decision Framework: Do You Have Enough Time?

See the difference? The streamlined process gives you an extra 2+ weeks of buffer time.

Questions to Ask Before Ordering

When contacting an artist, ask these specific questions:

1. "What's your commission process?" (Reveals if they use sketch approvals or streamlined approach)
2. "What's your current turnaround time to final delivery?" (Should be specific, with actual dates)
3. "When would you start working on my commission?" (Reveals queue position)
4. "Do you send sketches for approval?" (If yes, ask how many approval stages)
5. "What's your revision policy?" (Limited rounds or unlimited?)
6. "What happens if you miss the deadline?" (Tests accountability)
7. "Can you guarantee delivery by [specific date]?" (Tests confidence)

Artists who use the streamlined process will confidently answer these questions. Those using traditional processes often give vague responses because there are too many variables.

The Bottom Line: Process Matters More Than Speed

Here's what I've learned after 500+ commissions:

The fastest timeline is worthless if the quality suffers or you end up with art that's "close enough" but not quite right.

The traditional sketch-approval process seems safe, but it's actually slower AND produces more disappointing results because you're approving rough sketches while trying to imagine the finished piece.

The streamlined polished-preview approach is faster, produces better results, and gives you more control because you're judging actual finished art, not rough concepts.

Traditional process pros:

• Feels safer (you see sketches along the way)
• More common (easier to find artists who work this way)

Traditional process cons:

• Slower (3-6 weeks typical)
• Multiple approval delays
• You're judging rough sketches, not finished art
• Limited revisions when you need them most
• Artists can't work in flow state

Streamlined process pros:

• Faster (2-3 weeks typical)
• Judge actual finished art, not rough sketches
• Unlimited revisions on polished version
• Artists work better in uninterrupted flow
• Clear refund policy if initial preview isn't right

Streamlined process cons:

• Less common (harder to find artists who work this way)
• Requires trusting the artist to work without seeing progress

For me, the choice is obvious. But you need to decide what matters more to you: seeing rough sketches along the way (false sense of control) or getting better results faster (actual good outcomes).

Ready to Commission with Timeline Confidence?

If you want certainty about timelines and a process that actually delivers what it promises:

My guarantee: Polished preview in 14 days or full refund. Not a rough sketch. Not line work. Actual finished art you can clearly judge.

The process:

• Order today → Receive Ultimate Character Blueprint instantly
• Fill out blueprint at your own pace
• I create your portrait without interruption
• Day 14: See polished preview
• Love it? Unlimited revisions to perfect it
• Not right? Full refund, no questions

Current availability: Check exact turnaround times and open slots here.

Or if you're still deciding whether commissioning is right for you, read my complete guide to commissioning fantasy portraits.

The timeline question stops being stressful when you work with someone who guarantees it and uses a process designed for efficiency rather than false security.

Your character deserves better than "maybe it'll be ready in 4-6 weeks." They deserve a guaranteed timeline and a process that actually works.

— Jan