The Gift That Finally Made Him Speechless

How to finally give something meaningful when you "know nothing" about their hobby

Written by Jan

Sarah stared at her computer screen, credit card in hand, about to buy another dragon statue.


Another $60 for something that would sit on a shelf next to last year's "medieval sword letter opener" and the dice set he'd never opened.


Three years of marriage. Three years of watching Jeff disappear into his office every Friday to run fantasy games for his friends. Three years of failed attempts to acknowledge this thing that consumed 20 hours of his week.

Then she saw the portrait.

It wasn't another generic wizard poster. Not fantasy "art" that could belong to anyone. 

 

It was Jeffrey, his actual face, that gentle almost-smile she knew so well, transformed into something magnificent. 

 

Mystical robes split between starlight and shadow. His hand releasing glowing dice into the air. The lily tattoos from their wedding day visible on his arm.
 

When he opened it at their anniversary dinner, he didn't say "thanks honey."


He couldn't speak at all.
 

"How did you know?" he finally asked. "This is exactly how I see myself when I'm creating their adventures. But I've never told anyone that."
 

Sarah's answer was simple: 

 

"I stopped trying to understand your world and found someone who could translate it for me."

The Gift That Never Lands

If someone you love disappears into fantasy worlds every week, you know this feeling.


You've watched them light up talking about their character. 

 

You've heard the stories. 

 

You've seen them sketch in notebooks or spend hours on their computer creating something you don't quite understand.

And every gift-giving occasion, you face the same impossible challenge:

How do you shop for a passion you don't share?

Last month, I surveyed 89 partners and family members of my previous clients. 

Here's what they admitted:

71% have given fantasy-themed gifts that "missed the mark"

The average person has spent $400+ on generic merchandise over 3 years

68% said finding meaningful gifts for their fantasy fan is their "hardest shopping challenge"

Nearly everyone used the phrase "I just don't get it"

One response stopped me cold:
 

"I've bought him dragon statues, dice sets, fantasy books. He's polite about them. But I can tell none of it really matters. I just want to give him something that shows I see this part of him, even if I don't understand it."

Why Every Option Feels Wrong

Option 1: The Amazon Guessing Game

You type "fantasy gift" into Amazon.


Five thousand results. 

 

Dragon mugs. 

"I Roll for Initiative" t-shirts. 

Sword letter openers.

And a ton of dice.

How do you know what's meaningful versus what's mass-produced nonsense? 

 

You don't. 

 

So you pick something that seems safe. 

 

Another t-shirt for the drawer. 

 

Another "thanks honey" moment.
 

The worst part? You KNOW it's not quite right. You can feel it in that split second when they open it. 

Option 2: The Etsy Gamble

Fine, you think. I'll get something "handmade" and "personal."
 

You message five sellers about custom work. 

 

Two never respond. 

 

One quotes $400. Another sends examples that look nothing like what you described. 

 

The last one seems promising until you realize their "custom" work is the same template with different names.


Sarah from my survey learned this the hard way: 

 

"Paid $180 for a 'custom character portrait' on Etsy. Three weeks later, I found the exact same image being sold to others with the face changed. My partner noticed immediately."

Option 3: Asking Them What They Want

This should work, right? Direct communication?


Except when you ask, they either say "you don't have to get me anything" (helpful), or they genuinely don't know what they want.


"Is there something for your game you need?"
 

"I mean... maybe? There's this limited edition thing but it's like $300... or these custom dice but I have so many... or there's this Kickstarter but it won't ship for a year... actually, don't worry about it."


They can't articulate what would be meaningful because they don't expect you to understand. So they default to either nothing or something so expensive you'd both feel guilty about it.


You're left exactly where you started, except now they know you're struggling and feel bad about being "difficult to shop for."

The Translation Problem

Here's what nobody admits: It's not your fault you can't shop for their hobby.


You're essentially trying to buy a gift in a foreign country where you don't speak the language, don't know the currency, and aren't sure what's valuable versus what's tourist trash.


They've invested hundreds of hours into this creation. They've played as them, written about them, maybe even dreamed about them.


And you're supposed to capture that with a $30 t-shirt from Amazon?


One partner put it perfectly: 

 

"It's like trying to buy a gift for their imaginary friend, except the imaginary friend means everything to them, and I can't even picture what they look like."

The Moment Everything Changed

I discovered this problem accidentally.


For three years, I ran a traditional fantasy art business. My clients were players commissioning their own characters. But something interesting started happening.


Partners began reaching out. Nervous messages that usually started with "I don't know anything about fantasy, but..."


They'd send me blurry photos of notebook sketches. Screenshots of things called "character sheets." 

 

Fragments of overheard descriptions. Sometimes just a photo of their partner and the words "he plays a wizard, I think?"
 

The first few times, I tried to extract technical details. What class? What armor? What weapons?
 

Blank stares. Panic. "I don't know. Is that important?"
 

That's when I realized: These people didn't need an artist. They needed a translator.

A Different Approach

So I changed everything.

 

Instead of asking about fantasy details, I started to ask:

What three words would their friends use to describe them?

Are they the leader type or the quiet strategist?

Do they like being the hero or the clever one in the background?

Instead of "what weapon do they use?" I asked "what would they want to be holding in a photo they'd frame?"


Instead of "what class are they?" I asked "do they see themselves as brave, smart, or mysterious?"
 

Suddenly, the commissions transformed.
 

The results were immediate.

 Partners who'd been sending me panic-filled emails suddenly relaxed. 

 

"Oh, she's definitely brave but reckless." 

"He's the type who'd rather outsmart you than fight you." 

"She'd want to look powerful but approachable."

I could work with that.
 

More importantly, the portraits started landing differently. 

 

Instead of "thanks for trying," recipients were getting emotional. 

 

Actually emotional.

What Makes This Actually Work

After 50+ portrait gifts delivered, I've identified what makes the difference between polite appreciation and genuine reaction.


It's not about fantasy accuracy. It's about personal recognition.


When someone sees themselves in heroic form, their first thought isn't "that armor is period-accurate." It's "that's my expression. That's how I stand. That's actually me."
 

That's why I start with their actual face and build the fantasy around their real personality, not the other way around.


Steve discovered this when he commissioned a couples portrait with his partner:


"I just told Jan we're an engineer and an astrophysicist who love fantasy games. When my partner saw himself as this water-mage inventor with his actual glasses and expression, he got emotional. 'This is exactly how I feel when we play.'"

The Process That Removes the Guesswork

Here's exactly how it works when you don't speak fantasy:


Step 1: You send me photos and personality Not character details. Just regular photos and answers to simple questions like "are they more serious or playful?" No fantasy vocabulary required.


Step 2: I translate everything into fantasy art This is where my experience with 500+ fantasy characters matters. I know which visual elements communicate "brave but kind" versus "mysterious but trustworthy." You don't have to.


Step 3: You see a polished preview in 14 days Not a rough sketch you have to imagine finished. A complete portrait where you immediately know if it feels right.


Step 4: We refine until you're excited to give it "Make them look a bit more mischievous." "They'd hold the sword differently." We adjust until you can't wait to see their reaction.

October Reality Check

Here's what I know from three years of holiday portrait rushes:
 

Everyone thinks they have time. Then suddenly it's December 10th and they're panicking about delivery dates.
 

Fantasy portraits aren't something you can Amazon Prime. Good ones take time. The revision process takes time. Getting it right takes time.
 

If you want this ready for the holidays, the window is now.
 

I only take 18 commissions per month to maintain quality. As I write this in early October, 8 spots are already claimed by people who learned this lesson last year.

The Risk-Free Guarantee

Look, I understand the hesitation. You've never commissioned art. You're not sure if this will land. You're worried about wasting money on another failed attempt.
 

That's why I offer something most artists won't:
 

See the polished portrait first. Love it or full refund.
 

No "kill fees." No "partial refunds." No guilt trips.
 

If that first preview doesn't immediately feel like them, you get every penny back.


In 50+ gift commissions, I've issued exactly two refunds

Your Next Step

If you've read this far, you're probably tired of the gift-giving struggle.
 

Tired of wandering gaming stores without a clue. 

Tired of generic merchandise that misses the mark. 

Tired of feeling disconnected from something they love.
 

This year can be different.


Instead of another "thanks honey" gift, you can give them the moment where they see themselves as the hero they've always imagined.


No fantasy knowledge required. No artistic skills needed. Just photos, personality, and someone who translates between worlds.

Real Gift-Giving Victories

I could tell you all day about bringing characters to life. But here's what creators who've finally met their heroes face-to-face have to say:

10/10 recommend Jan!

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!!

-Michelle R.

Verified Customer

Jan really gets it

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

Great work!!!

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

Even better than Hero Forge

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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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. — Wow, you are thorough to read all the way down here. Listen, 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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