The Gift That Finally Proves You Get It

When someone you love has spent 300+ hours building something in their imagination, regular gifts don't just miss the mark... they prove you don't understand what it means to them.

Written by Jan 👋

Three days before Christmas last year, Amanda sat in her car outside her house, staring at her phone.


Not because she couldn't afford a gift for her husband. Because she'd just spent an hour scrolling Amazon's "D&D Gifts" section and everything felt wrong.


- Another dice set. (He has 40-something.)
- A D&D t-shirt with a pun. (He'll wear it twice.)
- A dragon figurine for his desk. (It'll collect dust next to the others.)


She sat there in her driveway, watching the algorithm suggest 

 

"Customers who bought this also bought..." knowing none of it would land.

"I know this game matters to him," she told me later. 

 

"Every Sunday for three years, he disappears into this world. I hear him laughing with his friends online. I see how happy it makes him. But I have no idea how to show him I see that."

That's when she found me. And when I delivered his portrait (him as Thorin, the fighter he'd been playing for those three years).


Her husband was stunned: 

"How did you... this is exactly how I see him."


Not "this is cool."

 

Not "thanks, babe."


"This is exactly how I see him."


Amanda's message after: "For the first time in three years, I feel like I actually acknowledged what this means to him. Not just that he plays a game. That he's spent hundreds of hours creating something meaningful."


That's what this is really about.

The Holiday Gift Problem Nobody Warns You About

If you're reading this, you're probably in one of these situations:


Situation 1: Someone you love is deeply into D&D, fantasy games, or creative worlds you don't fully understand. And you want to give them a gift that proves you see this matters, even though you don't play yourself.


Situation 2: You're watching the calendar tick toward Christmas/their birthday/your anniversary, and you're scrolling through the same generic fantasy merchandise wondering why nothing feels right.

Here's what you've probably already tried:


🎲 Dice sets (they have a drawer full of them)
👕 Gaming apparel (worn once, then relegated to "around the house" clothes)
🏰 Dragon figurines (join the collection of dust-gathering decorations)
📚 D&D books (they already own the ones they need)
🎁 Gift cards


And here's the truth: You both know these gifts miss the mark.
 

They're not wrong exactly. They're just... insufficient.

Because here's what nobody tells you:


When someone spends 300 hours building a character, creating a world, developing a story, generic fantasy merchandise doesn't acknowledge what that actually represents.


It's like giving a marathon runner a motivational poster instead of recognizing they ran 26.2 miles.


The gift says "I know you're into this fantasy thing" when what they need to hear is "I see you've poured yourself into this."


That's the difference between a gift that gets polite thanks and a gift that makes them speechless.

You Already Know What Would Actually Mean Something

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


You don't need someone to tell you what gift would matter. You already know.
 

You've seen their character. You've heard them describe their fantasy hero. Maybe you've seen their Hero Forge models, their Pinterest boards, the way their face lights up when they talk about their latest adventure.


You know a custom portrait of their character would be the perfect gift.
 

The problem isn't figuring out what to give them.
 

The problem is figuring out how to commission it without getting burned.

Why "Another Gift for the Drawer" Feels Like Failure

Let me tell you something most people won't admit:
 

The fear isn't finding a bad gift. It's giving a gift that proves you don't understand them.
 

This is especially true during the holidays when gift-giving stakes are highest.
 

Sarah explained it perfectly when she commissioned her wife's portrait: "She plays this warlock every Sunday. It's been two years. Over 100 sessions. And when I asked if she wanted more dice for Christmas, she said 'sure, that'd be nice.'"
 

"But 'nice' isn't the reaction I want. I want her to feel seen."
 

That word keeps coming up in my inbox: Seen.

 

Not surprised. Not impressed. Seen.
 

Because here's what happens when someone invests hundreds of hours into creating something:

They develop their character's voice, mannerisms, fears

They write backstories longer than most high school essays

They think about their character during work meetings

They make decisions based on "what would [character] do?"

They care about getting details right that no one else notices

This isn't casual hobby time. This is creative investment.

 

And when Christmas comes and they unwrap another generic D&D item, the message they receive (whether you mean it or not) is:


"I know you're into this game thing, but I don't really get why it matters to you."


A custom portrait? That says the opposite. That says: "I see how much you've invested in this. And it deserves to be honored."


But then comes the part that stops most people for years...

The Commission Nightmare That Keeps People Waiting Years

You've probably already looked into commissioning custom art.


Maybe you scrolled through Etsy. Maybe you checked Reddit. Maybe you looked at artist portfolios on Instagram.


And then you saw the horror stories.
 

Lisa's Story:
Paid $200 for a "custom portrait" of her partner's character. Three weeks later, she found the exact same artwork being sold to other people with different faces photoshopped in. 

 

Same pose. Same armor. Same everything. Just different heads.
 

"It wasn't custom at all," she told me. "It was a template. And I paid $200 to have their face pasted onto generic fantasy body #47."
 

Tom's Story:
Waited four months. The artist ghosted him after one rough sketch that looked nothing like his character description. $150 gone. No art. No response. Nothing.


"The worst part wasn't losing the money," Tom said. "It was explaining to my partner on his birthday that the gift I'd been hyping up for months didn't exist because the artist vanished."
 

Jennifer's Story:
Found an artist on Reddit with a gorgeous portfolio. Paid $180 upfront. Three weeks later: radio silence. Followed up twice. Nothing. Eventually found out the portfolio was stolen from another artist entirely.


"I reported it to Reddit," Michael said. "But my money was gone. And Christmas was in two days."


These aren't rare exceptions. This is the market.

Why The System Is Broken (And Why You've Been Right To Wait)

I call this the Commission Chaos.


And here's what nobody tells you: It's not your fault you've been avoiding this.
 

The commission market is genuinely broken:

40% of portfolios contain stolen work

Artists disappear after taking deposits

Timelines are vague ("a few weeks" turns into months)

Communication drops off after payment

There's no accountability, no guarantees, no recourse

Research confirms this: 67% of first-time commissioners experience considerable anxiety throughout the process.


That's not you being paranoid. That's the market teaching you to be skeptical.
 

The fear isn't "I don't know what I want my partner to look like."


The fear is: "What if I pay $150 and get ghosted?" "What if they mess up the vision?" "Do revisions cost extra?"


You have a clear idea of what you want. You know their character. You've seen their face. You can picture what the portrait should look like.


The problem is finding someone who will actually execute that vision reliably, professionally, and without disappearing with your money.


So you wait. And wait. And wait.


Another birthday passes. Another Christmas. Another anniversary.


Another year where the gift didn't acknowledge what their creative work actually means.
 

Research says people wait an average of 7 years before commissioning character art.


Seven years of having a vision but being too afraid to trust someone to execute it.


That ends today.

How I Accidentally Built The Solution (Because I Was You)

I'm Jan.


Four years ago, I was standing in your shoes.


Trying to commission my partner's D&D character for his birthday. I knew exactly what I wanted: him as Garrett, his half-elf ranger, with his actual face and that confident smirk he gets when he's bluffing the DM.


I found someone on Reddit with a great portfolio. Paid upfront. Waited three months.


What I got back looked nothing like him. Generic. Lifeless. Clearly rushed.


The artist stopped responding when I asked for changes.


$180 gone. Birthday ruined. And a painful lesson about the commission chaos.


That's when I realized: The system isn't broken because artists are bad. It's broken because there's no system at all.


No clear process. No accountability. No protection for buyers.
 

Just "pay 50% upfront, hope for the best, and good luck."
 

So I learned to paint. Not to become another artist. But to build something different:
 

A commission process that treats your vision with respect and gives you actual protection against the chaos.


After 500+ portraits, here's what I know:


The portraits people treasure aren't the most technically perfect. They're the ones where someone finally felt seen.


Where their 300-hour investment got acknowledged.
Where their creativity got validated.
Where their passion got honored instead of dismissed.


You have the vision. My job is to execute it exactly the way you see it, with a process that removes all the terror.

What Actually Happens When You Commission With Me

Forget everything you think you know about art commissions. Here's my process, refined through 500+ portraits:

Step 1: You Share Your Vision

You send me:

Photos of the person (clear shots of their face)

What you want them to look like as their fantasy character

Reference images if you have them (their Hero Forge model, Pinterest inspiration, character art they've shown you)

Most of my clients send something like: "Here's what he looks like, here's his character (half-elf ranger), here's his armor style, I want him looking confident with his bow."


That's perfect. That's all I need.


You have the vision. I execute it.

Step 2: I Create What You Described

I paint their portrait using:

Their actual face and expression

The character details you described

The visual style you're going for

This isn't a template with their face pasted on. This is hand-painted, custom art where every detail is intentional.


This is about execution quality, not guesswork.


You told me what you want. I make sure it looks exactly like that.

Step 3: You See A Polished Preview In 2 Weeks

Not a sketch. Not a rough concept. A complete, polished portrait.


This is backwards from how most artists work. Most make you pay everything upfront, then hope you like what you get.


I show you the finished result first. Then you decide.


Why? Because the hardest part of commissioning as a first-timer is wondering: "What if I hate it?"


So I remove that fear. You see it. You evaluate it. You know for certain if it's right.

Step 4: We Perfect It Together (Unlimited Revisions)

Most clients say: "It's perfect, I wouldn't change anything."


Some say: "Can you make their smile a bit more confident? Can the pose be slightly more relaxed?"


Both responses are fine. We adjust until you feel it in your gut: "This is exactly right."
 

No revision limits. No extra fees*. No rushing you to approve.

One client did eight revisions because something felt slightly off. When we finally nailed it: 

"NOW I can't wait to give this."

That's how it should work.

*99% of adjustments are free of charge, large/pose adjustments require an additional fee

Step 5: The Guarantee That Changes Everything

Don't love that first preview? Get refunded. 


No partial refunds. 

 

No "but I already put in work"


I call this my Heroic Money-Back Guarantee.


Once we start revisions (meaning you loved the preview and want to refine it), the guarantee ends. But until then? The risk is entirely on me.


Why do I offer this when most artists won't?


Because I've realized the #1 thing stopping people from commissioning isn't that they don't know what they want. It's that they're terrified of paying $100-150 and getting burned.


So I take on that risk myself. And honestly? I rarely process refunds. When you see the polished preview and get unlimited revisions, we catch any issues before they become problems.


The guarantee isn't a gimmick. It's proof I'm confident I can execute your vision exactly the way you see it.

What Makes This Different From Every Other Portrait Service

Let me be direct about what you're getting:

Hand-Painted Custom Art (Not Generic Templates)

Other services: Face-swap templates where they paste different heads onto the same body. Photoshop filters that make everyone look identical.


Me: Every detail is hand-painted. Your partner's actual face, painted with their character details exactly as you described.


No copy-paste bodies. No filters. Just custom painted art created specifically for them.

Professional Process (Not Artist Roulette)

Other services: Pay upfront, hope they respond, cross your fingers.

 

Me: Clear timeline, regular updates, guaranteed delivery.

Instant order confirmation

I'll personally review your details and reach out within 24 hours

Preview in 2 weeks (not "a few weeks... maybe")

Unlimited revisions until it's exactly right

No ghosting, no vanishing, no excuses

This is a professional service, not a side hustle someone does when they feel like it.

20% Holiday Discount (Ends Soon)

Normally $125 per person. Right now through the holidays: $99 per person.


That's $26 off per portrait. For a couple's portrait, you save $52.


This discount ends this month. After that, prices return to normal.

Let's Talk About Price (And What This Is Really Worth)

$99 per person for Portrait from Photo (normally $125, 20% off through holidays).


I know that's more than a dice set. More than a t-shirt. More than most D&D gifts.
 

So let's be honest about what you've already spent:

The Generic Gift Trail:

Dragon figurine: $35

Dice set they never use: $40

Gaming t-shirt worn twice: $25

D&D books they already had: $60

Gift card: $50

Total spent on gifts that didn't land: $210
 

Total emotional impact created: Zero
 

Now compare that to $99 for a portrait that:

Hangs in their living room (not the game room... the actual living room)

Makes them feel truly seen for the first time

Proves you understand what their creative work means

They'll still treasure 10 years after the campaign ends

Which one matters in 5 years?


The dice collecting dust? Or the portrait that acknowledged 300 hours of creative investment?

The Holiday Reality You Need To Know

I only take 15 Portrait from Photo commissions per month.


Not because of fake scarcity. Because each portrait takes 10-15 hours of actual painting time, and I refuse to rush your vision.


For Christmas/Holiday Gifting:
📅 Order by November 24th for physical print delivery by Christmas
📅 Order by December 8th for digital delivery (you print locally)
🎯 Current spots remaining: ?
 

After November 24th, you'll still get the portrait... just not in time for Christmas morning.
 

Why these dates matter:
 

Custom portraits can't be rushed. The magic happens in the details: getting their face exactly right, painting their character the way you described it, those unlimited revisions that make it perfect.


If you want something for the holidays, these timelines are real.

Here's What Happens Next

You already know what would make the perfect gift.


You've seen their character. You know their face. You can picture what the portrait should look like.


The only question left: Can you trust someone to actually execute it?
 

That's what the Heroic Money-Back Guarantee is for.
 

Click the button below to see the Portrait from Photo page. You'll see:

Full portfolio of completed work (300+ 5-Star Reviews since 2023)

Detailed process breakdown

Exact pricing

When you're ready, click "Secure My Slot" and you'll immediately receive an email from me within 24 hours asking for:

Photos of the person

Your vision for their character portrait

Any reference images you have

Then I get to work bringing your vision to life.
 

In 2 weeks, you see the polished preview. If it matches what you pictured, we refine it together until it's perfect.
 

If it doesn't? Full refund. No questions asked.
 

The risk is entirely on me. Where it should be.

Who This Is Really For

Anyone who knows what portrait they want but is terrified of the commission process

Partners who want to prove they understand what matters

Parents supporting a passion they don't fully comprehend

Friends giving a gift that acknowledges creative investment

Anyone tired of gifts that don't land emotionally

Anyone who's waited years to commission but feared getting scammed

You have the vision. I have the execution skills and the guarantee.
 

Let's make this happen.

The Reactions That Keep Me Doing This

Let me show you what happens when the portrait actually matches the vision:

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

|

74 Reviews

Fantasy Portrait from Photo

See Your Portrait in 2 Weeks

Heroic Money-Back Guarantee

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Easy Guided Process

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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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