The Gift That Makes Them Feel Seen

If you've been searching for something meaningful, here's what finally works.

Written by Jan 👋

Last November, Sandra sent me photos of her husband and their two cats.
 

"Okay, this might sound weird," she wrote, "but hear me out."
 

Her husband had been playing the same character in his favorite fantasy game for over a year—a wizard with two magical companions. She'd watched him sink hundreds of hours into it. Building backstories. Perfecting details. Talking about his character like a real person.


"He keeps saying our cats would make perfect familiars in his world," she explained. "Mochi would be a protective spirit cat, Luna would have shadow magic. He's been joking about it for months."


Here's what she wanted: Him as his wizard character. With Mochi and Luna as his magical companions. Their actual faces and personalities, just... transformed.

"I don't really understand his game," she admitted. "But I understand this matters to him. I want to show him I see that. Even if I don't play."


We created the portrait. Her husband as his wizard, with Mochi perched on his shoulder radiating protective energy, Luna at his feet wreathed in shadows.
 

Then Sandra did something brilliant.
 

She had it printed on a custom playmat. The art he'd use every single gaming session.


When he unwrapped it, he went completely quiet.
 

Then he noticed the cats.
 

"You remembered? You put Mochi and Luna in my world?"
 

Sandra's message afterward:
 

"He cried. Like, actually cried. Then he immediately took a photo and sent it to his gaming group. He uses the playmat every single session now. His friends kept texting 'your wife gets it.' I've never felt more proud of a gift."
 

That's what this does.

 

It proves you see his passion as real. Not silly. Not childish. 

 

Real enough to make permanent.

If You've Been Feeling Left Out, This Bridges That Gap

I hear this constantly:


"He plays every night with his friends and I just sit there."


"I don't understand why he cares so much about some character in a game."


"I feel like an outsider to this huge part of his life."
 

You can't suddenly learn 500 hours of game mechanics. You can't fake interest in strategies and builds. You can't become someone who "gets it" overnight.


But you can do something better.


You can show him that even though you don't understand the game, you understand what it means to him.


That's the gap this gift bridges.


It says: "I see you spending hundreds of hours on this. I see this matters to you. I'm making it permanent because your passion deserves real art."

If You've Been Feeling Left Out, This Bridges That Gap

You've already tried the obvious options:
 

Gaming gear he researched and bought himself.
 

Collectibles that sit on a shelf gathering dust.
 

Generic gaming merch that feels lame and ugly.
 

Gift cards that feel like surrender.
 

None of them acknowledge what his character actually represents.
 

A poster doesn't honor the 400 hours he spent building his Elden Ring character's backstory.
 

Another collectible doesn't validate the personality he created for his Final Fantasy XIV avatar.
 

Research shows: "It's too easy to fumble PC gifts."
 

You know what would actually mean something.
 

You've known for weeks: Custom art of him as his character.
 

But every time you get close to commissioning, the fear stops you.

"I'm Scared I'll Sound Stupid When I Ask For This"

Let's address what's actually holding you back.
 

You're terrified the artist will judge you.
 

That when you message them saying "I want my boyfriend as his Baldur's Gate character," they'll think it's silly. 

 

That you'll use the wrong game terminology and prove you're an outsider. 

 

That you'll mess up the description and the art will come back wrong and you'll have wasted money proving you don't understand his world.
 

Direct quote from a client last month:
 

"I'm so embarrassed to even ask for this. I don't know the right words for his armor type or weapon. I'm scared I'll fumble it and waste $100 proving I don't get his world."
 

Here's what you need to know.
 

I didn't build this service for gamers commissioning their own art.
 

I built it specifically for partners who want to validate something they don't fully understand.
 

You won't be judged here. You can't fumble this with me.

How This Actually Works (Built For Complete Outsiders)

Most artists assume you know what you want.
 

I assume you know him but don't know fantasy art language.
 

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

Step 1: Tell Me About Him (Not The Game)

His character's class or stats

Armor types or weapon names

Game-specific terminology

You just need to know:

His personality: Protective? Strategic? Bold? Playful?

The game he plays: Baldur's Gate 3? Final Fantasy XIV? Elden Ring? D&D?

Any details he's mentioned: "He always talks about his red cloak" or "He plays a knight"

Most messages look like:


"My boyfriend plays Final Fantasy XIV constantly. Some kind of warrior with blue armor. He's the protective type. Always looking out for his friends in the game. That's all I know."
 

Perfect. That's plenty.

Step 2: I Translate Everything

You tell me: "He's protective and loyal"


I create: Sturdy stance, warm expression, heavy armor with battle-worn details, shield positioned protectively


You tell me: "She's strategic and clever"
I create: Thoughtful gaze, calculated posture, lighter armor, weapon held with confidence


You tell me: "He's obsessed with his Baldur's Gate rogue"


I create: Confident smirk, agile stance, leather armor, expression showing intelligence and wit


You know your partner. I translate that into fantasy art.


You literally cannot fumble this.

Step 3: You See It Finished First (Not A Sketch)

Most artists make you pay 50% upfront, send a rough sketch, and expect you to approve based on imagination.


I show you the complete, polished portrait first.
 

Fully painted. Finished. Exactly as you'll receive it.
 

Then you decide.
 

Why?
 

Because your nightmare is: "What if it's bad? What if he has to pretend to like it?"
 

I remove that fear completely.
 

You see it finished. You know immediately if it captures him.
 

If it doesn't? Full refund.

Step 4: We Perfect It Together

Most people say: "It's perfect."


Some say: "Can his expression be slightly more confident?"


Both work. We refine (unlimited revisions) until you feel it: "This is exactly him."

A Christmas gift for a blended family: Six people, four different Hogwarts houses, each with poses reflecting who they are—the athletic boys dueling, the nature-lover conjuring flowers, the artist creating magic.

What This Gift Actually Means (Beyond The Art)

Here's what most people don't understand about custom fantasy art.


You're not just buying a picture.


You're making a statement about his hobby. About his passion. About the 500 hours he's poured into building someone he imagines being.


This gift says:


Your hobby isn't childish. It's not silly. It's not "just a game."
 

It's worthy of real art.
 

When you commission custom fantasy art, you're elevating his passion from something people might dismiss to something that deserves to be made permanent.
 

That's validation.
 

When he hangs it in the living room (not hidden in his gaming room), he's showing the world: "My partner supports this. My partner gets me."
 

When he shows his friends, they don't see "cool art." They see: "His partner actually understands what this means to him."
 

This is why people cry when they receive it.
 

Not because the art is technically perfect. Because someone finally validated that the thing they've been pouring their heart into matters.

The Commission Nightmare (And Why This Is Different)

If you've researched commissioning art, you've probably seen the horror stories.

 

Artist ghosting after payment.

 

"I paid 50% upfront. Three weeks of silence. Finally got a response when I opened a PayPal case."

 

Portraits that look nothing like the person.

 

"I sent clear photos. The face doesn't even look like him. Artist says 'that's my style' and won't fix it."

 

Vague communication and confusion.

 

"I don't know if my commission is even being worked on. No updates. No timeline. Just waiting."

 

Price surprises.

 

"They quoted $100, then added fees for revisions, for the background, for 'complexity.' Final bill was $280."

 

This isn't paranoia.

 

The art commission market is genuinely broken.

Here's how this is different:

 

✅ Professional service (not artist roulette)
Order confirmation within 24 hours. Preview in 2 weeks. Regular updates. You're never left wondering.
 

✅ Clear pricing (no surprises)
$99 per person. Unlimited revisions included. No hidden fees. What you see is what you pay.
 

✅ See it complete before fully committing
Not a sketch. The actual finished portrait. If it doesn't feel right? Full refund.
 

✅ This is my full-time business
Not a side hustle. 500+ completed commissions. 300+ verified five-star reviews. I'm not disappearing.
 

✅ Built for non-gamers
I expect you to not know the terminology. I guide you through everything. No judgment.

What Makes This Different From Everything You've Looked At

Template Services on Etsy:
Same body pose for everyone. Just different faces pasted on. Nothing specific to your partner.
 

ChatGPT:
Cheap but obvious. He'll know. It'll feel low-effort.
 

Random Independent Artists:
Confusing pricing. No guarantees. Communication anxiety. Risk of ghosting.
 

Generic Gaming Merch:
Collectibles and posters that miss the entire point of what his character means to him.
 

Here's what you get instead:
 

✅ Built specifically for partners who don't play
✅ Fumble-proof process (I guide everything)
✅ See the complete portrait before committing
✅ This validates his hobby as real and worthy
✅ Professional service with guarantees
✅ Use it however you want (wall art, playmat, desk frame, anything)

Template-based services: Same pose, same outfit, same style

Real Reactions From People Just Like You

Jan is nothing short of amazing! Super responsive and had great ideas to help bring my vision to life. Even went so far as to create two different drafts for me to choose from! I highly recommend this shop for any custom art needs. I had Jan's artwork printed onto a playmat for my boyfriend and he was so touched at the custom artwork of him and his cats. I will definitely look to make another purchase if I have another character art need. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

Sandra V.

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

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

I am very happy with my portrait from this lovely artist! We had a payment hiccup at first and Jan was just awesome about it. I couldn't appreciate her patience about the situation more! As for the portrait itself. I love it! It's for my husband's birthday/Christmas so I am hoping that he loves it as much as I do! I definitely intend to return here for more portraits in the future when I am able!

Lady M.

Verified Customer

Let's Be Honest About What This Costs

$99 per person (20% off through holidays, normally $125)
 

I know that's more than dice or t-shirts.
 

So let's be honest about what you've probably already spent on gifts that didn't land:
 

The Generic Gift Trail:

Dragon figurine: $35

Unused dice set: $40

T-shirt worn twice: $25

"Best Gamer" mug: $18 (in cabinet)

Gift card: $50

Total: $210 on gifts that ended up in drawers
 

Emotional impact: Polite thanks. Then forgotten.

Compare To:
 

$99 for a portrait that:

Hangs in a place of honor (office, living room—not hidden)

Makes him feel truly SEEN

Proves you understand his investment

Creates the "speechless" moment

They treasure for years

Which gift matters in 5 years?


The dusty dice? Or the portrait that honored 300 hours of creative investment?
  

The price objection vanishes when the emotional outcome is delivered.

You're not buying a file. You're buying his reaction.

The December Timeline

Order by early December for guaranteed Christmas delivery.


Custom art can't be rushed. The validation comes from the details. Capturing his exact expression, painting his character the way you envision it, unlimited revisions to make it perfect.
 

I limit December orders to ensure quality.
 

Real capacity limits. I can only paint so many while maintaining standards and hitting deadlines.
 

After early December: You'll still get it, just not by Christmas morning.

What Happens Next (No Commitment Required)

Click below to see the Portrait from Photo page.
 

You'll see:

Examples of completed work

Detailed pricing

Real testimonials

FAQ section

When you're ready, click "Secure My Slot."
 

You'll immediately get an email from me (within 24 hours) asking for:

Photos

What game he plays (BG3? FFXIV? Elden Ring? D&D?)

His personality (protective? strategic? bold?)

Then I bring it to life.


In 2 weeks: You see the complete, polished preview.
 

If it captures him: We refine until perfect (unlimited revisions).
 

If it doesn't: Full refund.

This Is For You If:

✅ You've been searching for 1-2 weeks and nothing feels right

✅ You know custom art would be perfect but the process terrifies you

✅ You don't play D&D but want to honor what matters to your partne

✅ You're willing to invest in a meaningful gift—but only with guarantees

✅ You want to see them feel truly SEEN
 

This is NOT for you if:
 

❌ You want the cheapest option (Etsy has $30 templates)

❌ You need instant delivery (custom work takes minimum 2 weeks)

❌ You're not willing to share photos or answer personality questions

Your Decision

You've spent weeks searching.


Dice sets felt lazy. Figurines felt generic. Gift cards felt like giving up.
 

You keep thinking about custom art, but fear stops you.


Fear of being judged for a "nerdy" request.
Fear of fumbling the description.
Fear of wasting money proving you don't understand him.
 

Here's what I'm offering:
 

A service built specifically to remove those fears.

✅ No judgment zone (Built for non-gamers)
✅ Fumble-proof (I guide everything)
✅ See it complete first (Know before committing)
✅ Validates his hobby (Makes it real through art)
✅ Early December deadline (Christmas delivery)
✅ Money-back promise (Zero risk)
 

The risk is entirely on me.


You don't need to understand his game.


You just need to understand it matters to him.
 

And prove that even though you don't play, you see his passion as worthy of real, permanent art.
 

Behind every gaming character is someone who's poured hundreds of hours into who they imagine being.
 

And behind every validation moment is a partner who cared enough to make that real.
 

Let's make this Christmas unforgettable.

FondlyFramed

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