The Portrait That Finally Shows Who They Really Are

The portrait for people who've lived in fantasy worlds long enough to know who they really are

Written by Jan

I got a message last month from a woman named Savanna. She'd just received the portrait she commissioned of her husband and son.

 

Her husband as a warrior in golden armor, sword in hand, with their little boy riding on his shoulders, both of them grinning like they're about to save the world together.

Her message wasn't what I expected.


"This is exactly how I see them. The protector and his sidekick. You painted their relationship, not just their faces."


Here's what hit me: Savanna didn't need me to imagine what her husband and son were like. She'd been watching them for years. 

 

She saw the protector in her husband every time he checked the locks at night or put himself between his family and anything uncertain. 

 

She saw the adventurous trust in her son every time he climbed on dad's shoulders without hesitation.


That dynamic was already there. Living in their house. Showing up in small moments every day.
 

She just needed someone to make it visible.


Because regular photos show a dad and kid in t-shirts in the backyard. Nice moment. Worth keeping.
 

But they don't show the relationship. The protective stance. The complete trust. The "we're a team and we can handle anything" energy that actually defines who they are together.

There's a reason millions of people spend hundreds of hours in D&D campaigns, building characters in video games, or investing emotionally in fantasy stories.
 

It's not escapism. It's not "just a hobby."
 

It's identity exploration.
 

When you create a character, whether it's your D&D paladin you've played for three years, your Baldur's Gate 3 main you've run through multiple playthroughs, or the version of yourself you imagine when reading fantasy novels—you're not making something up from nothing.
 

You're externalizing something that already exists inside you.
 

The protector. The strategist. The healer. The rebel. The loyal companion. The clever trickster.
 

These aren't "pretend" identities. They're aspects of who you actually are, given form in a world that makes room for heroes.

Regular photos capture how you look on a random Tuesday. They document your appearance. But they don't capture the person you know yourself to be when you're truly BEING yourself.
 

That's the gap fantasy portraits fill.
 

Not "here's a cool drawing of you with a sword." But "here's the hero you've always known you were, finally made visible."


I've painted over 500 of these portraits. And the reaction is never "cool, I have fantasy art now." It's always some version of: "I've been trying to explain this part of myself to people for years, and now I can just show them."


Whether you're commissioning this for yourself, your partner, your family, or a friend—the value isn't in owning fantasy art. The value is in finally having a visual representation of identity that photos could never capture.

Why Most Portrait Options Miss The Mark

Here's what usually happens when you start thinking "I want something special that represents them."


You browse Etsy. Everything looks either generic (the same template with a different face) or so stylized it wouldn't actually look like your person. Nothing that would make them go "that's ME."


You look at those photo-to-sketch services. They're fine for what they are, but they don't capture personality. Just outlines and filters. Nothing that shows the protective dad energy or the mischievous kid smile or the confident partner stance.

"Custom portraits" on Etsy using face-swapped templates.

You consider commissioning an artist directly. But then you're reading horror stories on Reddit about people who paid $300, got ghosted, and never received anything. Or got something that looked nothing like the person. Or dealt with an artist who made one revision and said "that's all you get, second round is extra."

So you end up with two bad options: Generic art that doesn't really represent them, or a risky commissioning process that might waste your money and leave you with nothing to show for it.
Most people just... give up. Bookmark the idea. Tell themselves "someday."


But here's what I realized after five years of doing this: The process doesn't have to be risky. And the art doesn't have to be generic.


You just need someone who understands that capturing personality matters more than adding cool fantasy elements.

How I Started Doing This Differently

I've been painting for years—started with D&D character portraits for friends in my gaming group. Standard fantasy art stuff.


Then one of my friends asked if I could paint her and her husband as their D&D characters. Not just generic adventurers—them, with their actual faces, as the ranger and tiefling they'd been playing for three years.


I said yes, but I was nervous. Because painting someone's FACE is different than painting "an elf rogue." Get it wrong and you've just given someone an awkward portrait they'll never hang up.


So I did what felt natural: I studied them. Not just their faces, but their personalities. The way he stood protectively near her at parties. The way she had this subtle smirk when she was plotting something clever. The dynamic between them—the "we're a team" energy.


I painted that. The protective stance, the clever expression, the team dynamic—all in fantasy form.
 

When I showed them the final piece, she stared at it for a solid minute, then said: "This feels more like us than our wedding photos."

That stopped me cold. Wedding photos are supposed to be THE photos that capture a couple. But she felt more seen in a fantasy painting than in professional photography.


Because the fantasy painting wasn't about documentation. It was about identity.


After that, everything changed. Parents started asking for family portraits—their whole crew as adventurers. Partners wanted anniversary art. People wanted to finally see themselves as the hero they'd always felt like inside.


And every single time, the same pattern: the art that made people emotional wasn't the most technically perfect. It was the art where they felt SEEN. Where their personality came through despite the fantasy elements.


Because if someone's going to spend real money on custom art and hang it on their wall, it should feel like them. Not like a cool fantasy drawing that vaguely resembles them.

The Questions People Ask Most

"What kind of photos do you need?"


Anything where I can see faces clearly. Phone selfies, Facebook photos, old candids—whatever you have. If faces are visible and in focus, I can work with it. If you're genuinely not sure, send me what you've got and I'll tell you if I need something different.


"What if I don't know what fantasy style fits them?"


Tell me about their personality and interests, and I'll guide you. "He loves Lord of the Rings and he's the protective dad type" tells me more than "I want a fantasy portrait." I'll ask questions until we nail the right vibe.


"How many people can you include?"


I've done up to six people in one portrait. Couples are most common, but families, friend groups, and full gaming parties all work. Composition gets more complex with more people, but it's definitely doable.
 

"What if I don't like the first preview?"
 

Then we either revise until you do like it, or I refund you. Your call. The preview exists so you're not gambling—you see real, complete art early and decide if we're on track.
 

"What do I actually receive at the end?"
 

High-resolution digital files (300 DPI) that are print-ready. You can print them anywhere, or I can handle museum-quality printing (canvas, acrylic, metal). You own the files for personal use—print them, share them online, use them however you want.
 

"How do revisions work?"
 

You tell me what needs to change. I revise. You review the revision. We repeat until you're satisfied. No limit on rounds. No extra fees. Just collaboration until it's right.

Here's What Happens Next

Send me your photos. Tell me about your person—or your family, your couple, your friend group. What makes them them? What role would they play if life were an adventure?
 

I'll paint a polished preview in about two weeks.
 

You'll look at it. If your gut reaction is "that's THEM," we'll refine the details together. If your gut reaction is "this isn't working," I'll refund you.
 

If we continue, we revise until you feel that recognition—until you look at it and think "this finally shows who they really are."
 

Then you get the final files, and you've got art that captures identity, not just appearance.
 

I've painted over 100 of these. 

 

Families becoming adventuring parties. Couples seeing their partnership in fantasy form. Individuals finally seeing themselves as the hero they've always felt like inside.


The art people treasure isn't the most expensive. It's the art that makes them feel truly seen.


If there's someone in your life who deserves to be seen that way—or if you want to finally see yourself as your heroic self—this is how it works.

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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