Your First Character Portrait: Why Players Wait 7 Years 
(And Why You Shouldn't)

The truth about getting perfect character art without the horror stories.

Published on September 1st, 2025

The night everything changed, Marianne dropped her new character art in Roll20.

 

What happened next broke nearly three years of invisibility.

"Wait, THAT'S your cleric?!"

 

"Oh shit, the purple makes sense now, you kept mentioning penance but I thought it was just flavor text"

 

"Is that... is something watching her in the background?"

 

"Okay NOW I get why you freak out every time someone gets hurt"

 

For three years, Marianne's tiefling cleric had been the table's dedicated healer. 

 

The one who kept everyone alive. The one they called when things got bad.

But they never knew why she healed with such desperate intensity.


They never knew about the Voice that once possessed her. 

 

About the purple she wore as eternal penance, the color of sacrifice, marking every spell she cast as an act of redemption.
 

To them, she was just "the cleric."
 

Generic. Forgettable. Invisible.
 

Until that portrait dropped.
 

"The DM immediately started weaving her guilt into every healing description," 

 

Marianne told me. 

 

"NPCs began noticing her purple cloak, asking about it. For the first time in three years, Eraellyn wasn't just mechanically present, she was narratively alive."

Last month, I surveyed 127 of my past clients about their character art journey. 

I asked them to be honest about their struggles.

The results paint a disturbing picture of how long players suffer in silence:

90% have tried AI generators (mainly ChatGPT) but got mediocre results

52% use placeholder art that "doesn't fit at all" (usually from Pinterest or rough sketches)

1 in 3 say their character feels "invisible" to other players

62% have pages of backstory that "no one really gets"

And here's the statistic that should terrify anyone who loves their character:

The average player waits 7 years before getting custom art

Seven. Years.

That's nearly a decade of your hero living rent-free in your mind while everyone else sees a generic token.

One player summed it up perfectly: 

 

"I have a 3-page backstory. I know every scar, every mannerism, every detail. But when combat starts, I feel like the dude who rages"

And what's worse?

 

We've all tried to fix this.

The 3 Character Killers

Killer #1: The Pinterest Placeholder

You know the drill. 

 

You need character art, so you spend hours scrolling Pinterest, DeviantArt, Google Images. 

 

You find something that's... close enough.

Maybe the armor's wrong. Maybe they're the wrong class. Maybe the whole vibe is off.

 

But you use it anyway because what choice do you have?

Killer #2: ChatGPT

Fine, you think. I'll use ChatGPT. How hard can it be?

 

You spend 45 minutes in an endless loop: 

 

'Fix the hands.' 

 

'Now fix what you broke when you fixed the hands.' 

 

'Now fix the original thing again.' 

 

Twenty iterations later, you realize you're going backwards. 

Your character looks less accurate than when you started.

 

So you save it. "Close enough," you tell yourself. 

 

Close enough for the character who's been your Friday night for two years. 

 

Close enough for the hero you think about during work meetings. 

 

"Close enough" to represent hundreds of hours of your life.

"It looked like my character's soulless twin, Kinda close, but also wrong. sorta like uncanny valley for D&D. When Jan sent the final art, after years of imagining them, FINALLY someone else saw what I saw." -Bryson H.

So you finally decide to get custom art. You post on Reddit or X. Your inbox fills with 40+ messages in less than an hour.

Except : 

Half are using stolen portfolios (I tested this)

Others quote $50, then suddenly it's $300

Some take your deposit and vanish

Some deliver art that looks nothing like your vision

"I paid $240 and waited four months," 

shared Tom S. from the survey. 

"Before payment: 'Your character is amazing! I can't wait to start!' After payment: Ghost. Four months of chasing him for updates that never came."

Maybe they're inspired today. Maybe they're burnt out. Maybe your commission becomes the project they dread opening. 

 

You're just another notification they ignore while they work on pieces they actually care about.

 

That's the difference. I do this full time. 

 

This isn't a side hustle I squeeze in when I feel like it. 

 

Your character gets scheduled, worked on, and delivered. 

 

Period. No mood swings. No ghosting. Just professional delivery backed by actual guarantees.

👋 Hi, I'm Jan. I'm an artist, but more importantly, I'm a player like you.

 

For years, I watched friends struggle with invisible characters. Amazing heroes trapped behind wrong tokens. Epic stories nobody could see.

 

The breaking point came when my DM tried commissioning the whole party. Three artists ghosted him. One delivered garbage. $400 and six months wasted.

That's when it hit me: The system is broken.

It's not the artists' fault. 

Not the players' fault. 

Not the DM's fault.


The problem lies within the current commission system:

No clear process. 

No trust.

No accountability.

No understanding between the artist and the player.

 

So I built something different.

A Clear, Straightforward Brief

Here's what most artists don't tell you: 

 

They expect YOU to be the art director.

With no guidance. no structure. 

 

Just "describe your character" and hope you don't forget that crucial scar, that specific way they hold their weapon, or the detail that makes them THEM.

You know your character perfectly. But translating years of mental images into words? That's where things fall apart. 

That's why I created The Ultimate Character Blueprint.

 

Forget confusing briefs. This blueprint, refined through 500+ commissions, asks the questions that actually matter:

What are the 3 MOST CRUCIAL elements to capture?

Where should the artist use creative freedom?

How do you envision the overall mood/atmosphere?

Every question is there for a reason. Every section ensures nothing gets lost between your vision and the final art.

 

It's my gift to help you articulate your character perfectly.

(Grab it free on the next page. Use it to organize your thoughts, even if you commission elsewhere.)

Look, I'll be honest, this isn't common for artists. 

 

Most won't offer a money-back guarantee because commissions are risky. 

 

But I'm willing to take that risk because I believe in the D&D community, and because I want you to feel safe taking the leap.
 

You get a polished first draft in 2 weeks. 

 

Don't love it? Full refund. No questions.


Plus unlimited revisions until it's perfect. 

 

No hidden charges.

Direct Access to Me

No middlemen. No confusion. 

 

You work directly with an artist who gets both art AND D&D.

Someone who knows the difference between a component pouch and an arcane focus. 

 

Who understands why your tiefling's horns curve backward (infernal heritage) not forward (that's draenei, you're thinking of WoW).

 

I've been where you are. I understand the weight of getting this right.

Every great warrior gets their statue. Every legendary king gets their portrait. Your character fought battles, saved lives, changed worlds.


Where's their monument?

That character who got you through covid? The one from the campaign that ended three years ago but you still think about? 

 

They earned more than just memories.

"My campaign ended in 2019. Still got Thorne's portrait done. Best decision ever. He's on my wall now, not just fading in my memory." - Evan M.

Active or retired. Alive or fallen. 

 

They deserve to be remembered.

Living Motion

I spent 3 months developing something that doesn't exist anywhere else.

Living Motion Portraits, exclusive to FondlyFramed.

Every commission this month also includes a Living Motion Upgrade of your finalized portrait:

Subtle breathing animation

Flowing cloaks and hair

Glowing magical effects

This upgrade also integrates seamlessly with most VTTs (Roll20, Foundry) using the .gif format. 

Your static PNG days are over. This drops into Roll20 like any image, except your character is suddenly alive. 

 

The DM will literally pause the game to ask how you did that.

Real Players, Real Victories

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

10/10 recommend Jan!

I spent weeks looking on Reddit, getting frustrated by the lack of price disclosure and feeling nervous about getting ghosted. Then I found Jan through a Facebook ad. She brought every detail to life based on written descriptions, scattered references, and a mediocre Hero Forge image. I'm so glad I took the plunge!

-Kaitlyn G.

Verified Customer

She really gets your character

Jan understands visual storytelling takes intentional reflection. She's not a 'draw a pair of boots' artist, but a 'where have those boots been, how many miles have they seen?' kind of artist. You can't teach that kind of care and curiosity. It turned out spectacular, can't wait for my next character!

-Jayce S.

Verified Customer

Jan brought my character to life!

Honestly, I was scared at first, because I'm really picky with art. But Jan managed to gather everything I described into the picture. I nearly heard my character speaking out of it. Her eyes seemed to be alive. It was worth every bit of anxiety and doubt I had going in.

-Luzy L.

Verified Customer

Even better than Hero Forge

The Weaver has been my character for a year and a half, and I could never get them right with Hero Forge or my own drawings. Jan brought this enigmatic courtier to life perfectly. I'll definitely commission again when the campaign wraps to show how the character has changed and evolved.

-Gale S.

Verified Customer

Let's Talk Investment

Image Credit : u/dalzien 

$100+ for character art. I know what you're thinking. And I get it, it's not cheap.


But consider what you already spend:

Hardcover books: $50 each (you own 5+)

Dice addiction: $200+ easy

Minis you used once: $25 each

That 3D printer gathering dust: $300

You've spent more on dice jail than you would on immortalizing your hero.

And this isn't just art. It's:

Your vision finally visualized

Your character truly seen every session

Permanent campaign legacy

Never explaining appearance again

Living Motion dominance on every VTT

"Spent $300 on terrain I sometimes use. But I get to see my portrait every game."  - James R.

Every session without real art is another week closer to the 7-year fade. 

 

Another game where you're just "the fighter." 

 

Another memory that won't stick.

But today, that changes.

 

I only take 18 characters monthly. 

 

There are 5 spots left as I write this.

 

The Living Motion upgrade? It's free this month only. 

 

Then back to $50.

Your real character can't stay invisible any longer.


They've earned their moment.

FondlyFramed

4.9

|

324 Reviews

D&D Character Portrait

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does my order include?

1) A custom hand-painted portrait of your character

 

2) My Heroic Money Back Guarantee

3) Unlimited revisions until it's perfect

 

4) 2-week turnaround on your first concept

 

5) Limited Bonus: Get a Free Living Motion upgrade on your finalized portrait. (Regular Price: $50, Limit 1 per customer)

Not sure where to start or how to describe your character?

No problem at all! I'll guide you through the commission process step-by-step. Many of my clients are first-time commissioners, so you're in good company.

 

If you'd like to be extra prepared, you're welcome to grab a free Character Blueprint and fill that out with as much or as little detail as you feel comfortable with.

 

Otherwise, you can simply make a purchase, and I'll personally walk you through everything from there. My goal is to make this easy and enjoyable for you!

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 every D&D player deserves to see their hero come to life. This guarantee is just my way of making sure you feel safe jumping in.

Why should I get a character portrait?

Because right now, you're the only one who truly sees your character.

 

After 200+ hours of play, your party still forgets their name. The DM overlooks your backstory. That epic moment from last month? Already forgotten.

 

And I know that your ChatGPT placeholder isn't cutting it either.

 

A portrait changes the entire table dynamic. Suddenly, you're not "the wizard", you're Kalendra the Stormcaller. Your plot hooks get woven in. Your victories stick in everyone's memory. You go from background player to the character everyone's invested in.

 

Plus, campaigns end. Groups drift apart. But that hero who's lived in your head for years? They deserve to exist beyond your imagination.

 

A portrait isn't just art, it's proof that all those Thursday nights mattered.

 

And with Living Motion, they don't just exist, they breathe.

 

Bottom line: Your character has earned the right to be seen, remembered, and immortalized. 

 

The only question is whether it happens before your campaign ends.

 

P.S. - I seriously appreciate you taking the time to read this. As my way of saying thanks, below are hand-drawn token borders I've created, completely free.

 

Use them with any art you have. Consider it a preview of how attention to detail can elevate your hero.

→ [Get Token Borders] ←

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