You've Never Commissioned Character Art. Neither Had 92% of My Clients.

The confession every D&D player shares but nobody talks about, and why your first portrait should have happened years ago

Written by Jan

I made this portrait move because static art wasn't enough anymore.

After eight years of playing D&D, without ever commissioning a single character, I finally understood why the rest of us never do it.

It's not the money. You've spent more on rulebooks & dice.

It's not the process. That's actually pretty straightforward.

It's not even finding artists. They're everywhere.

It's that nobody built a way for people like us.
 

The 90% who've never done this before, to try without feeling like we're walking into a casino.

The Experience We've All Been Denied

You know what you're actually missing?


It's not just art. It's the anticipation of waiting for that first sketch. 

 

The heart-racing moment when the artist sends 

 

"Here's your character." 

 

The back-and-forth of 

 

"Could you make the scar a bit bigger?" 

 

The pride of showing your party 

 

"Look what just got finished."
 

It's collaboration. Creation. Connection.

Instead, we get... what? Another session of explaining that no, the Pinterest elf you're using doesn't have a beard. 

 

Another round of "imagine she's wearing plate armor, not robes." 

 

Another year of your character existing only in your head.
 

One of my clients described it perfectly: 

 

"I realized I'd gone through three character deaths and two campaign endings without ever seeing my character as anything more than the placeholder art from ChatGPT."
 

Your characters deserved better. You deserved better.
 

So why haven't you done it?

The Three Walls Between You and Your Character

Wall #1: The Scam Horror Stories


Every D&D subreddit has them. 

 

"$300 stolen." 

"Artist vanished after deposit." 

"Six months of waiting for nothing."


These aren't urban legends. They're real. They happened to real players. 

 

Maybe someone at your table. 

Maybe someone you know online. 

The stories spread because they're terrifying.
 

So you stay safe. You don't try.

average /r/starvingartist client

Wall #2: The "How Do I Even Explain Them?" Panic


Your character lives in your head in perfect detail. But the moment you try to write a commission request, your brain goes blank.


"She's a tiefling but not like a typical tiefling, she's more... weathered? But not old. She has scars but they're not edgy. Her armor is practical but also has this ceremonial quality..."


You sound insane. You know you sound insane. You close the message. You don't send it.

Wall #3: The Commitment Fear

 

It's not even about having the money. You've spent more on dice you don't need.
 

It's about spending $100+ on something that might be wrong. That you might hate. That might not capture them at all. 

 

With no recourse. No refund. No way to fix it.
 

That's not a purchase. That's a gamble.

The Cost of the Gamble

Here's what staying behind those walls actually costs you:

Characters who live and die without ever being seen.

Campaigns that end with nothing but fuzzy memories.

Stories that fade because there's no visual anchor to hold them.

I talk to players every week who say the same thing:

 

"I should have commissioned them before the campaign ended."

 

Before they died. 

Before the group fell apart. 

Before it was too late.

 

Your placeholder art isn't neutral.

 

It's actively eroding your character. Every session, they become a little less yours and a little more generic. 

Every time someone pictures the wrong thing, your actual character gets buried deeper.

 

But what kills me is this: You think this is your fault. You think you're being "too picky" or "too nervous" or "too broke."

 

You're not. The system failed you.

Someone Finally Fixed the First-Timer Problem

👋 I'm Jan. I run FondlyFramed.


I was you. Eight years of playing. Zero commissions. Paralyzed by the same walls.


Then I finally tried. Got burned. Badly. $200 gone, artist vanished, learned my lesson.


Except my lesson wasn't "never try again."


My lesson was "this system is broken for people like us."
 

So I built something different. Something specifically for the 90% who've never done this before.

Your First Commission, But Safe

Here's what I changed:

 

1. You pay upfront, but it's 100% refundable if you don't love the first polished draft.

 

Not "store credit." 

Not "minus my time." 

Your money back. No questions.

 

2. You get a Character Blueprint that guides you through description.

 

No more blank page panic. I ask 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?"

 

3. You work directly with me. No middlemen. No confusion.

 

I'm also a player. I know why the scar placement matters. I know the difference between "tired" and "haunted."

 

4. You get unlimited revisions after that first draft.

 

Not "three rounds then pay more." 

Actual revisions until it's your character.

 

5. First draft in two weeks. Guaranteed.

 

No seven-month waits. No checking Discord every morning. 

 

Two weeks.

 

This isn't generosity. It's necessity. Because 90% of my clients are first-timers, and first-timers need safety rails.

What Other First-Timers Say

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

Plus Something That'll Blow Your Mind

This month, every commission includes a free Living Motion upgrade.

Subtle breathing animation

Flowing cloaks and hair

Glowing magical effects

Drops straight into Roll20 or Foundry. Everyone at your table will lose their minds.


But honestly? That's just showing off. The real magic is finally seeing your character through someone else's eyes. Finally making them real.

Your Character Has Waited Long Enough

You've been playing for years. Your character has lived through adventures that would fill novels. They've earned this.

 

More importantly: You've earned the experience of commissioning them safely.

 

No gambling. No horror stories. No regrets.

 

Just your character, finally visible. Finally real. Finally permanent.

 

I only take 15 commissions per month. 

 

At the time of writing this, there are 4 slots left. 

 

Your first commission is waiting.

 

100% money-back guarantee for first-timers. Because your first commission should be magical, not terrifying.

FondlyFramed

4.9

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324 Reviews

D&D Character Portrait

See Your Hero in 2 Weeks

Heroic Money-Back Guarantee

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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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