D&D Character Commission Checklist: What to Send Your Artist
90% of first commissions fail because of poor preparation, not bad artists. This checklist fixes that before you spend a dollar.
Jan
10 min read
You finally decided to commission your D&D character. You found an artist whose portfolio looks incredible. You send them a message and they ask: "What does your character look like?"
Your brain goes blank. You know exactly what Kaelen looks like. You've pictured them for 200 hours across 30 sessions. But when it's time to put that into words for a stranger? Suddenly you can't describe the difference between "worn leather armor" and "battle scarred leather armor" and why that difference matters so much to you.
A brief can leave a gap between the character you imagine and the details your artist can paint. List the visible must-haves first, then add the story that explains them.
This is the complete DnD character commission checklist I wish someone had given me before my first commission. Everything you need to prepare, organize, and communicate so your artist nails it the first time.
Why Preparation Matters More Than Picking the Right Artist
Here's something most commission guides won't tell you. The number one reason commissions fail isn't scams. It isn't ghosting. It isn't even bad artists.
It's poor communication from the client.
After 500+ character portrait commissions, I can tell you that the single biggest predictor of whether someone loves their final portrait is how well they communicated their vision at the start. A great artist working from a vague description will deliver something technically beautiful that doesn't feel like your character. A good artist working from a detailed, well organized brief will deliver something that makes you emotional.
That's the difference preparation makes. And it doesn't require art vocabulary, drawing skills, or any special knowledge. It just requires thinking through a few specific things before you hit "send." For a deeper look at the full commissioning process, check out the first time commissioner's guide.
Checklist 1: The Basics Every Artist Needs From You
Before you contact any artist, have these ready. This is the bare minimum. Without these, you're asking someone to guess, and guessing is how you end up with art that looks nothing like the character in your head.
- Character name and race. Seems obvious, but you'd be surprised how many messages I get that just say "draw my character." A tiefling and a half elf require completely different anatomical approaches.
- Class and level range. A level 3 fighter fresh from the farm looks very different from a level 15 fighter who has killed a god. This context shapes everything from armor quality to posture.
- Portrait type. Do you want a bust (shoulders up), half body (waist up), or full body? This affects pricing and composition. Not sure which to pick? I wrote a full breakdown of portrait types to help you decide.
- Budget range. Be honest about what you can spend. Good artists would rather scope work to your budget than have you ghost them after seeing the quote. For realistic numbers, see the 2026 pricing guide.
- Deadline (if any). If this is a gift or tied to a campaign milestone, say so upfront. Artists plan their schedules weeks or months ahead.
Checklist 2: The Details That Separate "Close Enough" From Perfect
This is where most players freeze up. They know their character inside and out. They just don't know which details actually matter for a visual portrait. Here's exactly what to focus on.
Physical Appearance
- Skin tone. Be specific. "Pale" could mean anything from alabaster to slightly lighter than average. Reference a known character or celebrity if it helps.
- Hair. Color, length, style, and texture. Does it fall naturally or is it tied back for combat? Any streaks, braids, or ornaments?
- Eyes. Color, shape, and expression. A warlock with glowing amber eyes needs to be noted. This is often the first thing people notice in a portrait.
- Build and height. Lean, muscular, heavyset? Tall or compact? Artists need this to get proportions right.
- Distinguishing features. Scars, tattoos, piercings, birthmarks, magical markings. If it matters to you, write it down. If you don't mention the scar across their left eye, it won't be there.
- Race specific features. Tiefling horn shape and color. Dragonborn scale pattern. Elf ear length. These details are where "generic fantasy character" becomes YOUR character.
Gear and Equipment
- Armor type and condition. Fresh from the blacksmith or held together with prayer and leather straps? Ornate or practical?
- Primary weapon. Be specific about size, style, and any unique features. "A greatsword" is vague. "A chipped greatsword with runes along the fuller that glow faintly blue" is perfect.
- Signature item. The holy symbol around their neck. The spellbook chained to their belt. The flask they never put down. Every character has one thing that defines them visually.
- Color palette. What colors does your character wear? Dark earth tones? Bright reds and golds? This shapes the entire mood of the portrait.
Personality and Expression
This is the part most players skip entirely, and it's the part that matters most.
- Default expression. Are they smirking, serious, contemplative, mischievous? A stoic paladin and a chaotic bard have completely different "resting faces."
- Pose and body language. Confident and shoulders back? Guarded and arms crossed? Relaxed with a tankard in hand? Even if your portrait is shoulders up, knowing their posture helps the artist capture their energy.
- One sentence personality summary. "Tired soldier who still believes in doing the right thing." That single sentence gives an artist more direction than three pages of backstory.
For a more detailed walkthrough of how to describe your character effectively, I wrote a complete guide on describing your DnD character to an artist.
Checklist 3: Visual References (Your Secret Weapon)
Words are good. Images are better. Together, they're nearly foolproof.
You don't need to find an exact picture of your character. That's the artist's job. What you need are reference images that communicate pieces of your vision quickly and clearly.
- Face reference. A celebrity, a character from a show, or another piece of art that captures the general face shape and features you're imagining. Even "sort of like a younger Viggo Mortensen but with sharper cheekbones" works great.
- Armor and clothing reference. Screenshots from games, concept art, or even historical armor photos. Pinterest is your best friend here.
- Color and mood reference. An image with the lighting, color palette, or atmosphere you want. This communicates more than any description of "warm tones."
- Art style reference. If you love a particular artist's style, share examples. This helps both you and the artist determine if they're a good fit before money changes hands.
- A "NOT this" reference. Sometimes it's easier to show what you don't want. "Not anime style." "Not overly sexualized armor." Clear boundaries save revision rounds.
Reference-board tip: Create a Pinterest board for your character. Pin 10 to 15 images that capture different elements. Then share the board link with your artist. Label what each reference is meant to show so the artist does not have to guess.
Checklist 4: The Vetting Questions to Ask Before You Pay
Once you have your character details organized, you need to make sure you're commissioning from someone legitimate. The D&D art commission market has real problems with scams and ghosting. This quick vetting checklist protects your money.
- Do they have a consistent portfolio? Look at 20+ pieces. If the styles vary wildly, those might be stolen from different artists. Consistent quality and recognizable style is what you want.
- What's their revision policy? Know this before you pay. "Two revision rounds" is industry standard. Unlimited revisions are ideal but less common.
- What's the realistic timeline? Professional artists give specific ranges ("2 to 4 weeks"). Vague answers like "when it's done" are a red flag.
- What payment method do they accept? Never pay with PayPal Friends and Family, Venmo, or CashApp for commissions. These offer zero buyer protection.
- Do they have reviews or testimonials from past clients? Check beyond their own site. Search their name on Reddit or social media for real feedback.
For the full breakdown on where to find artists and how to avoid the worst scams, read the guide to finding a reliable DnD artist.
Checklist 5: What to Do During the Commission
You've sent your brief. The artist accepted. Money has been exchanged. Now what?
- Respond to messages within 24 hours. When your artist sends a concept or asks a question, fast responses keep the project on track. Slow replies can push you to the back of their queue.
- Give specific feedback, not vague feelings. "Something feels off" doesn't help. "The jawline is too rounded and the armor looks too clean" does. Point to exact elements you want changed.
- Reference your original brief. If the artist missed something from your description, point to it directly. "In my brief I mentioned the scar running from the left eyebrow to the cheek" is much more useful than "the face is wrong."
- Don't introduce brand new elements mid commission. Requesting a completely different weapon, outfit, or pose after the concept stage is called scope creep. It's the fastest way to frustrate your artist and delay your portrait.
- Save the backstory for later. Artists need visual descriptions, not lore. "She survived a fire that scarred her left arm" is useful. A three paragraph story about how the fire happened is not.
The Free Tool That Replaces This Entire Checklist
I built this checklist because I watched hundreds of first time commissioners struggle with exactly this process. Blank pages. Scattered notes. Paragraphs of backstory with zero visual detail. The anxiety of "am I giving them enough information?" mixed with "am I giving them too much?"
Use a written brief alongside this checklist. You can make it in a document or message, then update it as you settle the details.
It's a structured form that walks you through every detail an artist needs, in the exact order they need it. No art vocabulary required. No guessing about what to include. You just fill in the blanks and your artist gets a clear, organized brief that translates your vision into something they can actually paint.
Keep essential details separate from optional ideas. That helps a first-time commissioner ask clearer questions, and it gives experienced buyers a record of the scope they want quoted.
If you are still exploring the character, try Character Quest. It is a playable adventure that helps you explore character choices. Bring the details you want to keep into your own brief and check them with the artist.
Everything on this checklist, organized into a simple form you can fill out and send to any artist.
Explore Character QuestAt FramedFantasy, you talk to Jan about your brief and feedback. I work on each portrait with my team of vetted artists. Ask for the current schedule before booking, and read the revision scope and first-concept guarantee terms at the outset.
Frequently Asked Questions
How detailed does my DnD character commission brief need to be?
More detail is almost always better, but organized detail matters more than volume. A focused half page description with visual references will produce a better result than five pages of backstory with no physical description. Focus on what the character looks like, not their life story. The character description template can help you organize this.
What if I don't have any visual references for my character?
That's completely fine. Detailed written descriptions work. But even finding one or two images that capture a mood, a color scheme, or a general face shape goes a long way. Try searching Pinterest for "DnD [your race] [your class]" and save anything that resonates. You're not looking for an exact match. You're giving the artist visual anchors to work from.
Should I prepare differently for a gift commission vs. commissioning my own character?
Yes. If you're commissioning as a gift, you'll need to gather details without the recipient knowing. Ask their DM for character descriptions. Check if they have a HeroForge model or a character sheet you can reference. If you're stuck, many artists (myself included) can work from photos and personality descriptions instead. You don't need to know the difference between a sorcerer and a wizard.
Is this checklist different for group or party commissions?
You'll need to go through the character details checklist for each individual character. Group commissions are more complex because every character needs individual attention before they're combined into one composition. Having an organized brief for each party member prevents the nightmare of one character looking amazing while another looks like an afterthought. For a deep dive on group commissions, read the party portrait commission guide.
How much should I expect to pay for a DnD character commission?
In 2026, professional character portraits typically range from $80 to $300+ depending on complexity, portrait type, and artist experience. Budget options exist below $50 but carry significantly higher risk. For a full breakdown with real numbers, check the DnD art commission pricing guide.
