My Process Of Creating Custom D&D Character Art

We recently kicked off a new Dungeons & Dragons campaign - a dark fantasy tale set in a world of crumbling kingdoms, haunted ruins, and broken people. It’s a homebrew setting I’ve been slowly building for several month, inspired by stories like Berserk, Dark Souls, and the twisted beauty in the works of Scott Bakker.

Like any good campaign, it all starts with the characters. And this time, one of my friends came to me not just as a player, but as a client - he asked if I could design his character. I do DnD character art commissions regularly, but this one felt personal. I was not just the game master, but the artist trusted to give his idea a presence.

His concept was already haunting: a middle-aged sorcerer bound to a cursed blade, once an exorcist, now plagued by memory loss and a desperate search for his missing son. Gloomy, tragic and full of potential - the kind of character you don’t just draw, but breathe life into.

Getting the Vibe Right

We started with a mood board, something simple. Some rough images, vibes, textures. But most of our time went into conversation. I always ask a lot of questions when I take on a custom DnD character art commission - not just about what the character wears, but who they are.

• What’s their backstory?

• What emotions do they carry?

• What role do they play in the story?

Once I had a feel for him, I started sketching faces. This helps to see which direction feels most fitting.

We picked one that had the right amount of weariness and strength - someone shaped by grief, but still holding on to hope.

This version was actually one of the top choices early on, but after some back-and-forth with the client, we realized it didn’t quite capture the right feel. For a character with such a tragic backstory, we wanted him to look more skeptical and worn down - something that fit better with the dark fantasy world. In every DnD character art commission, it’s important to reflect the emotional weight of the character’s journey.

We landed on another one: tired eyes, hollow cheeks, but still sharp, still dangerous. You could see the years in his face, and the weight he carried.

I’m always open to edits during the process. Capturing a character’s true personality can take time. Whether it’s facial features, mood, or outfit details, I’m happy to explore different options and discuss changes with the client. For every DnD character art commission, my goal is to work together until we land on the final version that feels just right.

Full Body and Final Concept

From there, I moved on to full-body sketches. We explored different poses and clothing options, something about his posture needed to feel burdened but not broken.

The final version has everything: the portrait, the full-body pose and his most important items. It isn’t just a drawing - it is a visual storytelling.

This is why I love being a DnD artist for hire. Every character is a little universe. If you're looking for a DnD commission artist to bring your character to life, whether you’re a player or a GM looking for concept art, I’d love to help.

Feel free to contact me via email to discuss all the details: klodwiglichtherz@gmail.com