OC Art Commission Guide: How to Get Your Character Drawn

Why Commission Art of Your OC?

A visual reference transforms a character from words on a page into a presence. Commission art gives your OC a face that other creators recognize, art that brings your profile to life, and a piece of creative work that is uniquely yours.

Finding Artists

Where to Look

\n
• portfolio communities: Search "commissions open" in the tags. Filter by style.
\n
• social networks: Follow commission and character-art topic tags hashtags.
\n
• visual social networks: Search commission and character-art topic tags.
\n
• creator-support services and commission marketplaces: Many artists list commission options on these platforms.
\n
• community chat servers: Many RP and art community servers have commission boards.
\n

What to Look For

\n
• Consistent portfolio: Do they have multiple finished pieces in the style you want?
\n
• Clear pricing: Artists who list prices upfront are more professional and easier to work with.
\n
• Communication: Do they respond to questions promptly? Are they clear about timelines?
\n
• Terms of service: Check their usage rights policy — can you use the art commercially? On merchandise?
\n

Writing a Good Commission Brief

The quality of your commission depends heavily on the quality of your brief. Include:

Must-Have Information

\n
• Character reference: Existing art, written description, or both
\n
• Personality keywords: "Confident and playful" vs "Reserved and intense" — this affects pose and expression
\n
• Specific details: Scars, tattoos, specific clothing, accessories
\n
• Mood/tone: What feeling should the piece convey?
\n
• Background: Simple color, detailed scene, or transparent?
\n

Helpful Extras

\n
• Reference images for pose, lighting, or color palette (even if they are not your character)
\n
• A link to your character's profile (like on CharHaven) so the artist can absorb the full picture
\n
• Things to avoid — if you do not want them drawn in a certain way, say so upfront
\n

Understanding Pricing

Commission prices vary enormously based on the artist's experience, detail level, and demand. General ranges:

\n
• Sketch/bust: $15-50
\n
• Half-body, colored: $40-100
\n
• Full-body, fully rendered: $80-300+
\n
• Complex scene with background: $150-500+
\n

Tip: if an artist's prices seem too low, they may be undervaluing themselves (common with newer artists), but extremely low prices can also indicate inexperience. Look at the portfolio, not the price tag.

Commission Etiquette

\n
• Pay on time — upfront or according to the agreed schedule.
\n
• Respect revision limits — most artists offer 1-2 rounds of revisions. Major changes after that may cost extra.
\n
• Credit the artist — always credit when sharing the art publicly.
\n
• Do not rush — art takes time. Pushing for faster delivery gets you worse results.
\n

Once you have your commissioned art, upload it to your character's CharHaven profile as a thumbnail or gallery image. Your character will stand out in the gallery with a visual reference.