OC Art Commission Playbook: From Character Design to Trending Commission Styles
Ever wondered why creating your own original character is so deeply addicting? From building a massive world for them in your head to working out their daily quirks and contrasting personality traits, turning those ideas into custom oc art delivers a sense of fulfillment that no pre-existing character can ever match.
With the Draw Market mobile app officially rolling out the new Character feature (👉Character Feature Is Live! Create and Document Your OC), whether you are a seasoned OC parent looking for fresh commission ideas or a total beginner wondering how to turn a vague concept into your very first oc drawing, this step-by-step guide is here to help. Read on for a complete breakdown of the commission process, along with a showcase of popular commission types at the end to see what everyone else is commissioning!
👉(⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎)‼Browse OC Commissions
Core Workflow Overview
Preparation Phase ➔ Build Character Profile + Gather Visual References
Design Phase ➔ Commission First Custom Design ➔ Get a Standard Reference Sheet
Expansion Phase ➔ Use the Ref Sheet to Order Derivative Art (Avatars, Chibis, Illustrations, Ship Art)
1. Character Concept & Visual Research
1. Brainstorming & Finding Inspiration
If you only have a rough concept so far, try these methods to flesh out your oc ideas before diving into full design work:
Pinpoint a Core Hook: Lock in one or two signature traits to establish the baseline framework. Think "a medieval cat witch who uses magic" or "a cybernetic bounty hunter who looks like a soft-spoken teenager."
Use Online Character Builders: If you feel stuck, try an oc generator to randomize personality traits for quick inspiration. You can also hop into a traditional oc maker or hand-drawn dress-up creator to tweak base avatar models and help visualize your aesthetic preferences.
Note: These traditional creators are purely meant to spark ideas and help refine your vision. Be sure to stick to hand-drawn customizable tools rather than AI-generated imagery, many artists explicitly state in their terms of service that they do not accept AI-generated artwork as visual references, so stick to traditional tools or moodboards to ensure a smooth commission process!(´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)"
2. Organizing Your Written Profile
Use a standard character profile template to organize your abstract thoughts into a clear written document:
- Basic Information: Name, gender, age, height, body type, species/race.
- Personality & Lore: Core personality traits, backstory, and role in their world.
- Visual Appearance: Hair style and color, eye color, outfit aesthetic, along with key features like scars, animal ears, or specific accessories.
3. Building a Visual Moodboard
Everyone envisions "cute" or "intimidating" differently, meaning text-only descriptions often lead to miscommunication. Compiling concrete art reference images is the single most important step to boost communication efficiency and ensure the final piece matches your vision:
- Facial Detail References: The face carries a character's identity. Break down your references into separate images for hairstyle, eye/pupil details, and unique facial markings.
- Outfit, Accessories & Color Palette: Clothing and color choices define a character's vibe. Provide specific pictures for outfit cuts, must-have accessories, and preferred color palettes.
- Pose References: Saving a clear pose reference or dynamic action references in advance will make it much easier to order stylized character art down the road.
2. Character Design & Reference Sheets
Once your written profile and reference moodboard are ready, you can dive into the actual commission process.
1. Finding an Artist Who Accepts Character Designs
Artists have different workflows and preferences. Creators willing to tackle a brand-new character design from scratch will typically label their listings with terms like "character design" or "sketch design."
Understanding Design Premiums: Designing a character from text and moodboards requires significant brainpower, drafting, and trial-and-error. Because of this, custom design work comes with a 1.2x to 2x design premium compared to standard art commissions with pre-existing designs.
Design Sheet: fullbody commission (Anime style)
Character illustration / Custom design [Detachable]
(Accepting requests for September) Full Body Casual Character Design
character design / Outfit design
2. Getting Your Reference Sheet
Once your initial custom design is finalized, it's time to commission a proper reference sheet. If you find an artist with the right listing, commissioning a full turnaround character reference sheet right out of the gate is often the most efficient and budget-friendly move.
Note: Many artists offering reference sheet commissions do not accept text-only concepts with moodboards. Always read the artist's terms of service carefully before starting a request.
A standard reference sheet serves as the visual identity card for your character, typically including these core elements:
|
Module |
Purpose & Description |
|
Core Body Front |
body front view (sometimes including back/side angles) to clearly show body proportions and outfit structure. |
|
Outfit & Accessory Breakdowns |
Zoomed-in callouts showing inner clothing layers, weapon details, crests, or complex patterns. |
|
Color Palette |
Flat color swatches for skin, hair, and clothing, making it easy for future artists to color-pick without color discrepancies. |
|
Expressions & Close-ups |
Key facial expressions, eye close-ups, or special markings like scars and tattoos. |
Character sheet with character design
[Proportional] Rapid Delivery reference sheet
3. Expanding Your Art Collection with Your Ref Sheet
Once you have a standardized reference sheet, taking on future commissions becomes a breeze. You no longer need to write long paragraphs explaining your character, simply package your ref sheet, requirements, and any extra pose or scene references, and send them directly to the artist.
What Types of Art Can You commission for Your OC?
- Casual Everyday Art: Profile pictures, emote packs, chibi YCH (Your Character Here) templates, or acrylic standee merch designs.
- Polished Illustrations: Full-render character artwork with complex backgrounds and lighting setups.
- Dynamic & Narrative Scenes: Custom wallpapers or duo ship art featuring specific action scenarios and dynamic poses.
- 3D & Vtuber Projects: Handing off your ref sheet to 3D modelers to build Live2D VTuber models, VRChat 3D avatars, or plushie sewing patterns.
Popular OC Commission Types Showcase
Character Illustration
Fullbody character illustration~ super cost-effective
【48h】king hand-drawn illustration
Cute style high saturation Rapid Delivery
Full-color proportional character illustration
Character halfbody illustration
[September] Proportional Instant Noodle Draft Standing Character Illustration
Flat color character illustration
Commercial use OK! I will draw pop and cute characters!
A quick character illustration
Outfit Design
【24h express commission】Sketch character illustration clothing design
OC impression outfit design sketch draft character illustration
[Character Costume Design Illustration]
Outfit design character illustration
Weapon Design
Character weapon or item design
Weapon and Item Illustration Commission
Chibi Style
Cool-faced, cute, high-saturation, color-coordinated line art design
Super Value Three-in-One Chibi Reference Sheet
Headshot
Special price sparkling colorful OC headshot
Express light and shadow atmosphere OC headshot
24-hour blinking gif round headshot
SKEB/Quick Flat color headshots
[24h] chibi shiny atmospheric headshot
Idle Page/Fishing Page
Art collage
pixel art collage planner style
Nail Art
Explore even more styles and categories over on Draw Market✨.