How It Works

• You work directly with the person who is illustrating and designing your book
• You will have plenty of opportunities to provide feedback and oversee the progress during the creation of the artwork, to ensure that you are happy with the results throughout our collaboration.
• I have worked with many new and published authors and am a proud member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Read more about the Illustrator.
• Unless you already have a basic idea of the style, I approach all assignments as a blank canvas and focus on setting the right tone and mood to convey the written message.
• If this is your first book, I can guide you through the self-publishing process and help you get a great product out

CLICK HERE TO VIEW  SAMPLES OF WORK

The illustration process for a color illustration consists of six basic steps, each to be reviewed and approved by you to ensure that the illustrations turn out exactly as expected. Illustration Proofs are the foundation blocks for the building blocks for illustrations that you are happy with.

Step 1: Get a Quote for your Project

Just send me an email or fill out the Quote Request Form to get the ball rolling, I’ll basically walk you through all the steps if you decide to hire my services. In order to give you an accurate quote, I may ask you to fill out a brief questionnaire or to send me your manuscript.

Step 2: Decide on Characters and Style

A quick pencil sketch of the characters. This is a brief step that I sometimes like to include before beginning the storyboard phase in order to get on the same page with you about the general look and feel of the illustrations.

Some of you may already have a strong visual idea of the characters or scenes you want drawn, in which case I can draw from a detailed description you provide. In most cases, the process begins after I sketch out a few ideas.

Take a look at the gallery of styles to see what you like or send me some samples from books or illustrators that you like. Also, I can suggest a style that is best suited to your target audience or vision.

Character Sketches

The style of the illustrations is essentially the theme music that accompanies the story. It is the unifying concept and often develops naturally while trying to interpret all the separate elements that make up the story.

Step 3: Approve Storyboard or Cover Sketch

• After the initial Character Sketches are approved, the next step is to determine the composition of the drawings and how the narrative will flow visually: the Storyboard Phase is underway.
• You should think in broad terms such as determining if the right message is being conveyed or if the central focus of the image is helpful to the story’s narrative. If the general layout of the image works for you, then the illustrator begins to work in the details of the drawing. The characters should become more defined as well as the setting.
• A quick pencil sketch of the basic composition and layout of the illustrations. It is important for the emphasis of each illustration and to establish the setting.

Step 4: Approve Line-drawing

• After the initial sketch is approved, a line-drawing is done in ink, including all drawn elements of the final illustrations.
• The Line Art Phase involves cleaning up the approved sketches, an ink outline replaces the sketch marks.
• Ideally, the characters and conposition of the drawings should be finalized by this point.
• Since ink is harder to correct, the idea is for there only to be minor additions and improvements done.
• The illustrator may opt to keep the drawing as a sketch until there is a final verdict on the characters and setting. If drawing by hand, major revisions to a line drawing, could mean a whole new drawing (a lot more work).
• Some illustrators may includea value study along with or following the line drawing. This is mainly helpful to the illustrator in studying the tonal differences prior to coloring. Ideally, the author will have only minor revisions at this point of the process.

*If the service requested is for Black and White Illustrations than this is the final step, upon approval of the proof, the final print-ready digital file will be submitted.

Step 5: Approve Color illustration

• Once the drawing is in the Coloring Phase there should be no more changes to the actual drawing.
• The only changes should be to the coloring and color palette.
• Basically a colored version of the line drawings.
• This is the final version of the illustrations.

Color Phase

Step 6: Final illustrations Delivered Packaged for Print

The final versions of the illustrations ready for print (depending on how you decide to publish, I may need your publisher’s specifications for image file delivery).

SUBMISSIONS

Proofs: Low resolution proofs for each phase will be submitted as one PDF containing all illustrations cropped down to trim size at 72 DPI), delivered digitally, via email.

Final Files: Final illustrations will be submitted as either .jpg or .tif files at requested trim size plus bleed, at 300 dpi. These are to be packaged in a compressed .zip folder and are print ready.

PAYMENT

• Payment should be made in three equal installments (via paypal or check).
• I ask that you make the first payment if you are happy with the character sketches, prior to termination of the storyboard (Phase #2).
• The second payment should be made upon satisfactory completion of the black and white line drawings (Phase #3).
• The final payment should be made upon satisfactory completion of the color illustrations (Phase #4). Upon receipt of payment, the final files will be sent and the service will be considered fulfilled with confirmation of receipt.

Please fill out as much relevant information as you can to help me get a clear idea of the services you are seeking. I look to working with you!

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Illustration Services

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Full Color Interior Illustration
Black & White Interior Illustration
Custom Illustration
Editorial Cartoon
Re-Illustration

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Design Services

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Book Cover Design
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Website
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Coloring Book
3D Character Sculpture

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