How do you Choose an Illustrator for a Book Project?

Selecting the appropriate illustrator for a book project is one of the initial and most important milestones in the accomplishment of any illustrator’s work. The illustrator is an important part of the creative process irrespective of if you write a children’s book or a book with occasional pictures, or even if you write graphic novels. But where do they find such astounding singers, musicians and performers to work with, when there is such an almost infinite amount of incredibly gifted artists in the world today?

1. Define Your Vision

In fact, it shall be advisable to have a clear understanding of oneself before trying to look for an illustrator. Which mood or mode do you want to achieve? Although choosing a piece of art could be a matter of taste you need something outré or something more believable or something quite abstract? Having understood the mood, genre and audience of your book, it will assist you in knowing what kind of artwork you should use for the book. You should also decide this beforehand: do you need one or two illustrations, just a few spot illustrations or full page art illustrations and how these illustrations are going to complement the text.

2. Review Portfolios

After identifying your kind of style, begin searching for artists portfolios. Many illustrators present their portfolio in their websites, or other social networks such as Instagram or Balance. Looking at portfolios is good because it helps understand how diverse the artist’s work is, their style and how experienced were they in book projects. I have produced an overview of points to look for in drawings, based on its application in RBPs: First, learn to note the ability of drawings to represent emotion, characters, and action and how they support storytelling.

When comparing the placement portfolios, one should look at what the potential employer is willing to see: the technique applied by the illustrator and how diverse the style is. This flexibility can be crucial if you would like to come up with bespoke graphic communication for your book.

3. Experience and expertise should be a module that is carefully considered.

You do not look for an illustrator that specializes in a certain type of book but they should have prior experience in this field.

In general, choosing the appropriate format for an illustrated book can be defined as the art of the right decision. All formats – picture book, graphic novel, coffee table book or pop-up all differ and address a unique need of its viewers while enhancing the content through graphic benefits. Size, layout and typography plus the use of illustrations brings out the reader’s experience so that apart from hearing the story, it is felt and even seen.

As many authors and illustrators and designers could attest, their work is best coordinated in order to arrive at a creation where text and illustration complement each other seamlessly. Choosing the correct format may create more appealing, easy to read, enjoyable to follow publication. This argument is true, not only for every children’s book or detailed and artistic book project but for all illustrated book projects because book design and illustration are what turn the book design and illustration into a work of art that stays in the reader’s mind for a long, long time after he or she finished reading.