These are questions that visitors to my site often ask. I've written a children's book. Would you illustrate it so I can submit it to a publisher? Publishers DO NOT want to see pre-illustrated manuscripts unless the author is also the illustrator. The publisher will choose the illustrator to go with your manuscript. I would recommend that you join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators . They are a great organization! You can also find a list of reference books for authors at my website The Drawing Board for Illustrators in the Resources section.
How much do you charge for illustration? Illustration fees vary tremendously from project to project. Some of the variables include what rights are being purchased, who retains the original artwork, the print run of the project, what kind of deadline is involved, color or black and white artwork, and the complexity of the project. As a professional illustrator I cannot do artwork for free or for reduced rates. I'd like to become an illustrator, what do I need to do? Join the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and see if they have a group that meets in your area. Attending some of their conferences is a good way to meet illustrators, authors and publishers. Study children's books both at your library and the bookstore. Which illustrations appeal to you? Which ones don't? See how the illustrators have used their techniques to add to the story. Develop a portfolio that shows you can draw children of all ages, animals (realistic and/or anthropomorphic), and scenes with the same character in different poses. If you have weak areas in your portfolio then work on strengthening those areas. Have at least one color medium and one black and white medium that you can work in rapidly and professionally. Join a life drawing group if there is one in your area. Drawing from life is probably the most important skill you can give yourself as an illustrator. If you don't have a drawing group in your area then make a habit of carrying a sketchbook with you at all times. Come up with a marketing plan to display your work - postcards, full-page samples, business cards, website.  NEVER SEND ORIGINAL ARTWORK. Consider taking out a page in an illustration directory like Showcase or Picturebook, or advertising your work on an online directory like the Theispot.com. Web pages can be a useful way to show your portfolio to interested Art Directors after a mailing. Repeat direct mail is the most successful way to solicit work. Look for a copy of the current Children's Writers and Illustrators Market and also check out the Children's Book Council site for publishers’ needs, and information on how to submit your work. The Drawing Board for Illustrators has lots of good information on all aspects of illustration. My child is very talented and interested in illustration. What advice do you have for a young artist? The best things to do to become a children's book illustrator are to love to draw and read! Take as many Art and English classes as you can while you are in school and see if you can find some Art classes through your local park district or community college children's programs. If you can't find any Art classes, then check out Art books from the library and study them. Go to museums and look at the artwork there - much of art history is really illustration. Spend a lot of time at the library, looking at children's books and magazines, both old and new. Look at the pictures and decide what you like and don't like, how are books different for little kids and older kids, how could this picture be better? When you go to college try to find a school that has a good illustration program but also plan on taking other classes, too. You need to know some math and business to do your own record keeping, history to give you a good understanding for illustrating other time periods, science if you are interested in drawing people or animals. English classes are good especially if you want to write your own books some day. Working in a library, or a bookstore could be a valuable experience for you. Some libraries take young volunteers to do work at libraries, you might ask your school or town librarian if there is anything you can do to help them. Carry a sketchbook with you all the time and draw from life. Copying from books and photos is a good way to get started but eventually you will want to be able to draw using your own ideas. You need to be able to draw people of all ages, animals, buildings, landscapes, furniture, all from different viewpoints and perspectives. Most illustrators get started by slowly building up a portfolio of their highest quality work, then sending out samples (never originals) to publishers. There are many children's magazines, which are a good way to get started in this field. I started in magazines and am now working mostly with smaller publishers. Plan on joining the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators when you are older. They are a wonderful organization. If you visit my other site The Drawing Board for Illustrators you will find lots of good information on illustration, books that you can get at the library, articles, interviews, and resources. Ask your librarian if they have a copy of the current issue of Children’s Writer's and Illustrator's Market - there are a lot of young author and young illustrator markets listed in it. Most of these don't pay anything but they would be a good way for you to get experience in being published. This site was designed by Max Haynes.