Ongoing Children’s Book Illustrator

LONG-TERM CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR WANTED Established Australian Children’s Series — 10 Books Ready Now + Ongoing Future Work We are looking for a talented, reliable illustrator for a long-term working relationship on the Dusty Boots Homestead children’s book series. This is not a one-off illustration job. We currently have 10 completed production manuscripts ready for illustration now, with further books and related publishing projects planned beyond these. Dusty Boots Homestead is an Australian children’s story world set around a remote homestead in the Upper Gascoyne, Western Australia. The stories combine Australian country life, animals and wildlife, family humour, adventure, campfire storytelling, curiosity, homeschooling and learning-through-stories. The series already has an established visual universe with recurring locations and 49 canon characters. Existing characters and sets are supplied as reference assets. The illustrator is not required to redesign the existing characters or established sets. The successful illustrator may become the ongoing illustrator across the series and future Dusty Boots Homestead projects. CURRENT WORKLOAD There are 10 completed children’s book manuscripts ready now, representing approximately 202 story spreads across the current series. Most books contain approximately 20 double-page story spreads, with one current book containing 22. Typical books are approximately 60–64 physical interior pages, including story pages, front matter and back matter, plus a cover. Not every interior page requires a new full illustration. The main commissioned work is expected to be: double-page story illustrations; cover illustrations; professional cover-title typography where required; occasional additional publishing or brand artwork. Further books are planned beyond the current 10 manuscripts. VISUAL DIRECTION We are looking for polished, professional children’s-book illustration suitable for a premium published series. The Dusty Boots Homestead world uses dimensional, expressive, story-led illustration with strong character emotion, believable depth, lively interaction and professional page composition. We are not looking for static character line-ups, clip-art compositions or characters simply placed onto a background. The illustrator must be comfortable working from supplied canon characters and sets while creating fresh, engaging story scenes. IMPORTANT — INTERIOR PAGE DESIGN We will handle final interior body-text typesetting ourselves. However, the illustrator must understand how to design artwork around the actual amount of story text. We are not simply looking for one large rectangular picture with a blank text box beside it. Illustration may sweep, curve, vignette, taper or flow across the double-page spread, allowing the artwork and text areas to work together as one professional storybook composition. Characters, props and scenery may move naturally around the text area, provided the text remains clear and comfortable to read. The illustrator will receive: the exact story passage; the required canon characters; the established set where applicable; print dimensions; trim and bleed information; centre-fold / binding guidance; safe areas; text-space requirements; story and continuity instructions. The illustrator decides the camera, composition, character positions, poses, expressions, eyelines and visual flow, while preserving the supplied canon identities and story requirements. SETTING The books are set primarily in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia. Where new landscape, vegetation or floral elements are introduced, they must be appropriate to the Gascoyne setting. Any flora used should be native to the region unless the manuscript specifically requires otherwise. INITIAL PAID COMMISSION Shortlisted illustrators will be invited to complete one paid initial double-page illustration commission using supplied Dusty Boots Homestead material. This first commission allows both sides to see whether the working relationship, quality, consistency and production approach are a good fit before committing to a full book. The initial commission includes: actual story text; five canon characters; the exact Campfire set; print and text-space requirements; the required story moment; professional production instructions. PLEASE QUOTE YOUR OWN PRICE We are not publishing a fixed budget. Please provide your best genuine fixed-price quote for: Initial double-page illustration: US$________ Future double-page story spread: US$________ each Front cover illustration + professional title typography: US$________ Optional full cover wrap, if offered: US$________ Ongoing / multi-book discounted rate: US$________ per spread or ________% discount Please also state whether your price changes for spreads containing larger casts. TURNAROUND Please provide realistic production times for: Initial double-page illustration: ________ days Typical double-page spread: ________ days Cover: ________ days Finished spreads you can reliably complete per week: ________ Finished spreads you can reliably complete per month: ________ Please also confirm whether you can maintain that pace consistently across an ongoing book series. DELIVERABLES Final commissioned artwork should normally include: full-resolution artwork; minimum effective 300 PPI at intended print size; bleed where required; safe-area and gutter awareness; high-resolution final export; editable/source files where applicable; commercial publishing rights as agreed; no watermark on final paid artwork. Final printer specifications will be supplied when required. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY All supplied Dusty Boots Homestead characters, sets, manuscripts, artwork and reference material remain proprietary project assets. They may only be used for authorised Dusty Boots Homestead work. They may not be sold, redistributed, placed into stock libraries, reused for another client, used for merchandise without permission, or used to train ge