Top things to consider when picking an illustrator or creative team for your children's book! (And why it shouldn't be with AI!)

So, you've had a smashing idea for your children's book and,

• you've written it (if you haven't written it yet, we can help with that 😉),

• had it edited, (we can help with that too 😘),

• And you've got a plan for the illustrations needed on each page. (You've already guessed it but we do offer help with illustration descriptions too! 🌟)
  

Now you're ready to look into having an artist bring colour to your manuscript.

But, where to start? How do you choose the perfect creative for you and your wonderful manuscript?

Here's a list of things to consider when picking a creative team or artist to work on the illustrations of your project.

The easiest part is Style.

• Does the illustrator's style align with the tone and target audience of your book?

Consider visiting Waterstones/Barnes and Noble and checking out the latest children's books. Look into the illustrators whose work you like and figure out which style works with your vision for the book.

 🌟Here's a link to some incredible illustrating teams and artists! 🌟

When checking out the artist's portfolio, check for things like -

• Are the illustrations consistent in quality and style throughout their portfolio?

• Does the illustrator have a good understanding of composition and layout, Have they shown consideration for the text placement, even if they don't handle typesetting as part of their work (something else to ask about - does your artist handle the text too, as not all illustrators do!)

When discussing your project -

• Is the illustrator responsive and easy to communicate with?

• Is the illustrator open to feedback and willing to make revisions based on your input?

• Do they have a clear contract outlining terms, deadlines, and payment?

Important things to be clear on -

• Revisions: How many rounds of revisions are included in their fee? What is their process for handling additional revisions?

• Formatting: What file formats will the illustrations be provided in? Are they compatible with your book designer's software?

• Vision for the project: Are you on the same page (😂 Sorry!) regarding the direction of the project?

• Text: Does your artist handle text placement and typesetting?

• Number of illustrations: Have you discussed the number of illustrations needed, including any spot illustrations and does the artist include the cover design too?

• Rights: What rights to the illustrations will you own? Discuss copyright and usage rights upfront.

• Availability and Deadlines: Is this artist available to start right away or do they have a waiting list? Can the illustrator meet your deadlines? Get a clear timeline in writing.

• Budget: How does the illustrator's fee fit within your budget? Get a clear quote and payment schedule.

We strongly recommend that you don't use AI for your illustrations!

We have discussed our thoughts on AI in children's media in this blog post here.

But we're talking more specifically when it comes to illustrations here. AI's and LLM's, like ChatGPT, are trained by inputing large datasets (chunks of data, including images and videos) often containing millions of copyrighted images from artists - images they didn't get permission to use or pay the creatives for.

When AI generates an image, even with your input, it's not creating a brand new image rather stealing small samples from a lot of works online and putting them together to build yours. This method exploits human art.

This isn't like a human artist getting inspired, where they draw from life experiences and a wide range of influences. AI is a machine that absorbs raw, copyrighted material (as it has no way of knowing the difference) to create something to be sold.

This methods threatens an artists ability to make a living, raising huge legal questions about copyright and fair compensation.

And if our heartfelt plea isn't enough, yes, using AI art can absolutely affect the sales of a children's book, and the general consensus is that consumers actively avoid works that are AI based.

So again,

🌟Here's a link to some incredible illustrating teams and artists! 🌟

Remember, the illustrations aren't just window dressing; they're a huge part of how children will connect with your story.

So, take your time and find an illustrator who can fits best with your story 🌟