How to Order Illustrations for Books, Products and Toys

Buying custom made artwork requires some degree of understanding of what the artist needs to know in order to fulfill your vision. This is a guide to help you sound like a professional custom art buyer with ease. Shopping around for a professional artist can be a real learning experience for an author or manufacturer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A list of your requirements describing the art you envision. For instance, a color drawing of a dog running up a hill, past a tall tree.
• An idea of your deadline so that the artist can plan his or her time.

1. Coral Reef Habit comic art style by Jess Perna. Background for Soctopus Characters. Once your quest for the right illustrator has ended the next step is knowing how to instruct the artist to draw what you have in mind. The best way to be satisfied with the art you order is to be extremely clear in your instructions. The artist will appreciate a concise, to the point order. Below is a list of questions designed to help organize your requests.
2. Fancy Soctopus Character comic art style by Jess Perna. Doll in front of background artwork. 1- How many illustrations do you want?
   2- For each illustration please provide the following list of the elements to be included in the composition? For example: A drawing of a collie dog, walking down a lane, in profile, past a line of trees with a clear, blue, cloudless sky in background. The dog should be wearing a collar and have a pleasant expression.
   3- Will the art be in color or black and white?
   4- Do you want one or more prints or a digital image or both?
   5- If you are ordering prints how many and what size?
   6- For what purpose will the art be used?
   7- What is the eye, hair and skin color of the subjects?
   8- Will you be providing reference material or do you expect the artist to procure it. Some artists will charge for finding reference material as it can be very time
   consuming. You might consider finding the reference to save fees.
   9- Will there be any text on the page? Do you want the artist to provide the text or leave room for your printer to place the text on the finished art. If you want the artist to do it what font should be used. If you are having your printing company place the text they can superimpose it on the digital art.
   10- Do you need the artist to design a logo and if so what are your ideas for it? What is the message you want to convey?
   11- Do you want a logo you already have placed on the art? Can you supply a digital image of the logo.
   12- You can ask the illustrator to show you samples of art they have which conveys the type and quality of the illustrations they create, however, do not expect them to have the exact thing you have in mind. For instance if you want a picture of a bride on a skateboard and they have drawn skateboards and brides separately you can be confident they draw them together. If the artist can draw an airplane but has notdrawn a skateboard be confident they can draw the skateboard.
   13- Ask the artist if you will be supplied with a sketch before they go to the final finish. Do not expect the artist to redraw the picture if you change your mind for the originallayout without incurring more fees.
   14- Be as specific in your instructions as possibleto avoid disappointment and frustration. The artist cannot read your mind so it is vital to provide good, solid instructions.
3. Soctopus Characters in Black and White for coloring book images. ClassyArtwork.com
   
   Judy Cutler, Office Manager and Promoter for ClassyArtwork.com and PortraitsbyJessPerna.com owned by Jess Perna Studio. Jess Perna is a published illustrator who has drawn over 60 children's books, book covers for grown up readers, courtroom evidence, greeting cards, advertising art, business cards and thousands of custom made caricatures, fine art portraits of people, animals, cars and landscapes. Orders are shipped worldwide either physical or digitally. Jess has been drawing for 30 years and is highly skilled in his craft.
   
   Judy Cutler is the Office Manager and Promoter for ClassyArtwork.com and PortraitsbyJessPerna.com owned by Jess Perna Studio. Jess Perna is a published illustrator who has drawn over 60 children's books, book covers for grown up readers, courtroom evidence, greeting cards, advertising art, business cards and thousands of custom made caricatures, fine art portraits of people, animals, cars and landscapes. Orders are shipped worldwide either physical or digitally. Jess has been drawing for 30 years and is highly skilled in his craft.

Tips & Warnings

• Explain to the artist if you need the pictures both in black and white and color. You can usually get both for the same price as the color. Since the artist has to do the black and white step first you may request a copy before they do the color.
• Hopefully by the end of the process you have found it to be fun to plan artwork illustrations.
• Ask to see samples. The artist does not have to have done exactly the work you want but they must be capable of the type of art you require. The subject can change but the quality should not.