My path in free-lance illustration started over 30 years ago with a portfolio prepared in college as an art major, shown in appointments with local art directors of magazines, publishers, and ad agencies. I had a couple of short term in-house jobs in a design studio and a small religious educational publisher, where I gained experience and some published samples. I also mailed copies of my art to out-of-town publishers' art directors for their files. The educational and religious publishers happened to be the ones most interested in my work. Eventually the work built up. All along I have had to keep sending out samples. I also joined organizations, went to workshops, read books, and subscribed to publications, all related to children's writing and illustration.  I have appreciated the ability to work at home as I've raised my kids, but I'm glad I didn't have to solely support the family with it, or I would have been much more pressured.

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I’m an artist who wants to get into children’s book illustration. What steps can I take?

If you are a student, try to take some children's literature courses (maybe in the Elem. Ed. Dept.) to study the field, the structure and design of picture books and the pacing of a story. Computer classes are valuable, even if you are not actually creating the art digitally. Creative writing classes can feed your story-developing abilities. Figure drawing is important, both in classes and in sketchbooks. The ability to draw people is sought by editors.

If you're interested in illustrating for children, your portfolio should show scenes of children in everyday situations, portrayed with ethnic variety. Show the same character in several different scenes or positions. If you're interested in book jackets, do your own version of a few.

Some artists do mass mailings of a color postcard. Some work with an agent or rep to market their work. You can buy a page in an advertising book that reaches art directors, for hundreds or thousands of dollars. A website is good promotion, either on your own site or on a group site. Getting published by smaller local publications will give you printed samples to show in your portfolio.

Through the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), or similar organizations, there are opportunities to show your portfolio to editors at conferences, and to learn the process from authors, illustrators, art directors, editors, and agents. Watch for speakers or events at your local university. And keep reading children’s books and children’s magazines, such as Cricket, Spider and Ladybug!
For specific resources, go to the LINKS page of this website.

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I'm an author with a picture book manuscript. How do I find an illustrator?

You might be relieved to know that publishers usually prefer that the writer does not try to find an illustrator and submit art with the manuscript. The editors and art directors in publishing companies are experienced in matching up manuscripts with illustrators, sometimes choosing an established artist to go with a new author. Understandably, authors are concerned about not having much input into the look of the art, as authors and illustrators often do not meet during the process. Most often, the editor communicates with each one, making the book a team effort combining the visions of author, illustrator, editor and art director.

If you do have an artist submit art with your manuscript, you'll be prepared for the chance that they might not both be accepted. The artist only needs to submit color copies of a couple of finished pictures, to show the style, and a sketched "dummy", to show the planned layout of art and text. This is all that is needed at the submission stage, because the text or format might change in the editorial process.

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