childrens book illustrators?

Question

I'm an artist and I would like to send some illustrations to a company that publishes childrens books. My website is www.9stines.com/Wanda and it has some of my designs on there. I am looking for specific advice and tips on submissions (I know to check guidelines)...just any folks with personal experience who have any tips to share, would be great. I'm a mom of seven children, and just now having time to begin this career as an artist. Thanks!

Answer 1

You've answered your own question, but make it sound like you disregard the point.

Sending unsolicited artwork that is not in the guidline specified format, or in the styles an individual publisher seeks is a sure way for you work to be ignored. That is WHY publishers put out these guidlines.

You have to realize that publisher recieve, sometimes HUNDREDS of submissions per DAY. One fast way to screen out undesireable artists to to see who can't follow instructions.

Still, there are things you can do to save youself time and postage.

For one, do some research. Find out which publishers buy illustations in the styles you work. Don't waste your time sending realistic drawings to a publisher that uses simple, cartoonish illustrations. Don't bother sending cute little animals wearing hats and vests if that publisher does not use these.

Next, if the publisher's guidlines allow this, don't send original artwork. Send color copies. If the publisher insists on seeing the origial artwork, be sure to send along with it, a self addressed stamped envelope and a note, asking them to send back the artwork. Do the same if you want the copies back. (remember, they will not go out looking for a story that matches the drawings you send. They have the story and THEN find an illustrator to assign to it.)

Keep track of who you send which samples to. Label the back of EACH drawing with your name and contact information. I suggest you assign each piece a code number, and keep a log of those numbers and where they have gone. Reading the publisher's guidlines will tell you which ones will accept submissions that have, also, been sent to other publishers. Some will INSIST on "first refusal," meaning they don't want anyone else's rejects. Good tracking will keep you out of trouble.

Don't expect instant results. You may have to send out a LOT of mailings before you get a nibble. (this is why you don't want to send any that will be a waste of your time and postage)

But, when you do start getting positive responses, if you do not have an agent, then read your offers and contracts VERY carefully. The temptation will be for you to sell your illustrations, outright. This is not always necessary. You can negotiate to LICENSE your artwork for limited rights. (for example, First North American Distribution) That way, if the book is very successful, the publisher must come back to you to renegotiate further use of your illustrations.

Do some research on copyright law, (copyright.gob) and some contract law. If you want to be, and be treated like a pro, then BE a pro.

Answer 2

It is not for most illustrators. The number of full time children's book illustrators that get enough work to call it full time can probably counted in less than two hands. Most publishers do NOT keep illustrators, of ANY kind, on full time staff. They tend to work with known freelance artists who's work has been proven successful. It's not that publisher never work with someone new. But the economic fact is that they are in the business of selling books and past success is a fair indicator of future success. Even those artists that don't get a LOT of work, will continue to send out inquiries to several publishers in the hopes of landing an occasional assignment. What many of us freelancers do is to NOT specialize in any one kind of work, but rather, send specifically targeted samples to the many different kinds of publishers. I don't send images of cute, furry animals and children to outdoor sports publishers, and, I don't send realistic drawings of pheasants and elk to children's book publishers. I send images of surfers and bikini babes to surf magazines and images of shiny, chromed choppers to motorcycle magazines. Between assignments accepted by these and my local and other regular clients, I manage to get ALMOST full time work. But, you should be made aware that full time work involves nearly 50% SALES and promotions in order to GET the assignments. That is the nature of a freelance design business..