Choosing an Illustrator in 2025
A whole month has gone by since I last updated you on my self-publishing journey, and WOW has it been a busy month.
Here are the TOP 7 things accomplished:
1. BANANAS IN THE BATH was officially added to the Library of Congress
2. My U.S. Copyright Application was accepted
3. The final files were sent to the printer (and approved!)
4. I received a digital proof (the highlight of the month!)
5. I made the decision to NOT sell on Amazon (maybe I’ll cover this in another newsletter?)
6. BANANAS IN THE BATH received a 5-star review from Reader’s Favorite!
7. … is a SURPRISE FOR TOMORROW! (watch your inbox!)
Before we jump into today’s topic “Choosing an Illustrator in 2025”, I need to announce the WINNER of last month’s GIVEAWAY!
The winner of a copy of BANANAS IN THE BATH is…
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Kate DeMaio
Congratulations, Kate! I’ll email you with the details so I can send you a copy of BANANAS IN THE BATH!
And now, onto today’s topic!
Choosing an Illustrator in 2025
“A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.”
There’s a reason this Proverb is so famous, as it rings true for most things, including books. Traditional publishers understand this, and make sure to employ the best writers, illustrators, editors, art directors, and book designers around to ensure a top-notch product. When you self-publish, it’s your job to assemble the team… and if you want to stand out in a crowded market, it can’t just be good. It needs to be AWESOME.
If your story is incredible but the art isn’t cutting it, you’re shooting your chances of success in the proverbial foot. After all, when it comes to picture books, the illustrations are (for the most part) way more important than the words. And I’m saying that as an author.
Because let’s face it…we all judge a book by it’s cover.
The illustrations for a picture book are arguably 80+% of the reason people will pick up a picture book!
I was absolutely ecstatic when Alex agreed to join my team, and as we wrapped up the final artwork I can honestly say it was the best decision I could have made. I mean, look at this adorable monkey!
BANANAS IN THE BATH interior spread, illustrated by Alexandra Elliot
I’m a bit sad to close this chapter of my self-publishing journey, but I’m also incredibly excited that we’re one step closer to having the finished product in-hand. And on the bright side, this is the perfect time to look back and talk about this aspect of assembling your team- finding an illustrator.
Today’s Topics:
How To Avoid Scams
Finding a Reputable Illustrator
Things to consider before using AI images in your book
Choosing the right illustrator for your story
How To Avoid Scams
It’s 2025 and you are READY to publish your debut children’s book!
You are PUMPED.
You hop online to find an illustrator to bring your words to life, only to find…
That’s a SCAM.
That’s another SCAM.
That’s definitely AI.
This person ghosted someone after the initial deposit.
SCAM. SCAM. SCAMMY McSCAMface.
There are SO MANY scammers in the art world right now, and it’s getting increasingly worse as AI tools and imagery become more accessible. I’ve seen more than one author drop $hundreds$ on what they thought would be human-made art, only to receive poorly done AI imagery that took seconds for the scammer to whip up. Or maybe you sent in the initial deposit, and then the so-called illustrator went silent. Either way, you’re more than a little upset.
We’ll get to the issue with AI imagery in a bit here, but FIRST I want to share some actionable, helpful things to look for when choosing an illustrator. Keep in mind, this isn’t a foolproof method! But hopefully, this will help reduce your risk of being scammed.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION:
On Freelance Platforms
Freelance platforms can be great resources for the art community, but I’m hearing more and more from people who were scammed through illustrators they found on these websites. When AI images are used by “illustrators” but advertised as human-created… that’s a problem. When I logged into one of the largest freelance sites, 5 of the first 8 accounts are clearly AI images but not marked as AI. Not even in their profile, from what I can see. And that’s why I’m calling these accounts scams. If you’re contacting an illustrator and they’re sending you AI images, that needs to be made clear in the beginning (I touch on whether you should even consider using AI images farther down in this post). These are typically newer accounts, so if the artist has been a member since before 2024, there’s a higher chance they’re legit. But again, do your research! Check out reviews, past work, and cross-reference everything.
Newer accounts
AHHH! I hate including this on the list, but it’s an unfortunate reality. If it’s a new account, proceed with caution. Up-and-coming artists have more hurdles they’ll have to jump through to prove they’re legit. Don’t automatically discount newer accounts, but if there are multiple things giving you pause, this should definitely be factored in. (And if you’re an up-and-coming illustrator, don’t be discouraged. Keep practicing, keep working on your art. We need you!)
Anyone who reaches out to you out of the blue
I see this all the time on the Facebook groups I’m a member of. Someone will post a publishing question (not an illustrator question) in a group, and they’ll receive comment after comment offering illustration services for their book. Many will reach out through a direct message, as well. Does this mean they’re 100% a scam? No, of course not! But as I said above, if multiple red flags are popping up, proceed with caution.
You may be wondering… how in the world will I find a reputable illustrator then?
Never fear! Here are some tips to help you:
Finding a Reputable Illustrator
STEP 1: Go to a reputable source.
There are many websites on which professional illustrators can be found. My personal favorite, and the one I found Alex through, is the Children’s Illustrators website. Also, if you’re a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), you can search for illustrators in their directory. Keep in mind, though: not all illustrators on these sites work with self-publishing authors.
Reedsy and Fiverr are two other well-known freelance websites, and there are some incredible illustrators on these sites, but keep your eye out for profiles who are using AI images but labeling them as “digital illustration” or “hand-drawn”. Also, the ethics of some freelance websites have been called into question in recent years.
Another great source? Take a look at the picture books on your shelves at home, or your local library. See one that matches your vision? Write the illustrator’s name down, and find their website (many illustrators have one!). Fingers crossed they’ll have a contact form, and you can reach out from there.
STEP 2: Find a secondary source.
This would typically be the illustrator’s personal website, where you’ll find their Portfolio, About Me, Testimonials, and a list of books and other projects they’ve worked on. Is everything checking out so far?
STEP 3: Fact-Check any claims.
Do they list some books they’ve illustrated? Track those books down! You can find most books online, then double check the illustrator’s name.
Do they have testimonials on their website? Track that person down! Find the book they worked with them on. Reach out if you want to! Speaking from experience, authors LOVE to gush about the illustrators who brough their words to life.
Are these steps fool-proof? Nope! But at least they will set you on the right path.
Now, onto the big issue of the past year…
AI
Things to consider before using AI images in your book
I have very strong opinions about AI “art”, but I recognize that it’s here to stay. The moral and ethical issues of AI “art” have been debated to exhaustion, so I won’t do that here. I will, however, list a few things to think about if you’re considering using AI art for your picture book.
If you use AI images for your book:
People will assume you used AI to write your book
It’s true. Because why wouldn’t you? You spent minutes of your time “creating” the art, which is arguably 80% of your book (if a picture book). Why wouldn’t you take the easy way for the other 20%, as well?
It shows a lack of respect for your main audience…the kids
Kids love staring at the illustrations in their favorite books, and kids also know when something feels… off. Pop onto Amazon and check out some of the recent picture book titles. You can spot AI art a mile away, and kids can tell, too. It may look good at a glance, but soon the questions will come:
Why does the main character look different on each page?
Why does everyone have the same expression?
Why does that person have 6 fingers?
Why is the chair melting into the floor?
As things stand in April 2025, AI “art” typically falls apart when you spend any amount of time really looking at it.
Professionally done human-made art is higher quality.
That’s right. Do you want your book to be a premium product? Pretty soon, we’ll be certifying books as human-made or AI-made. It’s already happening. Guess which one will be considered higher quality, and more in-demand? Much like high fashion or Simonelli espresso machines, professional human illustrators will soon be recognized as the best of the best compared to AI “art”.
Human-made art will help you stand out.
With over 10,000 new books published every day, you’ll need all the help you can get to stand out.
As of right now, AI images cannot be copyrighted.
This is important factor to consider, as you’ll no doubt be looking to sell your book.
Keep in mind, a lot of this is just my opinion (though not the copyright stuff). Many people may disagree with my assessment, and that’s fine! I’m up for a healthy debate. Same as everyone, I can only guess as to what the future will hold. The one thing I do know, though, is that human artists will always have a place in the picture book world.
Which brings me to my personal favorite part…
Choosing the right illustrator for your story!
Here’s how I view it:
The illustrations are what will sell your picture book.
After that, if the writing is strong, that's where you get reviews and people coming back to purchase for their friends and family. Without beautiful, eye-catching illustrations, the majority of people will move on without a second thought.
When choosing an illustrator, think about these things:
How do you want your reader to FEEL when they’re reading? Happy? Sad? Confused? Sleepy? An artist’s style has a huge impact on the tone of the book. For example, I wrote a manuscript 2 years ago about death. But as much as I love Alex’s artwork, her style is FUN, UPBEAT, and COLORFUL. I would find someone instead who keeps to darker tones, harsher edges, and maybe a dream-like fuzziness to their work. Make sure you can envision your story within an artists portfolio!
Disect your manuscript scene by scene. Look at your characters. Really look at them in your mind. Are their expressions important? Look for an illustrator who nails their characters faces. Do you have horses? I’ve heard horses are notoriously difficult to nail down. Or maybe your manuscript is more scenic? Find someone who can create lush, sweeping valleys and towering mountain scenes!
And lastly, the least fun part… you’ll need to think about price. Some new illustrators will do a full picture book for $800. I’ve seen it before. But that’s a drastic undervaluation of the time and effort it takes to illustrate an entire book. For a picture book, typical prices can range from $2,000 to $10,000+. This sounds high, but don’t underestimate the value of a seasoned illustrator. If you decide to go with a super cheap illustrator who charges $200 to do clipart illustrations, are you going to be able to sell that book in the numbers you’d like?
The great news is, there are ways you can crowdfund to offset a portion of the costs (and generate excitement!). If you do it well, Kickstarter is a great way to gain funds before your book is even sent to the printer! I’ll show off some of my friend’s successful Kickstarters another time, as my website browser won’t let me link them all here for some reason.
That’s all for today!
But
STAY TUNED
for my
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW!
I’m super excited :)
Thanks as always for reading, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or just want to say hi. My door is always open.
-Andi
