Adobe Illustrator Artist Needed for Advanced Gradient Illustration

I am looking for an experienced Adobe Illustrator artist with strong skills in gradients, lighting and atmospheric effects to recreate and expand the attached geometric illustration as a fully editable vector design. The goal is to create a scalable master illustration that can be adapted for paperback book covers, hardcover dust jackets with inside flaps, retractable banners, website headers, social media branding and other marketing materials. While the front cover concept is largely finalized, the illustration needs to be expanded beyond its current boundaries. The most significant expansion should occur on the left and right sides to support hardcover dust jackets and interior flaps, with additional space above and below for typography, bleed requirements and future layout flexibility. Please use the attached mockup as a reference for the overall visual direction. The front cover artwork represents the style and composition I am pursuing. The back cover area should be treated as undeveloped space with placeholder content rather than a finished design. PROJECT PRIORITIES The two most important requirements for this project are: 1. The ability to create sophisticated gradients, lighting and subtle texture that give the illustration depth and atmosphere. 2. The ability to extend the illustration into one large continuous scene beyond the current image boundaries. IMAGE EXPANSION REQUIREMENTS The final deliverable should be one continuous illustration rather than a fixed book cover layout. Please preserve the spine guides, typography placement and back-cover content areas as separate editable layers so the design remains flexible for future production needs. The primary expansion should occur on the left and right sides of the composition to accommodate future hardcover dust jackets and inside flaps. Specifically: • Extend the scene approximately 50% beyond the current image boundaries on both the left and right sides • Add a modest amount of additional space above and below the existing composition to provide flexibility for future formats and cropping • Maintain the existing perspective, lighting direction, geometry and architectural style throughout the expanded scene The existing illustration already establishes the perspective, lighting and visual language. The extension should feel like a natural continuation of the environment rather than a new concept. CREATIVE DIRECTION I am open to creative suggestions regarding how the environment develops beyond the current image boundaries. The style should remain: • Clean • Modern • Geometric • Architectural • Minimalist The final illustration should feel cohesive and intentional across its entire width. SCALABILITY This illustration will serve as a master asset for future use across: • Paperback book covers • Hardcover dust jackets and inside flaps • Retractable banners • Event displays • Presentation graphics • Marketing materials The final file should be constructed with long-term flexibility in mind and maintain its quality at both small and large sizes. DELIVERABLES • Fully editable Adobe Illustrator (.AI) file • Organized and properly named layers • Expanded continuous illustration • EPS export • SVG export • High-resolution PNG exports PORTFOLIO REQUEST Please include examples demonstrating: • Advanced gradient work • Lighting and atmosphere • Environmental or architectural illustration FUTURE DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES While the immediate project is focused on recreating and expanding the illustration, I anticipate additional design work once the master artwork is finalized. Potential follow-on projects include: • One retractable floor banner layout • One tabletop retractable banner layout • One two-sided bookmark design (front and back) Template files for these applications are included for reference. The banner designs would largely be vertical adaptations of the final book cover, taking advantage of the expanded illustration while incorporating space for the book title, author information and promotional messaging. Likewise, the bookmark would be a simplified adaptation of the final cover and back-cover design, carrying the same visual identity across both sides. If selected, please indicate whether you would prefer to price these items as part of the current project or as separate follow-on work. Experience designing for print marketing materials and large-format displays is a plus.