Children's Book Illustrator Needed - Beautiful watercolor and line art (NO AI ART)

Budget: $300 – Fixed Price Project Type: One-time project (no ongoing payments after completion) Deadline: 10 July 2026 Trim Size & Bleed Details: 8.5 x 8.5 " and 3mm bleed on 3 edges Final File Requirements: PNG or JPEG, 300dpi, CMYK About the Project: I’m looking for a talented watercolor illustrator who may have experience in Children's books to bring my story to life with hand-drawn, human-made artwork (absolutely no AI-generated elements). The book is 32 pages long and aimed at age group, 0-2 years old. It features the story of childbirth and first embracing your baby, celebrating the beauty of motherhood and the mother and baby connection. I want illustrations that will engage young readers and the mothers who will be reading the book and complement the text beautifully. What I’m Looking For: A skilled illustrator with experience in children’s books A elegant / expressive / watercolor style, depicting real life images Strong ability to convey emotions and storytelling through illustrations Final files in high-resolution (300dpi, CMYK) PNG or JPEG format Familiarity with print formatting, trim size, and bleed requirements (preferred) Scope of Work: 20 full-page illustrations + cover design Character and scene development based on my manuscript 2 rounds of revisions included Final files delivered in print-ready format Payment & Copyright Terms: This is a one-time payment for hire, with no additional payments after project completion. The illustrator will retain Copyright and Moral Rights under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The author (me) will receive an exclusive license to use the illustrations for the book and related marketing without limitation. To Apply: If you’re interested, please provide: Samples of previous children’s book illustrations (or portfolio link) Your estimated timeline for completion Confirmation that all artwork will be hand-drawn, with no AI involvement Confirmation that you can complete the work within my budget