Children's Storybook Farm Artwork

I’m creating a new children’s YouTube channel called Apple Tree Farm focused on gentle nursery rhymes, simple stories, songs, and peaceful farm-life adventures for babies, toddlers, and young children. I’m looking for an illustrator/character designer to help establish the visual identity and artwork style for the entire Apple Tree Farm world. The overall feel should be warm, peaceful, wholesome, nostalgic, timeless, detailed but not visually busy, soft and gentle, natural rather than overly cartoonish, and cozy and inviting. Primary visual references include Little Bear and Brambly Hedge, with a focus on creating artwork that feels like a beautiful classic children’s picture book that has quietly come to life. I eventually want a recurring cast of animal characters who live at Apple Tree Farm. The first main character will be Daisy, a sweet farm cow (exact character design to be developed with the illustrator). Other characters may include: rabbits sheep chickens ducks pigs mice birds a farm dog a farm cat I want the characters to have simple, expressive personalities, but their expressions and movements should remain gentle and understated. The animals should feel like characters from a classic children's book rather than modern cartoon mascots. FIRST PROJECT For the initial project, I would like: Apple Tree Farm master establishing illustration This will establish the overall look of the world. Ideally it should show the farmhouse, barn, apple orchard, gardens, meadow, and some of the animals. This image will serve as the primary visual reference for future artwork. Apple Tree Farm logo/title treatment Warm, classic children's-book lettering The words Apple Tree Farm Should work for YouTube branding as well as future children's books/products. YouTube profile picture Simple, recognizable at a small size Could potentially feature an apple tree, Daisy, or another recognizable Apple Tree Farm element. YouTube banner Based on the master establishing artwork Should feel like entering the Apple Tree Farm world. Initial character sheet for Daisy Front/side/3/4 views Several gentle facial expressions A few simple poses Clear reference for keeping the character consistent in future artwork. FUTURE WORK If we work well together, I want this to become an ongoing project. Future artwork will include: additional character sheets new farm animals nursery rhyme scenes seasonal scenes storybook illustrations YouTube thumbnails episode artwork farm interiors garden/orchard scenes Christmas, autumn, spring, and winter artwork Consistency is extremely important to me. I want the same characters, environments, proportions, colors, and overall illustration style to remain recognizable across future artwork. STYLE REFERENCES I will provide several visual reference images showing the general atmosphere and illustration direction I am looking for. I am not asking for copies of these illustrations or characters. I am looking for an original visual style inspired by the qualities of classic storybook illustration: soft watercolor/gouache feeling hand-painted appearance natural countryside colors delicate textures charming environmental details gentle animal characters warm, nostalgic atmosphere The final artwork must be original and commercially usable for my YouTube channel and future Apple Tree Farm projects. WHO I'M LOOKING FOR Ideally someone who has experience with: children's book illustration character design watercolor/gouache or painted illustration creating consistent characters across multiple scenes building a cohesive fictional world Please send examples of children's illustration or character/world-building work, particularly anything with a gentle, classic, storybook feeling. I'm looking for someone who understands that the goal is not simply to make a cute picture—it is to establish the visual foundation for an entire children's world. Thank you!