Illustrator for a Cohesive Set of 3 Collage Illustrations (Print-Ready)

OVERVIEW We're a small, design-led brand looking for a talented illustrator to create a set of three original collage illustrations for a physical product line. This is our first project with a new artist, and if it goes well, there's strong potential for ongoing, regular work. THE WORK Three illustrated collage compositions that read as a cohesive set: a shared visual language, palette, and mood, with each having its own distinct artwork and composition. Each collage should be built entirely from original illustrated elements, and ideally those individual elements should also stand well on their own so they can be reused elsewhere. THE FEELING WE'RE GOING FOR Overall tone: - Romantic and dreamy - Classic and vintage - Bookish - Whimsical, but grounded - Sophisticated, not overly playful or cartoonish Themes to draw from: - Night sky and stars - Gardens, roses, botanicals - Books, reading, writing - Gentle fantasy elements - A romantic atmosphere throughout YOU'D BE A STRONG FIT IF YOU: Can thoughtfully combine: - Digital illustration: sketch, watercolor, oil-painting, or textured styles - Vintage or hand-drawn sketch elements - Layered collage composition (paying attention to balance, spacing, and layering) - Pattern and decorative details - Typography or calligraphic touches (vintage book-page elements, for example) Are comfortable delivering print-ready files (CMYK, with bleed and crop marks) as well as layered source files Create 100% original work (no stock elements and no AI-generated components) Are open to a full copyright assignment of the commissioned work (we can share the specifics) DELIVERABLES Artwork: 3 final designs, each adapted to 3 sizes (9 files in total) To be clear about scope: this is three designs, not nine. Sizes 1 and 2 differ by only a sixteenth of an inch, so that adaptation is essentially a trim. Size 3 is a little more involved, and there's a note on it below. Sizing: Size 1: 4.375 in W x 6.25 in L Size 2: 4.3125 in W x 6.25 in L Size 3: 3.75 in W x 5.625 in L There is a circular ring element that will be centered on all three and it does not scale with the size: always about 2.125 inches across at the outer edge, with a 1.75 inches open center. That detail is what makes Size 3 more than a simple resize. Since the ring stays the same size while the design gets smaller, it takes up proportionally more room on Size 3. Anything you compose to sit neatly beside the ring on Size 1 may end up partly beneath it once scaled down. Just something to keep in mind early on in the design process! Files: - Print-ready PDF for each design and size: CMYK, 300 DPI minimum, with bleed and crop marks. - High-resolution raster files (PNG or TIFF) at 600 DPI at final size, for our own listings and marketing. - Editable, layered source files (Illustrator or Procreate preferred). Vector elements are a lovely bonus where they suit your process, since they scale infinitely. That said, please prioritize whatever way of working gets the right feel. TO APPLY We'd love to see examples of your work that show these skills: - Vintage or hand-drawn illustration - Digital painting / illustration (watercolor, oil-painting, or textured styles) - Layered collage composition - Working with pattern and decorative details - Typography or calligraphic touches You don't need to have done a project like this before, we're mainly looking to see that you have these skills in your toolkit. As a bonus, if you have anything that already lives in a romantic, dreamy, vintage, bookish sort of world, we'd love to see it, but that's not required. A quick note on your rate for a set of three original illustrations with full copyright transfer would be helpful too. We're excited to find the right person and hopefully build a lasting working relationship!