Expert Children's Book Illustrator Needed

Title: Expert Children's Book Illustrator Needed – 44-Page Watercolor Project (Real Dog Character) PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: Apply ONLY if you match all requirements below. Irrelevant applications will be automatically rejected. Seeking a talented and highly professional children's book illustrator for an emotionally warm storybook featuring a real dog character. The character must be iconic and maintain absolute visual consistency throughout the book. The character should be recognizable by children on all pages; the illustrator must match the real-life reference images provided upon hire. Backgrounds must be rich, beautiful, and match the emotional tone of the manuscript, with text seamlessly integrated. CRITICAL: Strictly 100% human-created artwork. No cartoonish, flat, vector, or AI-generated art. Requirements: • Aesthetic: Authentic traditional watercolor on paper (or highly authentic digital watercolor technique featuring organic, rich textures). • Layout & Scope: Approximately 44 total pages including front and back covers. - 12 text-only pages (requiring only very minimal decorative spot illustrations/elements) - 5 cinematic double-page spreads - 26 single-page illustrations with integrated text • Deliverables & Print Specs: Full book formatted and ready-to-publish for Amazon KDP (e-book, paperback, hardcover) and Apple Books. Premium 8.5 × 8.5 inches. • Technical Print Mastery Required: Must have proven experience setting up files with Industry-Standard Bleed (0.125 inches added to outer edges), managing safety margins (keeping text and key visual elements out of the Live Area zone), calculating exact Spine Width based on the final 44-page paper weight for both paperback and hardcover wraps, and ensuring perfect image resolution (strictly 300 DPI in a CMYK color profile). • Source Files: Layered source files (PSD or Procreate) with text on separate layers are strictly required. • Rights: Full commercial/exclusive rights transfer (complete copyright buyout) required upon final milestone payment. • Timeline: Target delivery end of July 2026 (open to discussing realistic milestone schedules for exceptional hand-painted quality). Scope of Work: 1. Collaborate on initial character design, sketches, and visual style development to lock in the dog's likeness. 2. Provide storyboard thumbnails/rough sketches for review before moving to final color. 3. Create full-color illustrations based on each page of the provided manuscript. 4. Create front and back cover artwork (including spine calculations). 5. Deliver high-resolution, print-ready CMYK files optimized for KDP/Apple Books print and digital guidelines. Professional Expectations: Excellent communication, transparency, reliability, punctuality, and strict adherence to agreed milestone deadlines are non-negotiable. To Apply, Please Provide: 1. Links to your portfolio showcasing traditional or high-end digital watercolor work. 2. Specific examples demonstrating animal character consistency across multiple different scenes/angles. 3. Confirmation that you have successfully formatted and published animal character consistency books with realistic illustrations on Amazon KDP. 4. Your fixed-price quote for the complete, full book project based on the page breakdown above.