HOW I WORK

These guidlines pertain primarily to book illustration.

The short explanation OR The longer explanation

The short explanation:

1. Let's say that you've seen my work, liked my style, and have decided to use my talents to illustrate your book or other item. I have read your story, heard your ideas, looked at your character concepts and determine that your story is "my cup of tea" and that I can do what you are asking.

2. I have given you an estimate, my ideas, and a time frame, all of which are acceptable. (if not we can revise and negotiate) Finaly, everything is "a GO". Everyone is excited!

3. At that point we will make an oral contract, or the estimate will be further detailed and info finalized until we have an agreement which we can sign.—the "Confirmation of Assignment". You will pay me a portion of the price as an advance, the amount depending on our agreement but usually 1/3 for books, 1/2 for single illustrations and other items. I will begin to work on rough drawings until I have a complete set and present them to you.

4. You will toss out any rough drawings that you don't like, keep the ones you do, or have me revise those which need changes or more development.

5.When all rough drawing concepts are approved, you will pay me a portion of the price, the amount depending on our agreement but usually the second third for books, nothing for single illustrations and other items.6. I will finish the illustrations and deliver them to you. You will love the art, and issue final approval. You then pay me the remainder of the fee, and I will leave the art with you or deliver it to your art director or printer.7. After final payment I will transfer ownership or copyrights to you.

The longer explanation:

In a perfect world, my illustration concepts are presented to me directly from the content of the story and from somewhere in my imagination. More often than not, the author has some strong ideas of how they want something illustrated, but I have found that sometimes the image a writer has built in their mind while writing the story can be limiting when it comes to the process of illustrating the story. More simply put, if left to my imagination, I can usually give the author something they might not have imagined... something beyond the image they created in their mind while writing.Also in that perfect world (okay, from this point on let's just assume that everything happens as it should in my perfect little world, and it is called Davidland) –So...in Davidland I prefer to receive the story from the publisher or author in manuscript form, accompanied by any notes or thoughts the author has regarding characters, historic periods and environment BEFORE beginning any drawings. I can squeeze more out of my imagination if I take my inspiration from the actual text of the story.

Usually at that point the art director or author has decided on the "mood", the desired artistic medium, and the trim size for the book, which gives me a dimensional format for the book and a direction that I think the illustrations should go, and if I would be working in pencil, ink or paint. We'll assume that the author, art director have decided they want me to do the art. Also at that point I will have come to a conclusion on whether or not the story is something I can illustrate well and that I have sufficient time to give the story what it needs. If all are in agreement then we will sign an agreement called the "Confirmation of Assignment.".

After I have read the story numerous times, I have some ideas about how I want the illustrations to look and how to pull the "mood" of the book into the illustrations. If the story is set in a specific historical period, I will also have started to gather reference materials. I begin with very rough sketches—really just notes to myself— allowing me to work out much of the foundational and compositional issues. I'll look for the best concepts, tossing many sketches aside and moving on to something which works better. Those which seem to work are refined into rough concept sketches for art director review. After that, there are sometimes revisions or a particular idea may be scrapped altogether, and I will continue working until a full set of rough drawings is accepted.

If all of the concepts are approved, I will complete the final art. I try to complete the illustrations chronologically, from page one through the last page finishing up with the cover illustration. I prefer to work on one book at a time, because when I am illustrating a book I try to stay totally immersed in the "world" of that story.

Sprinkled in along the way, sadly, I will have to ask for payment.. I am very confident that you will LOVE the illustrations in the end, and you will think it money well spent.Back to Top

Payment Schedule:

Books (or a group of 5 or more illustrations):
1/3 of price at signing "Confirmation of Assignment"
1/3 at approval of rough concept drawings
1/3 on delivery of finished art.

Book jacket or cover:
1/3 of price at signing "Confirmation of Assignment"
1/3 at approval of rough concept drawings
1/3 on delivery of finished art.

Single illustrations or a group of 4 or less:
1/2 of the total price at signing "Confirmation of Assignment"
1/2 on delivery of finished art.Back to Top

Confirmation of Assignment
This is only a brief list of items covered in the agreement. It's a fairly standard form.

Items which are detailed on the form are:
The description of the work to be done (size, medium, number of ilustrations, and other specs)
Due Date and schedules
Grant of rights of use, Rights reserved, additional uses allowed and fees
Payment, expenses, advances, payment schedule
Revisions and cancellations
Authorship credit, copyright notice
Ownership and return of artwork
Permissions and releases
The complete form is available.
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