Book & Literature Illustration
A cover that opens a door. Interior artwork that gives the words another dimension.
Commission literary illustration by Adelya for a book, a cover or a carefully chosen sequence of images. The visual direction begins with the text, its atmosphere and the reader—not a generic picture of the genre.
Discuss your book illustrationExplore the cover artwork
It can introduce the world.
Or wait quietly inside it.
Book-cover illustration
A single image that establishes character, mood or an idea central to the book. The composition needs to work with the title and author name, as well as the practical dimensions of the cover.
Literary interior artwork
Illustrations for a novel, poetry collection, short story or other publication can punctuate the reading experience. A full scene, a chapter-opening image and a small recurring motif each offer a different rhythm.
Characters & narrative worlds
Character-led and graphic-novel projects can begin with a defined cover or a small set of illustrations. Longer sequential work needs a separate discussion of the script, panel count, visual continuity and production capacity.
A cast of characters.
One composition.
The BornWild Versus cover brings several figures into a shared image. The line-work and colored treatments let you compare the underlying drawing with the decisions that give the finished illustration its weight and atmosphere.
A different book might ask for one object, a place or a less literal visual metaphor. The point is to find an image that feels specific to the text and still leaves the reader something to discover.
When sending a brief, distinguish the story details that must be accurate from the parts open to interpretation. A synopsis, a passage and a few carefully chosen references are often more useful than a long list of unrelated cover examples.
Open the full projectFor a younger audience?
Picture books and educational projects have a dedicated service page, with more attention to recurring characters, page turns and the relationship between images and short passages of text.
For a children’s manuscript, explore that route and share the intended age group. For line-art activity publications, coloring-book illustration has its own process and production questions.
Children’s book illustration
Coloring books & activity artwork
For a magazine feature or an article rather than a book, see editorial illustration.
Agree the artwork.
Then agree its place in the book.
The illustration brief
Specify the text, audience, number of images, expected level of detail and whether the work is for a cover or interior. Include relevant character descriptions and anything the image must not reveal.
The production brief
Provide dimensions, bleed, text areas and the printer or publisher’s required exports. Full cover layout, spine design, typesetting and final print proofing are separate tasks unless included in the order.
The publishing rights
Describe print and digital editions, languages, territories and promotional use. Future editions, exclusive rights and merchandise can be discussed; they should not be assumed to be covered by a basic illustration commission.
A shared direction
before the final details.
1. Read & define
Review the manuscript material and the role of the illustrations. Agree scope, price, rights, schedule and the person responsible for approving the work.
2. Explore & sketch
Establish the visual direction and review the agreed compositions. Resolve character, scene and text-placement decisions while the work is still in the sketch stage.
3. Develop & hand off
Complete the approved artwork, review at the agreed checkpoints and prepare the specified files. Additional crops, promotional materials or revisions to a changed manuscript can be scoped separately.
Before the commission.
Can I commission only a cover illustration?
Yes, a cover can be scoped as a standalone project. Explain whether you need artwork alone or additional design work such as typography, a complete wraparound layout or promotional adaptations.
Do you work with self-publishing authors?
Share your project and publishing plan for review. A clear brief, production specifications and one point of contact help establish a workable process, whether you are an independent author or part of a publishing team.
Can you illustrate a full graphic novel?
A cover commission does not establish the scope of a complete sequential book. Send the script, anticipated page and panel count, visual references and schedule so suitability and capacity can be assessed before any commitment.
What affects the price?
The number of images, complexity, character development, print requirements, review stages and licence all matter. A single cover and a coordinated series of interior scenes are quoted differently.
Will I own the copyright?
The commissioned use is defined in writing. Under the site’s general terms, copyright remains with the artist unless a separate transfer is agreed. Explain any exclusivity or broader rights you require before ordering.
What should I send first?
A synopsis, a representative passage, the intended reader, planned formats and approximate scope. Include your timeline, budget range and any existing cover or interior design specifications. See the current terms for the general commissioning framework.
Put this direction into a useful brief.
Bring a relevant portfolio example and describe what you like about it: the handling of colour, the expression, the texture or the composition. Then describe your own subject and where the artwork will appear. The reference starts the discussion; the new work is developed for your particular purpose.
Build a short project brief · Ask about using an existing artworkWhat kind of world
have you written?
Send a synopsis and tell Adelya where illustration belongs in your publication.
Start a book illustration briefEmail Adelya