Warm Minimalist Cat Comic Illustrator

*Project Overview*

I’m creating a cat-care book in which each of the 46 chapters opens with a four-to-eight panel comic told from the cat’s perspective, followed by gentle human commentary. The tone is warm, sincere, and emotionally grounded. No slapstick. No exaggerated cartoon energy. Think calm, content expressions, clean line work, and a soft full-color palette that feels inviting rather than loud.
The book must feel visually cohesive from first chapter to last.

I’m open to simplifying visual complexity where appropriate to keep the project sustainable. If certain elements (background detail, panel variation, shading, etc.) can be streamlined without compromising emotional clarity, I welcome your guidance.

*What I Need*
- A single, memorable cat design that can carry all 46 chapters. The character should look calm and content by default, while still showing subtle emotional shifts through postures, tail and small facial changes.
- A cohesive visual language that can be repeated consistently across every comic (panel layout, line weight, lighting direction, color palette).
- An initial development phase with test panels to lock the style before full production begins.
- Layered source files (PSD preferred) with speech bubbles designed and placed. All lettering must remain as editable text layers (not flattened or outlined), with fonts specified, so typography can be refined during final layout.

*Acceptance Criteria*
- Final cat model sheet approved (front, side, three-quarter views + key poses).
- Visual style guide finalized (line thickness, color swatches, lighting logic, panel spacing).
- One finished sample strip that matches the style guide exactly before full rollout.
- Completed comics delivered for all 46 chapters, maintaining character and stylistic consistency throughout.
- All artwork delivered as layered PSD files (RBG, 300 DPI, print-ready resolution), with separate layers for: - Line art; - Color; - Background; Speech bubbles

If this feels aligned and exciting, I’d love to discuss timeline, production workflow, and how we can maintain consistency across all 46 chapters while keeping the emotional tone intact.