A visual storyteller to illustrate a hand-drawn watercolor children’s book. Must be a U.S. citizen. This is a long-term collaboration for a four-book series, not a single project.

I am seeking a talented visual storyteller to illustrate a traditional hand-drawn watercolor children's picture book for children aged 4–10 years.

This is not a single-book project. It is the first book in a planned four-book series, and I am looking for a long-term creative partner who is passionate about storytelling, collaboration, and creating timeless artwork.

Important: This project requires traditional hand-drawn watercolor illustrations. Under no circumstances will AI-generated artwork or AI-assisted illustrations be considered.

The story follows a thoughtful gecko who helps children explore mindfulness, kindness, emotional resilience, gratitude, and self-discovery. Each book in the series is set in a different country, so an appreciation for landscape, nature, architecture, seasons, and cultural authenticity is essential.

Main Characters
A gecko (main character)
A 10-year-old boy
Mother
Father

Additional supporting characters and animals will appear throughout the series.

Illustration Style

I am looking for an illustrator who:

Works in traditional watercolor
Understands visual storytelling
Can create expressive, emotionally engaging characters
Maintains excellent character consistency
Understands composition and the effective use of white space
Can integrate typography naturally into page layouts
Appreciates atmosphere, light, nature, and quiet moments
Enjoys illustrating meaningful stories rather than highly commercial cartoon artwork

Book Specifications
The project includes approximately:

15 full-page watercolor illustrations
Front cover
Back cover
Title page
Copyright/author page
Educational glossary section at the end of the book

The final artwork must be prepared for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark print specifications, including full-bleed artwork where required.

Collaboration

This project is highly collaborative. I am looking for someone who enjoys discussing ideas, refining visual storytelling, and contributing creatively throughout the illustration process.

The ideal illustrator should:

Be a USA citizen (required for this project)
Be open to online meetings and, where possible, face-to-face collaboration
Communicate clearly and professionally
Be interested in a long-term partnership across the full four-book series.

Please Include
A portfolio showcasing traditional watercolor work
Examples of children's book illustrations (if available)
Examples demonstrating character consistency
Your illustration process (sketches through to final artwork)
Estimated timeline
Pricing for the complete project. I also have an estimated budget.