Any illustrators around please? How much to illustrate a children's book?

[JulietMadeChutney]

I have recently started selling my art (generally wildlife and pet portraits) and have been approached by a local charity to see if I would be interested in doing some illustrations for a children's book one of the founders is writing. All proceeds to go to the charity. They would pay me for my time/art - and I would be keen to be involved. However I am not sure what to charge.

I will be finding out more in due course....which will help me determine whether to pay per drawing or pay per hour...

I do have a rough hourly rate I work to (c£25-30 an hour) when doing the portraits - but this is based on 1 drawing takes 4-5 hours = £145 for a portrait. Should I be looking at the same hourly rate for book illustrations? Is this how it works? Or is it per drawing (as I do at the moment).

I am relatively new to the "art" world so not really got a scooby if I am in the right area. I don't want to overcharge a charity. Nor do I want to undercut what the going rate is.

Any one got any ideas?

Thank you!

Less of a clue than you I'm sorry!

My cousin does art for a local charity, but he doesn't charge them anything (he's autistic , fabulously talented & sees it as something he can do in return for their support over the years) he has sold some other pieces, but one offs for retailers mostly.

I hope others come o h soon who can actually help!

Best of luck with it all.

Thank you @WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants. I am still relatively early on in my art/drawing business journey so profit levels are...well interesting. And trying to juggle with P/T job in a school...

I'd love to be able to do it for free but can't quite justify it. Having some idea of what the norm is would help me work out what to start discussion with..

Hi, I'd recommend contacting the Society of Illustrators to get some ideas. I'm not an illustrator but I think it would make sense to charge per image rather than per hour. They might be a charity, but you're not!

@RebeccaNoodles - thank you for that suggestion - I went and found the association and they had some useful, open to the public info about it - which has then led to some more info. And I like your idea of charging per illustration rather than per hour. (Also means I don't have to log hours in quite the same way - which can be tricky if you have to put charcoal down to make tea/apply plasters to grazes/hang washing out etc.

Still no idea of actual £ but it has given me a good steer on the kinds of things I need to know/think about....how many/what kind/number of revisions etc.

It feels a big thing on from pet portraits and charcoal drawings of hares! I think they would like me to be involved as I am local...so have asked some questions of the project owner and will have to see if that helps me put a price together.

There’s a specific way illustrations are supplied when publishing. It’s been more than 10 years that I commissioned any so can’t remember the details and they may have changed! My point is that if you can’t deliver and guarantee quality like a professional possibly your prices should reflect that. Personally I’d do it as a donation and use it as a calling card for the future.

@MySocalledLoaf - absolutely - I am very aware of that. And being able to draw does not mean I can illustrate a book.

As above - I think I appeal as I am local and already support the charity.

I have emailed for more info as it maybe something I am not up for doing. I think people do not realise how much time stuff like this can take (It is hours of work plus planning for A4 size drawing... ). So if it is 50 + hours of work for no/minimal money then I may have to pass. If it is something that may only take a few hours and can be fitted in around everything else (ie no mad deadline) then yes I may consider it. And yes, on my thought process is doing it as a donation - but I want to be clear what the "normal" cost would be if one project leads to another to another.. (which from reading between the lines could be the case).

Oh and meant to say would absolutely not be looking at charging what a professional illustrator does - but also would not want to cheapen/lessen what their going rate was - so was thinking more along the lines of "OK a professional would cost you £XXXX. I am not a professional but to support the charity, and for a contribution to my time I can do it for £xxx"

As you identified , amateur writers and commissioners have little idea of the background time and planning needed to do even basic illustrations ...and how irritated and resentful one can get doing artwork to a brief set by someone else .

Beware of being expected to do lots of work for charity or "exposure"...possibly state a professional rate per drawing (£150)but offer to do ten for a reduced rate ..full colour or black and white , digital, how many revisions ..and also watch the difference between what the author has in mind and what you can deliver
.
As you may gather , I have been down this path and got badly burned by well meaning people, and learnt a few lessons myself !