If you are reading this, it means that you have successfully written a satisfactory comic book draft. It can be long and arduous, but now you can take a sigh of relief. You have achieved a huge milestone towards becoming an accomplished comic book writer.
Take your time to cherish your accomplishments, but the journey is not over yet. Every comic book author understands the importance of illustrations to help their work stand out and succeed. You need a good comic book artist to turn your vision into reality.
With hundreds of comic book artists claiming to be the best, making a decision can be challenging. However, you can make this challenge easier by looking for the right things.
Here are some of the most important things to consider while hiring a comic book artist.
1. Inquire About their Experience
Experience in any field leads to expertise, and things are no different when you want to hire a comic book artist. Experienced comic book artists bring a lot to the table. They can help you shape the reader’s perception and boost their emotional connection with your readers.
Experienced artists offer a lot more than good drawing skills. After working on several other books, they understand important factors such as storytelling and pacing. They can use these factors in enhancing your comic book and how to use them.
2. Learn About their Art Style
Just because a comic book artist has impressive years of experience does not mean that they are an ideal match for your needs. Different illustrators also have expertise in varying art styles. You must work with only the ones who can help you set the visual tone of your comic.
You can make the shortlisting process easier by asking comic book artists interested in the position to provide you with samples of their work. This way, you can see their art to decide their suitability to your vision.
3. Ask for the Portfolio
A portfolio is a one-stop platform that can help you learn all you need about an artist’s work experience, storytelling skills, education, and much more. It can also help you make quick decisions about rejecting or pursuing an artist further.
If you look into their samples, remember to seek versatility in their work. From their colour usage to attention to detail, remember to prioritise an artist with proficiency in the art style that you have already envisioned for your comic book.
4. Look for Versatility
You may believe that a jack of all trades is a master of none. While it is true in most areas of life, it may not be the best example to follow when you are looking for a comic book artist. A versatile artist can do wonders to boost the potential of your book.
Versatile artists can adapt to any style to suit different genres and moods. It does not just mean that they will be able to suit your unique vision. It also means that they will be able to manage according to the fast and slow pace throughout your book.
5. Access the Collaboration Skills
Editors, writers, and artists are just some of the creative individuals who collaborate to create a comic book. Every professional who wants to be involved in this process must be comfortable with and well-versed in collaboration.
It is best to ask the artist you are considering for your comic book about their previous experiences working with a team. You can ask them to let you get in touch with their creativity partner prior to you before you make up your mind.
6. Seek Out Creativity
A comic book artist should not just be someone who follows your order and relies on your vision before creating every new drawing. Instead, you must prioritise working with someone who offers creativity and originality to boost your work.
It is always a good idea to hire artists who are not afraid to express their thoughts and let their creative juices flow. You must also keep an open mind to their opinions and let their guidance boost the potential of your work.
Their creativity through designs, storytelling, and colour can make your work stand out among the crowd. Brainstorming sessions with other creative people on board can help you make many major decisions for your comic book.
7. Commitment to Consistency
An artist must be able to think from a reader’s point of view. Comic book readers love consistency in the artistic details. If an artist fails to maintain consistency, they may not be able to keep the reader engaged. Therefore, you must inquire about their commitment to consistency before making a decision.
An artist must carry a sense of consistency not only across a page or a chapter of the comic book but throughout multiple pages or issues. This quality can be a promise of consistency and assurance for your readers.
8. Be Sure About Reliability
It is crucial for you to ensure that the artist you work with conducts themselves professionally throughout your collaboration. They must keep their integrity and professionalism central, especially in matters such as deadlines, to ensure a smooth outcome.
Check their track record and reviews to determine if they are reliable in keeping up with tight publishing schedules. If you see any complaints about reliability, timeliness, and or ability to deliver high-quality work within agreed-upon deadlines, it is always recommended for you to explore other options.
9. Look for Genuine Love
When someone is passionate about something, they put their best efforts and energy into that matter. Things are no different when it comes to finding an ideal artist for your comic book. Finding an artist with a genuine love for comic books and storytelling is a jackpot.
Great comic book art goes beyond creating visually appealing images based on instructions. Passion is a strong force that drives creativity and dedication among artists. It can create more engaging and immersive artwork that resonates with readers, leading to added sales and readability for your comic book.
