Graphic Novel Illustrator Needed for Exciting New Project

Project Overview I’m developing an original standalone graphic novel titled Incog-Tito — a character-driven action/adventure story rooted in Filipino culture, community, and family. This is not a parody, not a meme comic, and not a generic superhero concept. It’s a cohesive, emotionally grounded story designed to exist as a single complete book. I’m looking for a skilled comic book illustrator who places a high value on character consistency, visual clarity, and storytelling through sequential art. The story, tone, and worldbuilding are already established. The next step is locking a visual language that can be carried consistently across the entire graphic novel. This posting is for a paid test engagement, with the goal of finding the right long-term collaborator for the full book. Visual Style & Character Design Direction Overall Style Stylized and cartoon-forward Chibi-inspired proportions, but not chibi Clean, readable shapes with expressive faces Not realistic, not anime, not manga Important Clarification on Proportions While the style draws inspiration from chibi-style readability (simplified forms, expressive heads, strong silhouettes), many characters will be more slender and proportionally varied based on who they are and what the story requires. This is not a “super-deformed” comic. You should be comfortable: Designing characters with intentional proportion differences Keeping faces expressive without exaggerating bodies uniformly Maintaining consistency across: Different poses Different emotional states Different panels and scenes Once character designs are established, they must remain visually consistent throughout the book. Consistency is more important than rendering complexity. Tone & Story Intent Kid-friendly but emotionally honest Warm, expressive, and character-first Humor and heart over cynicism Designed to be accessible to kids while emotionally resonating with parents The art should always serve story clarity and emotional readability. What I’m Looking For in an Illustrator You are likely a great fit if you: Have experience with sequential comic art, not just character portraits Understand panel composition, pacing, and visual flow Can maintain consistent character designs across multiple pages Are comfortable iterating from: Rough layouts → refined pages → final art Take feedback well and enjoy collaborative refinement Care about long-form storytelling and visual continuity This is not a good fit if you: Primarily rely on AI-generated artwork Only work in anime/manga styles Prefer loose, constantly changing character designs Are looking for a quick, one-off illustration job Scope of Initial Work (Paid Test Phase) The initial phase will include: Refinement of the Incog-Tito main character design Illustration of 1–3 pages from the opening scene Focus areas: Character consistency Proportion control Facial expression clarity Panel readability and flow This phase exists specifically to confirm style alignment and consistency before moving forward. Technical & Delivery Expectations High-resolution artwork suitable for print Layered files preferred (PSD, Clip Studio, etc.) Clean linework and intentional color palettes Ability to deliver: Rough page layouts Final illustrated pages Clear communication and milestone check-ins Long-Term Opportunity If the test phase is successful, this will expand into: Full illustration of the complete graphic novel Dozens of pages of sequential art A locked visual canon carried through the entire book A creator who is organized, invested, and serious about printing a finished product How to Apply Please include: Examples of sequential comic work (not just character art) Examples showing consistent character design across multiple panels A short note about your experience with long-form storytelling Your preferred tools and workflow To confirm you’ve read this fully, include the phrase “story first” somewhere in your proposal. Apply tot his job