Freelance Illustrator (Pen & Pencil Sketch Artist) — Graphic Novel Project
We are seeking a freelance illustrator to create small, expressive pen and pencil sketches for an upcoming graphic novel. These illustrations will be integrated throughout the narrative as visual accents, margin art, and scene-enhancing elements. About the Project This is a character-driven graphic novel with a distinctive visual tone—moody, expressive, and slightly surreal. The artwork will not be full-page comic panels, but rather intermittent sketch-style illustrations that heighten emotion, atmosphere, and storytelling rhythm. We are specifically inspired by the raw, chaotic, highly expressive ink style of Ralph Steadman—emphasizing energy, distortion, texture, and emotional immediacy over clean realism. What We’re Looking For
- Strong traditional drawing skills (pen, ink, pencil preferred)
- Ability to create expressive, gestural sketches with personality and motion
- Comfort working in a loose, sometimes chaotic visual style
- Experience with editorial illustration, sketchbooks, or conceptual art a plus
- Ability to interpret written scenes and translate them into visual fragments
- Consistency in tone while allowing for spontaneity and variation
Deliverables
- Small sketch illustrations (varied sizes, typically vignette or margin-scale)
- Black & white or limited tonal work (primary focus on line quality)
- Digital delivery preferred (scans or digital ink), high-resolution
- Flexible volume based on chapter needs (ongoing collaboration possible)
Style Direction We are not looking for polished comic-book rendering or overly clean vector art. The ideal candidate embraces imperfection, texture, and expressive distortion—art that feels alive, immediate, and emotionally reactive. Timeline & Commitment
- Project is in active development
- Initial batch of illustrations will be commissioned per chapter
- Ongoing freelance collaboration available for the right artist
To Apply, Please Include:
- Portfolio (especially sketchwork, ink drawings, or expressive illustration)
- 3–5 examples that best reflect your loose or gestural style
- Brief note on your creative approach to expressive
- Rate to be determined