We all need some kind of imagery for our books, whether on the covers or inside the pages, as well. But in a world burgeoning with AI-generated art, it’s more important than ever to not only support human artists but also to vet them for your own safety.
Heed Your Publishing Requirements
AI-generated content, including art, must be declared when you go to print, and you can get into serious trouble if you’re not transparent. Ignorance is no excuse. You don’t want to find yourself eternally banned from a printing or distribution platform because you made a mistake.
But the upside of this pressure is: if you do your homework, you can support a real artist.
I’m an art fair enthusiast. I love championing artists and sharing their beautiful wares. Cover art, truly, is no different. It represents your work, instantly bringing it to life for readers in a way that your words can’t quite do. Finding the artist who can create the perfect art for your covers, chapter head images, logos, or merchandise is important for your brand.
Yet, much like the rest of the publishing process, it involves a lot more behind-the-scenes grit than simply drawing up a dragon or writing an epic battle.
Timing with Publication
The first thing to consider is when you want your art to be completed, even if you haven’t found your ideal artist yet.
If I remember correctly, I began looking while Heir was with my beta readers. I’m no artist, but from what little dabbling I’ve done, I know art takes time to create. And good art takes even longer.
What I do remember is what group work was like in high school. The moment you involve more people in your project—especially when it comes to creative additions because inspiration and revisions take time—the longer your timeline will stretch.
It’s not a fault; it’s just the truth. Life gets in the way sometimes. But if you know that, you can plan for it. If you can pad out your timeline a bit—for all involved—you can avoid slowing down publication or unnecessarily rushing the creation of important components. (You may not like the final product if you hurry.)
I contacted countless artists I admired when I began my search. Thankfully, most were too busy to take the time to create something specific for me, and my search drew on. Yes, I said “thankfully.” Because the artist I really needed (but hadn’t met along my art fair wanderings) was the incomparable Rob Carlos. When he—a dragon artist!—agreed to do my cover art, I was over the moon!
But there was so much more to do before he could even put pencil to paper.
Vetting Your Artist
If you’re trying to avoid AI art, it’s important to know (a.k.a. prove) that your artist creates original artwork. If they have a website or are featured anywhere, you might be able to tell from their portfolio how their work was created. Still, it doesn’t hurt to verify (perhaps verbally or in writing) that their work is entirely original to their hand.
Another red flag can show itself in the project’s promised timeline. If an artist needs ample time to turn around a product, that could signal that they’re swamped or poor time managers… OR it could indicate that their art is real because it takes time to create! For example, if the projected turnaround time on full cover art is one day, all kinds of warning bells go off in my head because that timeline sounds suspicious. Maybe AI can create your cover in an hour, and they’ll spend two more tweaking it before it comes back to you, but most artists need a bit more lead time to create a genuine piece for you.
It’s also important to verify their trustworthiness and professionalism. You don’t want to hire someone you think is an “artist,” only to have them take your money and run or take forever to return a project. Check out independent reviews, ask for references, get referrals from other authors or professionals—generally, just do your research. It’s like any other purchase—verify the quality before you buy.
Sometimes, if you’re “courting” an artist, you can even have them do a sketch for you while you work out the preliminary details. This not only helps you both understand your vision for the piece but also proves that their art is genuine (because they’re creating some of it in front of you). You can even do this over a web conference if your artist isn’t local.
Bottom-Line Considerations
Price will obviously play a role in your decision, too. Think about what you’re asking for—a full cover, chapter heading art, a logo, whatever. How much would you reasonably expect that to cost (you can do some research here to adjust your expectations), and how much are you willing to pay for it? Is the artist being reasonable with pricing? Or are they simply outside your budget?
Don’t forget flexibility. You obviously don’t want to stomp on an artist’s creative freedom with countless demands, but are they willing to include your input, or are they demanding free rein? What do you want from the finished product? Do you realistically think you can work well with this person?
You also want an artist who accepts that revisions might be necessary for you both to arrive at the ideal finished product. Ensure that you understand their process for creation and revision so you’re not left paying for revisions or a cover you don’t love, can’t change, or can’t even use.
Bottom line in all this? Trust your gut.
Much of this can be sorted out in a call or email chain in advance of agreeing to work together, and all of this is important to discuss. But even if you think you’ve found your dream artist, before you proceed with the project, I recommend cobbling together a contract.
The Contract
Look, contracts, as a concept, make my skin crawl. I find legal stuff uncomfortable because I just want everyone to treat everyone else fairly without a signed piece of paper binding them to good behavior. But, alas, even mistaken slights can occur, and everyone deserves protection as much as good treatment and good intention.
Perhaps, if your artist is a friend, you’ll feel comfortable operating without a contract, but I still don’t recommend it. Everyone can receive piece of mind from being on the same page, and if a friendship dissolves or changes its terms, it might be helpful later to have some guidelines in place.
Now, creating a contract doesn’t necessarily mean becoming covetous or adversarial or even involving a lawyer if you can’t afford one (and I most certainly am not one). If you and your artist can come to amenable terms and get them in writing, especially with use of a standard contract as a template, you might be okay. Only you can decide what you feel comfortable with.
But let me say this: if building your contract together is more discussion than battle, you’ll probably both end up happier with the results.
Rob already possessed a contract he used in art commissions. This instilled confidence in me because he exuded both professionalism and kindness as we worked together to flesh it out and adjust it for our mutual benefit and protection. In the end, although we both possessed every intention of treating each other well, I believe we both felt more comfortable with its contents and how we would behave toward each other going forward to honor our respective art. (A contract also provides a nice reference later if either party has a question about your agreement.)
All I can tell you is my experience (again, not offering legal advice here), but here are some things you might want to consider when putting together a contract with your artist.
- What art is included?
- Full cover – front, back, and spine
- Chapter image(s)
- Logo, etc.
- Delivery Format
- What format will this art be delivered in?
- Will the artist help if you need another format later?
- Revision Process
- How will revisions be conducted?
- How many rounds of revisions are included?
- At what point must you start paying for revisions?
- Due Date
- What is the schedule for the various stages of delivery during revisions, etc.?
- When must the final art be completed and the finished product delivered?
- What are the ramifications if these timelines aren’t met (be reasonable)?
- Terms of Payment
- What will the art cost?
- Get this itemized if multiple pieces are being delivered.
- How will this amount be paid and by what due date?
- Installments
- Digital payment
- Invoicing, etc.
- Grant of Ownership
- The author will likely want first reproduction and marketing rights without time limit.
- The artist will likely want to keep the copyright, trademarks, and IP rights and may want the right to reproduce the art for marking and print sales of their own.
- Does the artist receive royalties on or samples of merchandise, etc.?
- Editorial Privilege
- Can you make changes to the art, if necessary, to suit your publishing needs?
- Will the artist want to provide permission for edits (or remove their credit if edits are unsatisfactory)?
- Confidentiality
- Should your association remain private?
- Are other non-related associations protected from disclosure?
- Credit
- What kind of credit must you give each other when using the product?
- What will the art cost?
You may want or need other elements in your contract, but this should, at least, get you started.
Enjoy the Process
One more reminder: this should be fun.
I’m a control freak, and I still love this part of preparing for publication. An artist is bringing some element of my imagined world to life for people to see, not just read and imagine. I got lucky—Rob really understands my vision, and I thrill whenever he sends me a mockup because he captures my imagination on the page. It doesn’t mean we get it right the first time, but when we finally do, it’s truly magical.
So, build in some extra time—don’t rush it.
Consider the art slowly and carefully—don’t agonize over it.
Give you and your artist some grace—don’t jump to frustration.
You’re an author; use your words. You are capable of conveying what you want, and if you found the right artist, they’re capable of delivering it, so just trust the process a little, eh?
Good luck with your search and happy art-ing!
-HA
Have an artist you love? Give us a name and a description of their style, medium, or preferred subject matter. Let’s promote each other’s incredible talents!
