Short Film Central Uncategorized About Freelance Comic Book Artists & Where to Find Them

About Freelance Comic Book Artists & Where to Find Them

According to online statistics, the comic book and graphic novel industry could be worth more than $7.14 billion as a worldwide market. Comic books are no longer reserved for the nerds and quiet kids reading in the corner, but graphic novels and comic books are being embraced by almost everyone.

For writers, this means that there has been no better time than right now to create a comic book or graphic novel.

Writers might have a wonderful concept on paper, but need the help of a professional graphic designer or comic book artist to help their idea see the light. Collaboration is one of the most powerful forces in the freelance universe.

Do you need to find comic book artists for hire? 

Here’s your guide that will tell you everything you should know about comic book artists and what they do (before you hire one for your next collaboration).

About Comic Book Artists

Comic book artists are creators, though they are specific kind of creators. 

Artists and painters are not necessarily comic book or graphic novel artists. Commissioned paintings are not the same thing as the creation of a comic book or graphic novel – and although there are spill-overs in this industry, you will need a comic book artist for a comic book!

Comic book artists can work on their own, but also collaborate often with other artists (including writers) to create graphic novels, comic books, or illustrations.

What Comic Book Artists Create

Comic books and graphic novels are drawn, often digitally though sometimes on paper, and accompanied with a storyline, sound-effects, and dialogue that is often overlayed in the post-production (or editing) phase.

There isn’t just one style of comic book or graphic novel out there.

There isn’t even just one type of comic book or graphic novel out there!

You could call Peanuts a comic strip, while X-Men has been both a comic book and a comic strip.

If you are looking for a comic book artist, then make sure you take a look at their style. Can it match the image of your own story that you have in your head?

Sometimes, comic book artists are also hired to create illustrations for blog posts or for articles, or might be asked to create a logo too.

Comic Strips, Comic Books & Graphic Novels: What’s the Difference?

All artists were not created alike, but there are differences in what they create. A comic strip is not the same as a comic book, and a graphic novel is not the same as either of those.

Comic strips are short, often humorous, storytellings in just a few panels.

Comic books are longer stories, usually longer than a few pages, though not full-scale graphic novels.

Graphic novels are the longer format of the comic book, and some are several hundred pages long. Graphic novels take more time to produce, and might take a lot more effort to write.

Each has differences in style, format and presentation: that’s why it’s so important to find the right artist to suit your project.

How Much Comic Book Artists Make

According to Reedsy, a comic book artist can expect to make as much as $2, 000 for a single project. 

However, the same resource also points out that it depends on the artist’s experience, the client’s  budget, and the details of the project.

While some artists charge by the hour, some might choose to charge by the project instead. If you are a writer looking for an artist, their rates will be one of your most important questions.

Creating Your Own Story… With Help

Comic books are very rarely a one-person project. This is where writers and illustrators meet, where collaborative force creates a bigger, better result.

Comic books and graphic novels are created with a storyline in mind. If you are the writing part of this agreement, it’s important that you find the right comic book artist to match your needs – that is, the image you might have in your mind’s eye.

It takes the right artist, which great platforms like Reedsy can help you to find.

Collaboration takes both sides, and both parties should be willing to negotiate on the finer points. If you can’t do this, then you might not be the best match.

Copyright and Comic Book Artists

Comic book artists can be hired to produce a collaborative work, or to illustrate something that a writer has already created and copyrighted.

Copyright should be discussed prior to the start of the project, and both parties should know where they stand with one another. 

If you enter into an agreement where the copyright is not made clear, this can create huge problems for your project later – and not only does it potentially sour the deal, it opens up both parties to unnecessary risk that takes just a simple contract to fix.

Most comic books and graphic novels are not copyrighted to a single person, but shared by the creators.

Comic Book Artists for Hire

Comic book and graphic novel artists are for-hire freelancers, just like editors and proofreaders.

Online marketplaces are designed to bring together some of the best professional illustrators and comic book artists in the business with writers who need them.

When searching for your ideal comic book artist on marketplaces, shortlist several and choose the ones that you like best to ask the most important questions.

An artist that matches your budget and style is waiting out there for you: all you’ve got to do is find them!

Questions For Your Comic Book Artist

As a writer who wants to hire a professional comic book artist, there are some important questions that you might want to ask the artist(s) you choose.

Writers should ask about an artist’s style, and usually ask to see some kind of portfolio that includes their past work. Writers should also ask about how much an artist might charge for the project they have in mind, and how long this should take.

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