Soliciting cover art

It's awesome that you've got some idea of what you're looking for already!  But a word of... warning?  I've heard more than one art director say that authors often don't know what the best type of imagery for their cover should be.  So you may find yourself needing to trust the artist you eventually pick to design something they think will help sell your story. You might want to approach this as a collaboration.

1) As an artist who has worked directly for authors, and also through small publishers, being given some concept art can be a cool plus!  Most writers don't have the means to provide that, though they may have a description of what they want. I certainly would never expect it.
Generally, a description of the characters, and their setting, is helpful. Scene excerpts can also be, but aren't necessarily required (sometimes a scene can make a good cover image, but not as often as people think). Certainly a plot overview.
I personally appreciate when an author supplies images of other covers that they like from their genre. (With the understanding that they can inform some of the choices I make, but that I have my own art style that I was chosen for.)
Feel free to ask the artist what types of information they would prefer.

2) Here might be a good place indeed! All the previous year winners can be found listed on the WotF website, although I don't think website links are always included so you may have to resort to Google.
DeviantArt certainly. Instagram! Reddit even. I've even responded to calls-for-art on Facebook.
You can contact an artist directly, and/or you can put out a call-for-art and then reach out to someone(s) who answers.
Be ready to supply information to your artist like:
What budget you have for your project
If you need just artwork, or also text layout (some artists are able to provide both, some are not), and really any other needs you may have
Which pieces of their art you liked that made you want to hire them

3) Being able to give the size is important. Not all books will be the same size, so you absolutely will need to supply your artist with all the relevant dimensions. If you need a wrap cover you may also need to supply the spine width. Different artists may need different amounts of info. Having worked with one publisher who was able to provide a template, I have been able to use and modify that template with other clients. If your method of publication provides a template, please supply that to your artist. Different publishing routes also require different file types. Make sure your artist knows if you need RGB or CMYK, for example. TIF or PDF.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions, or clarifications I can provide!

Sarah,

Regarding budget, is there a low number that we might be aware of that to go below that would be an insult? I truly have no idea what a commission for cover art might be. There's the mashups, pick bodies/faces, slap them on a background as often seen in the romance genre (then float them over a prairie house or bakery). But what about a from scratch artists literal cover art?

@tj_knight 

Well, there's so many different types of art and different ways to make it, so how much a book cover costs can vary a lot.

I think the lowest I've seen indie publishers offer is about $200.  Personally, with the amount of work that I put into a piece, I could generally not work for that little.  But depending on the type of art being requested, there are definitely artists working for that kind of budget.

I wouldn't say I've ever felt "insulted" when asking someone's budget and being given a very low number.  I realize that most people have no idea how much or how little work can go into art, and how much a person's time is.  (Plus there are lots of artists out there under pricing themselves and skewing what the market looks like.)  But I would personally turn down a job, or see if there is any negotiating room for a higher budget.

Lazarus Chernik (one of the Illustrator judges) once recommended a publication about the current art market, including current recommended pay scales. It's a good resource for artists and for their customers. Unfortunately, I never remember the title. I figure if I need it, I'll ask Laz.

Posted by: @tashari

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I think the lowest I've seen indie publishers offer is about $200.  Personally, with the amount of work that I put into a piece, I could generally not work for that little.  But depending on the type of art being requested, there are definitely artists working for that kind of budget.

I have gotten excellent cover art in that range as a friend/frequent customer rate; but the artist was composing/rendering existing elements, not starting from scratch.

Posted by: @martin-l-shoemaker

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Lazarus Chernik (one of the Illustrator judges) once recommended a publication about the current art market, including current recommended pay scales. It's a good resource for artists and for their customers. Unfortunately, I never remember the title. I figure if I need it, I'll ask Laz.

The Graphic Artist Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines!

Posted by: @martin-l-shoemaker

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Posted by: @tashari

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I think the lowest I've seen indie publishers offer is about $200.  Personally, with the amount of work that I put into a piece, I could generally not work for that little.  But depending on the type of art being requested, there are definitely artists working for that kind of budget.

I have gotten excellent cover art in that range as a friend/frequent customer rate; but the artist was composing/rendering existing elements, not starting from scratch.

 

Yeah, I get those for around $250 for indie book covers, which is fine by me. 2nd and 3rd & Starlight were through that fine gal.

J Caleb once did a promotion for NaNoWriMo - $30 a cover. I got one, because at that price (and at that point in my life) that was effectively free, and it blew me away. Far better than I expected, and he did all the formats required for wrapping around the spine/including the back. I believe his prices have likely increased in the 7 years since, but I'd definitely recommend him:

https://www.jcalebdesign.com/

Posted by: @tashari

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Posted by: @martin-l-shoemaker

↑

Lazarus Chernik (one of the Illustrator judges) once recommended a publication about the current art market, including current recommended pay scales. It's a good resource for artists and for their customers. Unfortunately, I never remember the title. I figure if I need it, I'll ask Laz.

 

The Graphic Artist Guild Handbook of Pricing and Ethical Guidelines!

 

That's it!