I am seeking an illustrator for a 32-page children’s picture book about a monarch butterfly’s life cycle on milkweed.
The artwork should be:
• Botanically and biologically accurate
• Naturalist watercolor or soft gouache style
• Gentle, poetic, and science-informed
• Appropriate for ages 4–8
Key scenes include:
• Monarch egg on underside of milkweed leaf
• Striped caterpillar across instars
• Milkweed pod with silk seeds
• J-hang before chrysalis
• Chrysalis with gold dots
• Butterfly emerging with soft folded wings
Please share samples of:
• Botanical illustration
• Insect or wildlife illustration
• Children’s books with ecological themes
Required Skills
Experience with natural history illustration and of children's picture books
Strong skills in watercolor or textured digital painting
Understanding of composition for full spreads and page turns
Ability to maintain a consistent visual style across a 32-page book
Experience preparing artwork for print (300 DPI, bleed, CMYK)
Willingness to work from photo/reference materials for accuracy
Clear communication and ability to meet deadlines
Preferred (Nice to Have)
Experience illustrating nature, insects, or wildlife
Knowledge of monarch butterfly's life cycle and the milkweed is strongly preferred.
Familiarity with monarch butterflies or pollinator themes
Background in environmental or educational projects
For more details on the work, check here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QJUMewdwvZK-ZToVnyxu0l_2Bui-TVuty10SYZynumQ/edit?usp=sharing