Seeking agent for illustrator, children's book arena
March 30, 2021 6:55 AM Subscribe
Established graphic designer interested in potential side hustle of illustrating children's books. Who are some good agents to submit portfolio? Preferably US, but also UK (because why not?)
Alas, "Who are good agents to submit to?" is kind of like "What is an enjoyable food to eat?" That is, it's a totally reasonable question, but the answer depends on so many complex variables of personal taste that nobody can really answer it for you.
The best way to answer it for yourself is to look for children's book artists that you feel some sort of kinship with-- perhaps their sense of humor matches yours, or the way they use color. Basically, you want an artist who makes you think, "The kind of agent who would appreciate this person's work would probably appreciate mine." Then find out who represents that artist (you can often do this by looking on the artist's web page) and query that agent.
I also highly recommend joining The Society of Children's Book Writers And Illustrators, which offers many opportunities to improve your craft and to network with agents, editors, writers, and other illustrators.
posted by yankeefog at 12:11 PM on March 30, 2021 [3 favorites]
The best way to answer it for yourself is to look for children's book artists that you feel some sort of kinship with-- perhaps their sense of humor matches yours, or the way they use color. Basically, you want an artist who makes you think, "The kind of agent who would appreciate this person's work would probably appreciate mine." Then find out who represents that artist (you can often do this by looking on the artist's web page) and query that agent.
I also highly recommend joining The Society of Children's Book Writers And Illustrators, which offers many opportunities to improve your craft and to network with agents, editors, writers, and other illustrators.
posted by yankeefog at 12:11 PM on March 30, 2021 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: it's a totally reasonable question, but the answer depends on so many complex variables of personal taste that nobody can really answer it for you.
Fair enough. I suppose what I was looking for was the illustrators equivalent of Writer Beware.
As far as I can tell, the illustrator agencies have a stable of artists on stand-by whose style might fit a publisher's already commissioned book project. As opposed to lit agencies, where the writer has to produce a proposal or finished ready to sell to the publisher.
Question becomes, whose stables are run by Honest John, whose by Dastardly Dan?
Good point re SCBW&I,
posted by BWA at 3:01 PM on March 30, 2021
Fair enough. I suppose what I was looking for was the illustrators equivalent of Writer Beware.
As far as I can tell, the illustrator agencies have a stable of artists on stand-by whose style might fit a publisher's already commissioned book project. As opposed to lit agencies, where the writer has to produce a proposal or finished ready to sell to the publisher.
Question becomes, whose stables are run by Honest John, whose by Dastardly Dan?
Good point re SCBW&I,
posted by BWA at 3:01 PM on March 30, 2021
You're absolutely correct that writers usually generate their own material, and artists are usually attached to the project afterward. The choice of artist for a specific project is not usually made by the agency -- it's usually made by the book's editor in conjunction with an art director. (Occasionally, a literary agent and an artist's agent will team up to present a publisher with a manuscript that has an artist already attached, but that's the exception rather than the rule.)
So, while you are pursuing an agent, you might try getting your work in front of art directors as well. This is another area where SCBWI can help you -- SCBWI conferences will often have displays of member art that will be browsed by publishing professionals who are attending the conference, as well as contests where winning can get you direct introductions to art directors.
I believe you can also send postcards to art directors with a sample of your work and a link to your website. This requires a certain amount of homework similar to finding an agent -- look for books you like, find the imprint that published them, and then track down the name of the art director there.
In terms of avoiding the Dastardly Dans of the world, there are two categories of agents:
1. Legitimate agents who make their money by taking a percentage of the fee you get when a publishing house commissions you to illustrate a book;
2. Scam agents who have no intention of getting you commissions, and who make their money by charging YOU an upfront fee under some sort of pretence.
Category 2 is very easy to recognize. NO LEGITIMATE AGENT WILL EVER ASK YOU FOR MONEY UP FRONT. The minute an agent asks you for a contribution to "marketing expenses" or "office fees" or anything else, run.
Of course, within category 1, there's a wide range of skills. And with category 2, they might not ask you for money until they've already wasted a lot of your time. So, when I was deciding whether to submit to a literary agent, I would first search for their name at the SCBWI forum, QueryTracker, the Absolute Write forum (currently down, but will be back up at some point), and Google. That would often give me a sense of where they fell on the fantastic agent /honest-but-not-very-competent agent/scam agent scale.
I would also go to the agency's own website and see what houses their authors are published by. If it wasn't a publishing house that I recognized, I would do a similar search on the publishing company. If an agency was bragging about placing its clients at a vanity press or a scam publisher, that would tell me all I needed to know.
Although illustration is not my specialty, I suspect that the above process would work pretty well for illustrator agents as well. But treat all of the above (*) as provisonal guidance until you can connect with some illustrator-specific instruction at the SCBWI.
(*) Except the part about never paying an agent upfront. That's a universal truth.
posted by yankeefog at 1:40 AM on March 31, 2021
So, while you are pursuing an agent, you might try getting your work in front of art directors as well. This is another area where SCBWI can help you -- SCBWI conferences will often have displays of member art that will be browsed by publishing professionals who are attending the conference, as well as contests where winning can get you direct introductions to art directors.
I believe you can also send postcards to art directors with a sample of your work and a link to your website. This requires a certain amount of homework similar to finding an agent -- look for books you like, find the imprint that published them, and then track down the name of the art director there.
In terms of avoiding the Dastardly Dans of the world, there are two categories of agents:
1. Legitimate agents who make their money by taking a percentage of the fee you get when a publishing house commissions you to illustrate a book;
2. Scam agents who have no intention of getting you commissions, and who make their money by charging YOU an upfront fee under some sort of pretence.
Category 2 is very easy to recognize. NO LEGITIMATE AGENT WILL EVER ASK YOU FOR MONEY UP FRONT. The minute an agent asks you for a contribution to "marketing expenses" or "office fees" or anything else, run.
Of course, within category 1, there's a wide range of skills. And with category 2, they might not ask you for money until they've already wasted a lot of your time. So, when I was deciding whether to submit to a literary agent, I would first search for their name at the SCBWI forum, QueryTracker, the Absolute Write forum (currently down, but will be back up at some point), and Google. That would often give me a sense of where they fell on the fantastic agent /honest-but-not-very-competent agent/scam agent scale.
I would also go to the agency's own website and see what houses their authors are published by. If it wasn't a publishing house that I recognized, I would do a similar search on the publishing company. If an agency was bragging about placing its clients at a vanity press or a scam publisher, that would tell me all I needed to know.
Although illustration is not my specialty, I suspect that the above process would work pretty well for illustrator agents as well. But treat all of the above (*) as provisonal guidance until you can connect with some illustrator-specific instruction at the SCBWI.
(*) Except the part about never paying an agent upfront. That's a universal truth.
posted by yankeefog at 1:40 AM on March 31, 2021
Response by poster: Much food for thought, good advice, and many thanks to all, all your efforts are greatly appreciated.
(And in case my lit. agent is looking - this isn't about you, I'm asking for someone else who draws like a dream. Which ain't me.)
posted by BWA at 7:21 PM on March 31, 2021
(And in case my lit. agent is looking - this isn't about you, I'm asking for someone else who draws like a dream. Which ain't me.)
posted by BWA at 7:21 PM on March 31, 2021
Definitely check out SCBWI. As someone who hires illustrators for children's book, I can tell you some agencies I work with:
Bright
Shannon
Astound
Lemonade
Galt & Zacker
Writer's house
Tugeau 2
There are tons more, but those are some industry go-tos. I can't speak to how they are for they artists the rep, just vouching that they're legit from an art director's perspective. I also work with tons of un-agented illustrators and would recommend your friend cold-email ADs and kid lit editors with a portfolio sample. (Think of this like a digital postcard—you're not asking for interaction, you're just letting them know you'd be interested in working with them and showing your style.)
Lastly, look at artists you admire in the kid lit world, and see who their reps are. Most people have their rep in their social media bios or in the contact section of their website if they are agented.
posted by (Over) Thinking at 10:50 AM on April 3, 2021
Bright
Shannon
Astound
Lemonade
Galt & Zacker
Writer's house
Tugeau 2
There are tons more, but those are some industry go-tos. I can't speak to how they are for they artists the rep, just vouching that they're legit from an art director's perspective. I also work with tons of un-agented illustrators and would recommend your friend cold-email ADs and kid lit editors with a portfolio sample. (Think of this like a digital postcard—you're not asking for interaction, you're just letting them know you'd be interested in working with them and showing your style.)
Lastly, look at artists you admire in the kid lit world, and see who their reps are. Most people have their rep in their social media bios or in the contact section of their website if they are agented.
posted by (Over) Thinking at 10:50 AM on April 3, 2021
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