Art as Inspiration: Motivating Your Writing Through Character Art
- kristen
- Sep 9
- 2 min read
One of the best parts about working with authors and being an author myself is seeing all the ways writers find inspiration during the writing process. For me, the biggest inspiration comes from investing in character art or witnessing an epic cover reveal. What makes artwork so motivating? I believe it validates our efforts and is a marriage of two creative souls (author and artist) to produce something awesome.
How do you choose an artist for your vision?
Finding the right person to capture your characters, an emotional scene, or setting can seem like a grueling task, but there are many places that offer creative partnerships without the hassle. Lots of authors seek out connections with artists through social media networks, contract-gig platforms, or word of mouth. Here are a few examples of where to search:
Etsy
Upwork
Fiverr
Facebook groups (search for cover designers or groups that pair artists with authors)
Threads
Referrals
Some key green flags to look out for when considering your artist: they have a professional website, they can provide testimonials, they have examples of their work, they don't use AI.
Start a conversation with an artist to gauge their availability and their turnaround time too. If they're great communicators, that can help put any concerns at ease.
What art style captivates you most and why?
Before you hire someone to create your vision, make sure you have an art style in mind. Some authors prefer to work with realistic artists who capture their characters in life-like sketches, while others prefer cartoony versions or photographic figures. Make sure you are upfront about your expectations, and provide detailed information to guide the artist. If you're okay with the artist using their own imagination to bring the scene to life, though, let them roam!
How do you choose between real-life or illustration?
If you're looking for a cover designer, do your research. Make sure the artistic style is attractive yet also follows similar covers in your genre. Your novel can stand out of course but if it looks like a thriller instead of a cozy romance, your readers will get confused.
Great places to search for comp styles/books include Goodreads, publisher websites, and author pages. Get a feel for your genre and find an artist who gets it. If their portfolio vastly favors sci-fi, they might not be willing to work on a romcom. However, you don't know if you don't ask, so if someone's style speaks to you, reach out! They might be craving a new illustration opportunity!
What other sources of inspiration exist?
You can find inspiration for art nearly everywhere. But if a drawing isn't in your budget, or you want to do something even more daring, you could consider branching out into other modes of artistic expression. Can you see your characters' images on merchandise such as a coffee mug, a key chain, or a sticker? An artist can bring that to life too!
Artists love expressing creativity as much as authors, and the artist-author partnership can develop into a lifelong collaboration. Finding the right person for your artistic needs is possible if you do your homework and connect.
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