Sep 042011
 
My book “Nuclear Pulse Propulsion,” to be published by ARA Press, will be heavily illustrated. The bulk of the illustrations (contemporary art and diagrams, along with all-new technical illustrations) are done or in progress. However, it will also need a number of explanatory illustrations.

The book is half history, half physics textbook. The physics half will need illustrations showing general processes and concepts… the implosion of an atomic bomb, the operation of shock absorbers, that sort of thing. Illustrations roughly akin to this:

Either color or black & white would work for this book (not sure if it will all be printed in color, though). Simple, clear and to the point is prefered over complex fully rendered computer graphics. Drawn on a computer or pen and ink. What matters is quality, clarity and, in the end, probably a bit of quantity.

I am uncertain if there is much of a budget to hire an illustrator… or any budget at all. But if you are interested in illustrating this book and having your skills shown to the world, contact Jack Hagerty, publisher at ARA Press. His email can be found under the “about us” tab: http://www.arapress.com/

 Posted by at 8:43 pm

  4 Responses to ““Nuclear Pulse Propulsion” book looking for illustrator”

  1. If you are looking for illustrations for your book, I suggest you get your needs cleared up. The approach to a color vs black+white illustration is night and day. And black+white vs grayscale is another level of design concern. The illustrations shown above are excellent. You are on the right path, but the vagueness of your requirements is a red flag to any experienced illustrator to steer clear of your project until you make a decision about your publishing approach. And if you really want decent work, I also suggest you offer something for the illustrations, if only some nominal price per piece — although honestly, a professional designer would ask to be paid by the hour, so as not to be inundated with changes and whims. And no professional artist is going to do this project for the “glory” — every artist hears that line at least once in their lives — we all need to be paid, that “starving artist” thing is a cruel myth. Good luck with your project.

    • > every artist hears that line at least once in their lives — we all need to be paid,

      Tell me about it. After the *years* I’ve put into the project, I’m hoping to get *something* out of it myself.

      As to the B&W vs grayscale vs color, my hope was that illustrators might be able to convince the publisher one way or another. Worst comes to it, I’ll do ’em myself… they’ll lack “art,” they’ll be simple line drawings and they’ll add time to the project.

  2. I tossed that over to one of the designers at the office, he’s interested.

  3. I sent a link to this post out on my twitter feed and Google+, and a few people re-tweeted it. We’ll see if you get any nibbles.

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