You’ve spent months — maybe years — building your world. Your characters have voices, your magic system has rules, your plot has weight. Now you’re ready to bring it all to life visually.
But here’s where many authors get stuck: they hire an illustrator, send a vague description, and end up with art that looks nothing like what they imagined. The frustration is real, and almost always avoidable.
The secret? A great brief.
Whether you’re commissioning your very first character portrait or your tenth book cover, knowing how to communicate your vision clearly is the single most important thing you can do to get art you’ll love. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it.
WHAT IS AN ILLUSTRATION BRIEF?
An illustration brief is the document or message you send to your artist before work begins. Think of it as the blueprint for your artwork; the more detail and clarity it contains, the closer the final result will be to what you imagined.
A weak brief leaves too much to interpretation. A strong brief gives your artist everything they need to make decisions that serve your story.
- START WITH YOUR STORY, NOT YOUR CHARACTER
This is the mistake most authors make: they jump straight into describing hair colour and eye shape without giving the artist any context.
Before anything else, share a brief summary of your story:
- What genre is it? (Epic fantasy, clean romance, sci-fi, children’s fiction?)
- What is the overall tone? (Dark and gritty? Whimsical and warm? Hopeful and adventurous?)
- Who is the audience? (Adults, young adults, children?)
- What feeling do you want readers to have when they see the art?
Even two or three sentences of story context help your illustrator make better decisions about everything from colour palette to lighting to composition.
Example of a weak opener:
“I need a character with brown hair and a sword.”
Example of a strong opener:
“My story is a clean epic fantasy set in a world where magic is forbidden. The tone is dark but hopeful, think Lord of the Rings meets a redemption arc. My main character is a young woman who has been hiding her magic for years and is finally choosing to fight back.”
See the difference? The second version gives your artist a world to work from.
- DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER IN DETAIL
Now you can get into the specifics. Cover these areas:
PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
- Age and general build (tall, slim, muscular, petite?)
- Skin tone
- Hair — colour, length, texture, style
- Eye colour and shape
- Any distinctive features (scars, freckles, markings, unusual features)
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
- What are they wearing in this illustration?
- What does their clothing say about who they are? (A warrior’s armour, a scholar’s robes, a peasant’s worn travelling clothes?)
- Any weapons, jewellery, or important objects they’re carrying?
PERSONALITY AND EMOTION
- What is their personality like? (Fierce? Gentle? Guarded? Warm?)
- What emotion do you want them to convey in this illustration?
- Are they in action or in a quiet moment?
The more specific you are, the better. Don’t worry about giving too much detail; a good illustrator will use everything you give them.
- DESCRIBE THE SCENE OR COMPOSITION
Even for a character portrait, context matters. Tell your illustrator:
- Are they standing, sitting, mid-action?
- What is the background? (Simple gradient, a forest, a castle, a battlefield?)
- What is the lighting like? (Golden hour sunlight, moonlight, candlelight, dramatic storm?)
- Is this a close-up (bust or half-body) or a full scene?
- Are there other characters or elements in the image?
If you’re commissioning a full scene illustration, describe the moment clearly:
“This is the scene where my protagonist faces the antagonist for the first time. She’s standing at the edge of a cliff at night, lantern in hand, rain falling, her expression is determined but afraid.”
That single paragraph tells your artist the setting, the weather, the lighting, the mood, and the emotional state of the character, everything they need.
- SHARE VISUAL REFERENCES
This is one of the most powerful things you can do. Words are subjective; “dark” to you might mean something completely different to your artist.
Visual references remove that ambiguity.
Collect 3–5 images that represent:
- The art style you’re drawn to
- The colour palette or mood you want
- Characters or designs that feel similar to yours
- Book covers or illustrations you admire
You don’t need to find exact matches; even saying “I love the colour palette in this image” or “I want the linework to feel similar to this” gives your illustrator valuable direction.
Pinterest boards work wonderfully for this. Simply create a board, pin images that feel right for your story, and share the link with your artist.
- BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU DON’T WANT
This is often overlooked but incredibly useful. If there are specific things you want to avoid, certain colour tones, styles, poses, or elements, say so upfront.
“I don’t want the artwork to look too cartoonish — I’m going for a painterly, realistic style.”
“Please avoid making her look too aggressive — she’s strong but warm.”
“I’d prefer muted tones rather than bright, saturated colours.”
Knowing what you don’t want is just as helpful as knowing what you do.
- INCLUDE PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Finally, make sure your brief includes the practical details your illustrator needs:
- What is the artwork for? (Book cover, social media, personal use, merchandise?)
- What size or dimensions do you need?
- What file formats do you need? (PNG, PDF, print-ready?)
- Do you need a commercial license? (Almost always yes for book covers)
- What is your timeline?
- What is your budget?
Being upfront about budget and timeline at the start saves everyone time and helps your illustrator confirm they’re the right fit for your project.
A QUICK BRIEF TEMPLATE
Here’s a simple template you can copy and fill in for your next commission:
STORY CONTEXT:
[2–3 sentences about your story, genre, and tone]
CHARACTER DESCRIPTION:
- Name and age:
- Physical appearance:
- Clothing and accessories:
- Personality:
- Emotion in this illustration:
SCENE/COMPOSITION:
[Describe what you want to see in the image]
STYLE REFERENCES:
[Link to Pinterest board or describe 2–3 reference images]
WHAT I DON’T WANT:
[Any specific things to avoid]
PRACTICAL DETAILS:
- Purpose of artwork:
- Dimensions needed:
- File formats:
- Commercial license needed: Yes/No
- Timeline:
- Budget:
FINAL THOUGHTS
A great brief is a gift to your illustrator, and ultimately to yourself. The more clearly you communicate your vision, the more likely you are to receive art that genuinely captures your story.
At NexArt, we read every brief carefully before a single line is drawn. We ask questions, we clarify details, and we make sure we understand your world before we start building it visually.
If you’re ready to commission your next illustration — or your first — we’d love to hear about your story.
→ Start Your Project at https://nexartofficial.com/start-your-project/
ABOUT NEXART
NexArt is a clean, family-friendly illustration studio for authors who tell stories worth telling. We create character portraits, scene illustrations, book covers, children’s book art, and full publishing packages — all crafted with care for stories that matter.