Illustration Services

Custom character art, promotional illustrations, and merchandise-ready artwork for indie authors who want their stories to feel unforgettable—on and off the page.

Illustration is one of the most powerful ways to deepen reader connection.

Whether you’re revealing beloved characters for the first time, creating artwork for a preorder campaign, building a visually cohesive author brand, or designing merchandise readers will obsess over, custom illustration helps your story live beyond the book itself.

At Hawthorn & Aster, our boutique illustration team creates emotionally driven, genre-aware artwork tailored specifically for indie authors. From dreamy romantasy portraits to painterly gothic scenes and whimsical animation-inspired artwork, we pair authors with artists whose aesthetic aligns with both their story and audience.

Every illustration is created with storytelling, presentation, and reader engagement in mind—because memorable visuals don’t just look beautiful, they help readers emotionally invest in your world.

✨ Illustration Services We Offer

Our artists create a wide variety of custom illustration work, including:

• Character Illustrations

• Author Portraits

• Couple & Group Artwork

• Scene Illustrations

• Character Sheets & Expression Studies

• Promotional Artwork for Launches & Social Media

• Merchandise Artwork (Bookmarks, Stickers, Prints, etc.)

• Reader Magnet & Bonus Content Artwork

Whether you’re looking for something soft and romantic, dark and atmospheric, bold and expressive, or clean and marketable, our team offers a wide range of artistic styles to suit your project.

🎨 Meet Our Illustration Artists

Our illustration roster includes artists specializing in fantasy, romance, romantasy, YA, paranormal fiction, and emotionally driven character work.

Cindy (Starting at $100+) — Dreamy watercolor and gouache-inspired artwork with witchy, artsy, anime-adjacent aesthetics.

Even (Starting at $400+) — Dark, emotive, painterly illustrations with gothic atmosphere and strong emotional storytelling.

Lumaris (Starting at $85+) — Striking fantasy and romantasy-inspired character artwork with expressive, cinematic compositions.

Molly (Starting at $55+) — Bold, colorful, animation-inspired illustrations with strong facial expression, body language, and emotional energy.

Each artist offers different specialties, workflows, and deliverables. Please review individual artist pages for detailed pricing, licensing, and portfolio examples.

📚 Perfect For:

• Character reveals and social media promotions

• Launch graphics and preorder campaigns

• Reader magnets and newsletter incentives

• Author branding and website visuals

• Bookmarks, stickers, prints, and merchandise artwork

• Special editions and collector-style extras

• Fantasy, romantasy, romance, paranormal, YA, and sci-fi storytelling

🛠️ What’s Included

Because every artist approaches their process differently, deliverables may vary slightly depending on the illustrator and project scope. Illustration services may include:

• Custom character or scene artwork

• Collaborative concept development

• Sketches, roughs, and composition planning

• Color and lighting studies

• High-resolution export files

• Print-ready formatting for approved usage

• Collaborative revisions throughout the illustration process

Some artists may also offer:

• Merchandise adaptation formatting

• Promotional graphic support

• Alternate crops or social media sizing

• Commercial-ready illustration packages

• Please review each artist’s individual page for exact package inclusions and available add-ons.

💸 Pricing & Booking

Illustration pricing varies depending on:

• Complexity

• Character count

• Background detail

• Intended usage

• Commercial licensing

• Artist style and rendering level

Projects currently begin around $55+, with more complex painterly scene illustrations and commercial artwork ranging significantly higher depending on scope.

To begin:

Select your preferred artist and submit your deposit through the storefront. From there, project details, invoicing structure, licensing, and remaining payments will be coordinated directly according to the artist’s preferred workflow and availability.

Not sure which artist best fits your project? We’re always happy to help match you with the right creative fit for your genre, tone, and visual goals.

🔒 Please Note

To protect both authors and artists:

• Illustration services are custom artwork and are non-refundable once work has begun.

• Commercial usage and licensing policies vary by artist.

• Turnaround times depend on artist availability, complexity, and revision scope.

• Some artists may decline projects outside their preferred genres or artistic specialties.

• Authors are responsible for ensuring all provided references and materials are properly licensed and owned.

At Hawthorn & Aster, we believe illustration should feel intentional, emotionally resonant, and tailored to the story it represents—not mass-produced or forgettable. Every piece is created collaboratively, with care for both the author’s vision and the artist’s craft.