Create the next illustration for Meet Me in the Garden (by Uncle Grady)

Meet Me in the Garden (by Uncle Grady)

This is a personal project for a children's book for my niece and nephews. I wrote this book a couple years ago, and have always wanted to get it illustrated for them. The book is about a secret magical garden we create together in our minds. It's a place we can go to when we are feeling sad, angry, lonely, or hurt. The sun is always shining in our special place.

This book is about learning how to self soothe by slowing things down, listening to our body, recognizing our emotions, and ultimately putting ourselves back in a healthy state of mind.

I basically just used google images for the pictures on the document, but I want the book to be so much more. I would like for the characters in the book to actually look similar to my niece and nephews and myself. (I will attach pictures). I also envision a whimsical garden that is light and bright. It should be a very happy place. It should include things like butterflies, mushrooms, our special flowers, and maybe hummingbirds. I kind of like the album cover of Florence and The Machine and how it looks half fantasy and half real, but I don't know if that can be done. I'm going to attach some pictures that I like. I would also greatly appreciate your ideas as this project is very special to me.

I would like for this contest to only be the book cover plus pages 1 & 2. I am pricing this part of the project at $429 (Designer: $300). I will then select a winner and do the rest of the project (pages 3-14) on a one on one basis for an additional $600-$800.