What working with us means
From a single character sketch to a full print-ready picture book, we shape each project around the age of your reader, the mood you want to set, and the pages you actually need. Here is what that looks like in practice.
We sketch mice, hedgehogs, badgers, and woodland friends until the personality feels right — a nervous whisker, a brave little paw, a coat that tells its own tale. You receive a character sheet with turnaround views and expression studies, ready for any scene.
We build your picture book page by page, balancing text and illustration so the pacing works for read-aloud moments. Files come prepared for standard trim sizes, with bleed and margins checked before you send them to a printer.
Tell us about your little one — a favorite animal, a recent milestone, a place they love — and we will write and illustrate a personalized tale around it. You get a finished storybook that feels like it was always meant to exist.
Each story can be paired with downloadable coloring pages, simple mazes, and discussion prompts. These kits extend the book into classroom storytime or a rainy afternoon at home, giving teachers and parents ready-made material.
Our handcrafted style uses warm cream paper tones, dusty rose skies, sage green meadows, and honey amber light. Every spread is painted with texture and linework that feels gentle and inviting, never stiff or digital-cold.
Small publishers and educators often need more than art — they need a story that fits a curriculum theme or a series with consistent characters. We collaborate on narrative structure, age-appropriate language, and visual continuity across multiple titles.
Curious how a project moves from first sketch to finished pages? See how we structure each commission or ask us about your specific story idea.
From idea to finished pages
Every commission follows the same careful path. You stay involved at each step, and we handle the pacing, the watercolor textures, and the print-ready details that make the final book feel whole.
We start with a short conversation about your child, a classroom theme, or the publisher's series. You share the mood, the main character, and any lines of dialogue you already love.
You receive loose pencil studies of the main mouse, the woodland setting, and supporting friends. We refine expressions and poses until the character feels right for your story's tone.
We place your story across a 32-page picture book spread, balancing text blocks with illustration space. You see the full dummy with rough art and handwritten notes before any final painting begins.
Once the layout is approved, we paint the final spreads in warm watercolor and ink. You get a digital proof for review, then the finished print-ready files with trim marks and bleed.
Timelines depend on the number of spreads and how many rounds of character changes you need. A single custom storybook usually takes four to six weeks from brief to final files.
See what formats we offerCommon Questions
Straight answers about commissioning a custom picture book, adapting an existing manuscript, and what you receive as a finished file.
A personalized commission covers character sketches, a full watercolor illustration set, and a print-ready PDF layout. You also receive a digital copy for reading on tablets, plus a short style guide if you plan to extend the story later.
Yes. Send us your manuscript and we will suggest a page breakdown, pacing notes, and visual motifs that suit your narrative. We keep your original wording intact and focus on bringing the scenes to life.
A standard 24-page book takes about six to eight weeks from the first sketch to the final layout. This includes two rounds of revisions on character designs and one round on the finished spreads.
You get a high-resolution PDF with CMYK color and 3mm bleed, ready for most print-on-demand services. We also include individual PNG files of each spread if you need to adjust margins or create a special edition.
We do. Activity kits are built around a specific book and include coloring sheets, discussion prompts, and simple craft ideas. They come as downloadable PDFs sized for A4 or US Letter, with a license for classroom use.
We can adapt our linework and palette to feel consistent with a previous book in your series. Share a few reference pages and we will prepare a sample spread so you can approve the direction before we begin the full project.
Need more detail about a specific format? Contact the studio and we will walk you through the process.
Client Notes
A few words from the people who read our books aloud, hand them out in classrooms, and tuck them into bedtime routines.
"We commissioned a custom storybook for our daughter's fifth birthday. The team turned her love of garden snails into a gentle adventure about slowing down and noticing small things. She asks for it every single night."
Marta Ellison
Parent of a five-year-old, Portland
"Our preschool uses the downloadable activity kits during storytime. The linework is clean enough for little hands to trace, and the watercolor scenes give the children plenty to point at and name. Practical and lovely."
Daniel Okafor
Preschool coordinator, Lake Natasha
"We publish small-batch picture books and needed print-ready layouts that would hold up under production. The pacing notes and page-turn considerations were already thought through. Saved us a full revision cycle."
Helen Marsh
Editor, Fern & Field Press