Studio Illustrator — Long-Term Collaborator

Atelier Agolée is a private publishing atelier for heirloom books dedicated to the creation of custom-written and illustrated volumes drawn from real lives. Each project is developed through a disciplined, listening-led process and translated into a carefully composed narrative and physical form. We are seeking a long-term Studio Illustrator to collaborate closely with our team on commissioned works across our heirloom works.

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Scope of Work

You will work in intimate collaboration with the studio's editorial and illustration leads to:

• Develop original illustrations for bespoke, one-of-one books
• Translate complex emotional narratives into visual language
• Maintain consistency of tone, pacing, and aesthetic across projects
• Participate in creative discussions about structure, symbolism, and atmosphere
• Refine and revise illustrations in response to narrative development
• Contribute to the long-term visual identity of the atelier

This position is conceived as a long-term collaboration, not a short-term freelance assignment.

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Desired Experience

We are looking for someone who:

• Works with subtlety, restraint, and emotional intelligence
• Understands narrative illustration beyond decorative imagery
• Has experience in book illustration (editorial, literary, or fine-art leaning preferred)
• Can adapt visual language to sensitive themes (legacy, identity, professional life, memory, grief)
• Is comfortable working at a deliberate pace
• Is open to revision and dialogue
• Values continuity and long-term collaboration

Technical skill matters. Interpretive maturity matters more.

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Medium & Aesthetic Identity

We are open to:

• Watercolor (traditional or digitally rendered)
• Minimalist ink work
• Digital illustration with organic texture

We are not seeking:

• Cartoon aesthetics
• Trend-based illustration

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Terms of Collaboration

• Project-based compensation, defined clearly per commission
• Ongoing collaboration across multiple books (preferred long-term relationship)
• Clear scope defined per project
• Creative alignment conversation prior to each commission
• Full credit as illustrator on published books and selected digital materials
• Full credit as Studio Illustrator within the project context
• Permission to include selected work in the illustrator’s portfolio, subject to client consent and appropriate discretion
• Confidentiality agreement due to the personal nature of the stories

We work slowly and intentionally. Our illustrator must be comfortable with depth over speed.

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