Ian Dale – Designer

I am an illustrator and designer based in Los Angeles. I have served freelance clients for 20 years, with a focus on children's publishing since 2013. I have an entrepreneurial mindset and love collaborating with authors and innovators to get new projects off the ground with excellent artistry and thoughtful visual storytelling.

VERSATILE ART STYLES

I enjoy creating lively character-driven illustrations with a versatile semi-realistic style. I tend to gravitate towards diverse and multicultural characters in my work and seek to amplify the stories of those who are less represented.

I can do richly detailed and realistic paintings, sketchy linework, or clean coloring pages. My artwork is painted digitally without the use of generative AI, primarily working in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

I've worked with both traditional and self-publishers and have completed some ongoing series as well as standalone children's books. I'm comfortable depicting imaginary worlds, everyday realities, animal characters, historical settings, and abstract concepts like ideas and spirituality.

SUPPORTING AUTHORS' VISION

It's especially inspiring to work with authors who have a strong passion, personal journey, or a cause they wish to highlight. I've worked on children's books dealing with sensitive subject matter such as disability, trauma, faith, identity, and crisis, and have been praised for depicting these issues with respect and relatability.

One highlight among my books was The Advent Storybook, written by a first-time author. We started the project independently with a Kickstarter campaign, which in turn led to a traditional publishing deal with global Christian publisher David C Cook. Exceeding our expectations, our Bible storybook became an annual best-seller and launched a seven-book collection featuring 100 of my paintings.

MULTIFACETED DESIGN SKILLS

My diverse skillset also extends into the realm of design. For many of the authors I have worked with, I have provided book layout, typography, and preparation for print for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. As the book nears completion, I can create promotional assets for social media and marketing. Feel free to inquire about those services as well.

I'd love to hear about your book and see if we'd be a good fit to work together!

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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

"Ian is fantastic at communicating and understanding abstract ideas. He pours himself into creating compelling artwork while also minding project constraints. He is as invested in the success of your project as you are."

Matt R., Chasing Hope Press

"Ian effectively communicates with clarity and goodwill, meets deadlines, invites and accepts feedback for revisions, and overall does impeccable work. His creativity and eye for detail are outstanding, and he couldn't be a nicer person to work with."

Kara A., Independent author