I have a question for the artists regarding $$$ for work.
My artist is starting work on the new book cover for my Bright Morn of Issareth series. It's going to be quite extensive. The last book cover she did for me I paid her a flat fee that we agreed on and I paid her before she finished the work.
this time it will involve more work and she's not sure how much time it will take. I have a ball park figure in my mind how much it might be so I want to send her a retainer so that she doesn't have to seek work while working on my cover.
I feel 50% of my ballpark figure is good. She said my ballpark figure might be too high as I am doing a lot of research for her to eliminate her wasting time rather than actually painting (yes, it's old fashioned way, not digital) I really want to pay her a good chunk of it upfront as she's recently moved etc and frankly, deserves it.
Any advice would be appreciated.