Chrysalis Art Collective — An Invitation to Artists
Your art deserves
a spine, a cover,
and a permanent home.
Some art is meant to outlast the scroll. We're building premium illustrated books with independent artists — and we want your vision inside one.
One piece of art.
Here's exactly what happens.
Simple, transparent, and built to respect the work you create.
You create one illustration
One original piece inspired by a scene from the book — something you feel genuinely called to create. Not a commission. Not a brief you didn't choose. A real piece of your art, in a story worth telling.
We publish it in a premium book
Your illustration goes into a coffee-table quality hardcover alongside 24 other artists — each bringing their own distinct voice to the same story. 8.5×11, full color, 70lb Ultra Premium paper. Printed and distributed through IngramSpark.
What we get from your art
We receive the right to publish your illustration in our books and to produce and sell official Chrysalis prints of your work. That's the full scope of our license. Any animation, film, or media use requires a separate agreement — with you at the table.
What you keep — everything else
The original is yours. Sell your own prints — paper, canvas, digital, whatever you like. Exhibit it. Put it in your portfolio. License it for any purpose other than publishing it in another book. Your art stays yours in every way that matters.
A plain-English breakdown of rights — because this should never be confusing:
Every participating artist — including the writer — splits 70% of all net profits equally. Chrysalis keeps 30% to fund operations, advertising, and future projects. Paid quarterly, with full reporting every time.
How this compares
to the way things usually work.
If you've never worked with a publisher before, here's what the standard deal actually looks like — so you can decide for yourself what feels fair.
The typical illustrator experience
- ✕ Illustrate the entire book for a flat fee — usually $3,000 to $6,000 for seasoned artists, less for newer ones
- ✕ Sign over the rights to your illustrations — the publisher owns them
- ✕ No royalties. No ongoing earnings. One payment and it's done.
- ✕ Can't sell prints or license your work without permission
- ✕ If the book sells 100,000 copies, you still made $4,000
- ✕ Your name may appear — but your website probably doesn't
What we're offering instead
- ✦ Contribute one piece — something you wanted to make anyway
- ✦ Keep your rights. We only get publishing and official print rights.
- ✦ 70% of all net profits split equally among every contributor — forever
- ✦ Sell your own prints freely. 100% of those sales stay with you.
- ✦ At 5,000 copies sold, contributors can earn between $3,000–$5,000 from profit share alone — from a single piece of art you created and still own
- ✦ Earn an extra 15% on every sale you drive through your personal affiliate link
- ✦ Buy copies at just $2 over print cost to sell in person — at events, exhibitions, and directly to collectors
- ✦ Your bio, photo, and website link in the back of every copy printed
We're not saying the traditional model is wrong — it's just built for publishers, not artists.
We built this one differently, on purpose.
Three ways
your art pays you.
You don't just get paid once. Your art keeps working for you — passively, continuously, and on your terms.
Profit Share — Every Book Sold, Everywhere
70% of net profits go to the contributor pool — split equally among all participating artists. Every sale through every channel earns you up to $1 per book sold, after all print and shipping costs. Automatically. Quarterly. With full reporting every time so you always know exactly where the numbers come from.
Affiliate Link — Extra 15% on Every Sale You Drive
Once formally accepted, you receive a personal link to the book's sales page. Every book sold through your link earns you an additional 15% on top of your profit share. Share it once — earn every time someone buys. The affiliate link is yours for as long as the book sells.
Personal Copies — Buy at Cost, Sell in Person
Purchase copies at just $2 over print cost and sell them in person — at events, exhibitions, studio sales, or directly to collectors. Every dollar from those sales is yours. No split, no reporting, no permission needed. Personal copies are for physical sales only and not for resale through online storefronts or platforms.
Where every dollar goes — at $45 retail, after print costs
per contributor
with full reporting
as long as the book sells
Artists who contribute to multiple Chrysalis books earn from multiple streams simultaneously —
all from work they've already created.
Each page,
a different world.
These aren't uniform illustrated books. They're curated collections of distinct artistic voices — each page a surprise, each artist a reason to turn the page.
Style is the point
We actively seek artists with different aesthetics. Painterly, watercolor, oil, mixed media — the variety is the experience. Your style doesn't need to match anyone else's in the book.
Stories worth illustrating
Public domain fairy tales and original stories — narratives that already live in the imagination. Each scene is yours to interpret freely. We don't art-direct. We curate.
Curated, not open
We review your work before accepting you into a project. Every artist in a Chrysalis book belongs there — that selectivity is what makes being included meaningful.
Your audience finds you
Every reader who loves your piece has your website right there in the back of the book. No algorithm standing between you and them. Direct and permanent.
26 voices, one launch
Every contributor promotes on launch day. 26 independent audiences. One coordinated moment. The collective reach is what makes presales work and advertising possible.
It compounds over time
Each Chrysalis book you're part of adds another passive income stream. Your contributed art keeps earning long after you've moved on to new work.
Choose your
story.
Each project has its own scene list, timeline, and artist roster. Apply for the one that calls to you — or both. Spots are filled based on artistic fit, not first-come.
Jack & the Beanstalk
A modernized retelling of the classic tale
Jack's climb isn't just about adventure — it's about courage, consequence, and the magic that happens when we dare to reach for something greater. 25 scenes. 25 artists. One story, interpreted in 25 distinct voices.
The Caterpillar's Journey
An original story of becoming
A caterpillar sets out to discover its true purpose. Should it imitate the industrious ants, the graceful dragonflies? Or is it destined to become something entirely its own? An original story about what it means to transform.
You're welcome to apply to both. Each project is its own contract and its own income stream.
How to
join us.
Simple, intentional, and built to respect your time.
Browse the projects
Read the scene list for each book. Find the story — or the scene — that genuinely excites you as an artist.
Submit your application
Link to your portfolio or Instagram. Tell us which project calls to you and which scene you're drawn to. No lengthy forms.
We review for artistic fit
We look at your work and decide if your style and voice belong in that book's collection. Acceptance is based on fit, not fame or follower count.
Sign, create, earn
A formal contract locks your terms. You get your scene assignment, your affiliate link, and 60 days to submit your finished piece.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Spots close when the book is full.
Everything you
want to know.
What rights does Chrysalis actually get?
We receive an exclusive license to publish your illustration in our books and to produce and sell official Chrysalis prints of your work. That's the full scope. We cannot use your art for animation, film, merchandise, or any other media without a separate written agreement — negotiated with you directly. Everything else stays yours.
Can I sell my own prints of the same piece?
Yes. Completely and freely. Sell them through your own channels, at events, through galleries, anywhere you like. 100% of those sales belong to you. We sell official Chrysalis prints through our own platform — that's entirely separate from anything you do independently.
Can the same illustration appear in another book or be licensed for film or media?
No — that's the one restriction we ask for. The license Chrysalis holds covers book publication only. Your piece has a permanent home in a Chrysalis book, and we ask that it stays that way. Beyond that, your art is yours. Prints, exhibitions, portfolio use, and licensing for other purposes are completely open to you. Any film, animation, merchandise, or media use — by anyone — would require a separate written agreement with you directly involved.
How does the 70% profit split work exactly?
After all print and shipping costs are covered, 70% of net profit goes to the contributor pool — split equally among all participating artists. Each contributor earns up to $1 per book sold depending on the book's retail price and the number of artists in that project. Payouts are quarterly, with a full breakdown every time so you always know exactly where the numbers come from.
What does Chrysalis do with the 30%?
The 30% covers operating and administrative costs — the things it takes to run the platform, manage production, handle legal and accounting, and develop future projects. Most traditional publishers keep far more than this while paying artists far less. It's our goal, as the model matures and grows, to increase the artist payout percentage over time.
What is the affiliate link and when do I get it?
Once you're formally accepted and your contract is signed, you receive a personal link to the book's sales page. Every book sold through your link earns you an additional 15% on top of your profit share. It's yours for as long as the book sells.
How are artists selected?
We review your portfolio and look for artistic fit with that specific book's world and tone. We love hand-painted work but we're genuinely open to all styles and mediums — the goal is a curated collection of distinct voices, not a uniform look. New artists are as welcome as seasoned ones. What matters is the work itself.
When do I actually get paid?
Presales fund the print run — no payouts happen until production costs are covered. Once the book is profitable, earnings are distributed quarterly with a complete summary report: book sales, print sales, production costs, and net profit calculations. No estimates, no guessing.
Is there any upfront cost to participate?
None. Zero. You contribute one piece of art to a project you believe in. When the book sells, we all share in it together.
Is there a formal contract?
Yes — always. Every participating artist signs a formal agreement before work begins. The contract locks in ownership, the exact scope of the license, the profit split, the timeline, and payout terms for that specific project. No handshakes. No surprises. Everything in writing.
Create it once.
Let it live forever.
One piece of art. A permanent place in print. Your name in every copy. And earnings that keep coming — long after the work is done.
Apply to Contribute ArtworkApplications are open now. Spots are limited and curated.