CALL TO ARTISTS: Deer Valley Children’s Book & Coloring Book Illustrations
CALL TO ARTISTS: Deer Valley Children’s Book & Coloring Book Illustrations
Accepting concepts for a children’s book and coloring book featuring the beloved Deer Valley Mascots.
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
Deer Valley Resort (‘Deer Valley’) is seeking proposals from Utah-based artists or artist teams to create original illustrations for a new Children’s Book and Coloring Book. This creative project aims to bring Deer Valley’s mascots—Bucky the Deer, Quincy the Bear, Ruby the Raccoon, and Silver the Eagle—to life in a vibrant, playful, and age-appropriate format that engages young readers and resort visitors.
PROJECT GOALS:
To develop engaging illustrations that accompany an existing children’s story narrative that showcases Deer Valley mascots.
To reflect the charm and personality of Deer Valley’s mascots in a way that appeals to children and families.
To produce deliverables that include both full-color illustrations for a published book and black-and-white line drawings for a complementary coloring book.
To support local Utah artists, with preference given to Summit County-based applicants.
PROJECT DETAILS/SCOPE OF WORK:
Selected artist(s) will be responsible for:
Creating character-based illustrations based on the provided story narrative (full script available upon final artist selection/contract signing).
Designing 10–20 pages of content, including cover artwork.
Creating print-ready files for both:
A full-color Children’s Book
A black-and-white Coloring Book version (line drawings)
Coordinating with Deer Valley and Arts Council staff during the design and feedback phases.
Project deliverables include:
Print-ready illustrations for the full-color book (minimum 300 DPI, CMYK).
Black-and-white line-art versions of each illustrated page for the coloring book.
Cover design for both books.
All files must be delivered in .AI, .PSD, .PDF, or other editable formats upon request.
Note: All final artwork will become the property of Deer Valley Resort upon completion, with appropriate credit given to the artist(s). Deer Valley reserves all rights to any logos or brand marks displayed in concept designs, and may not be used for any other purposes. Artists must submit only original artwork—the use of Generative AI will not be permitted. Artists retain the right to include work in portfolio and promotional materials. It is the intention of Deer Valley to publish and produce products from this artwork, but Deer Valley is under no obligation to do anything with the work product.
PROJECT BUDGET:
The selected artist or team will receive a flat stipend of $6,000, inclusive of:
Artist fee
Concept development and illustration time
Page layout
Revisions based on client feedback
Final file preparation and delivery
Any applicable insurance or administrative costs
(Note: Artists must carry worker’s compensation insurance or sign a waiver.)
PROJECT INSPIRATION/EXAMPLES:
PROJECT TIMELINE:
Call for Artists Launch: September 4, 2025
Pre-Proposal Q&A Meeting: September 16, 2025 at 4pm MST via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82154763387
Artwork Submission Deadline: September 22, 2025
Artist Selection Finalized: September 26, 2025
Artwork Development/Design Period: September 26 - November 10, 2025
First Draft delivered to Deer Valley for review by October 30, 2025
Final Project Deadline: November 10, 2025
Print Deadline: November 14, 2025
ELIGIBILITY:
Any artist or team of artists interested in creating designs driven by the project goals, to be completed by November 14, 2025, may produce a proposal in accordance with the guidelines provided below. Artist(s) must be a resident of Utah State, and preference will be given to artists who are residents of Summit County, UT. For the purposes of this RFP, “artist teams” refers to individual local artists collaborating with other local artists or independent collaborators, and does not include official or creative agencies. Proposals submitted by or on behalf of marketing firms, design agencies, or similar entities will not be considered.
APPLICATION:
Artists and/or artist teams residing in Utah may submit concepts for the Deer Valley Children’s Book and Coloring Book. Submission of digital materials is required. Please review all guidelines in this Call to Artists before submitting an application. Incomplete responses will not be considered.
While the full narrative for the new Deer Valley Children’s Book has not yet been released, below is an excerpt to help guide artwork development. Proposal concepts should visually interpret this scene in 2 or 4 pages of draft illustration.
“Bucky the deer, with antlers so wide,
Led the team through the mountain, with friends by his side.
Ruby the raccoon, so quick and clever,
Outfitted the team for any kind of weather.
Quincy the bear, big and strong,
Made skis that would glide all the day long.
Silver the eagle, high in the sky,
Watched over the mountain, soaring so high.”
DEADLINE:
Applications are due by 5:00 PM Mountain Time on Monday, September 22, 2025. Interested artists must also email required application materials via email to kendall@pcscarts.org. Please put “Deer Valley Children's Book Illustration Proposal” in the subject line. Required application materials can be found below in the ‘HOW TO APPLY’ section of this Call to Artists.
PROCESS + ARTIST SELECTION CRITERIA:
The Arts Council of Park City & Summit County will accept all artwork applications and submissions on behalf of Deer Valley. Deer Valley representatives will review all eligible applications and make selections based on the criteria outlined below. All final decisions will be made by Deer Valley.
Applications will be reviewed on the following criteria. Please note that late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Strength and originality of artistic concept
Visual fit with Deer Valley’s branding and mascot identities
Technical illustration skills (character design, composition, clarity)
Demonstrated ability to complete projects on deadline
Professionalism and clarity of application
Experience with children’s illustration or similar work
Residency in Utah (with priority to Summit County artists)
Adherence to the $6,000 budget
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit the following materials by email to kendall@pcscarts.org with the subject line: “Deer Valley Children's Book Illustration Proposal”. Only complete applications will be considered.
Artist Bio (1 page max) – including relevant experience and/or links to portfolio.
Concept Sketch – 2–4 page sample illustrating the provided excerpt (JPG, PNG, or PDF).
Mascot Character Concepts – Original depictions of the four Deer Valley mascots (JPG, PNG, or PDF).
Three (3) Images of Previous Work – Relevant to illustration or children’s content (JPG, PNG, or PDF).
Written Project Description – Brief description of your concept, approach, and how your style fits the goals (300–500 words, Word document or PDF).
Professional References – Names and contact information for 2 individuals familiar with your work on similar projects.
Any questions may be sent via email to: Kendal Kelley, Marketing & Community Relations Manager
Arts Council of Park City & Summit County
kendall@pcscarts.org
EXAMPLES & REFERENCES:
Meet the Mascots: A Parent’s Guide
Deer Valley's mascots frequently visit the Deer Valley Children's Center and meet kids on the snow. Deer Valley’s mascots aid in teaching children to be prepared for their ski lessons and to be safe while on the mountain.
Bucky [Mule Deer] is Deer Valley's original mascot. He can be found walking around the resort, greeting children and participating in special kids' programs.
Quincy [Black Bear] is one fun and funny bear! He makes sure our young skiers enjoy their visit to the resort, whether on snow or indoors.
Ruby [Racoon] helps our guests get ready for their visit to the resort. She offers advice on clothing and other preparations, so their stay goes smoothly.
Silver [Bald Eagle] is our safety overseer. She makes sure our young guests understand the importance of following the rules for a safe, fun skiing experience.