Open Call for Artists

An illustration of pink and white bell-shaped flowers and bumblebee

We’re looking for artists and illustrators who can create beautiful, creative, and accurate illustrations of Northeastern US native plants and fauna for our 2027 native plant gardening guide, focused on creating forest habitats using shade-loving plants native to the Northeast United States.

Cover of a gardening guide titled 'Gardening for Biodiversity: Native Plants for the Northeast' featuring colorful illustrations of native plants, insects, and wildlife.
Back cover of a book with a vibrant illustration of green foliage, colorful flowers, a butterfly, and a hummingbird. Text discusses native plant diversity, adaptation, and environmental resilience.

Illustrated by Julian Plum

Book cover titled 'Planting for Climate Resilience in Northeast Landscapes' with illustration of trees, houses, and people planting and tending to native plant gardens.
Back cover of a book with illustrated trees, birds, and a turtle, containing text about native plants and ecological restoration.
Back cover of a book featuring an illustration of a bird perched on a branch with red berries, surrounded by green foliage and wildflowers, and a block of red text alongside a barcode at the bottom.
Cover of a guide titled 'Native Shrubs for Northeast Landscapes' with artistic illustrations of native plants, birds, and butterflies.

Illustrated by Lin Snow

Illustrated by Kate Gardiner

The selected artist will be awarded a $6,000 stipend and will work closely with Wild Seed Project staff to create new artwork for the 2027 Wild Seed Project guide.

Deliverables will be due at staggered times between October 2026 and January 2027 and include:

About this opportunity

Open book displaying colorful illustrations of various native plants, flowers, and small animals in a biodiverse landscape.
Open book displaying colorful illustrations of various native plants, flowers, and small animals in a biodiverse landscape.

  • full color front and back cover illustrations

  • spot illustrations

  • six full-page plant community illustrations
    (species to be determined)

Planting for Climate Resilience community spread, illustrated by Kate Gardiner

View Past Collaborations

Submissions are due Monday, July 27th by 11:59pm.

Email the following materials to submissions@wildseedproject.net with the subject line Last Name – 2027 Open Call Application. Applicants will be notified of our decision by mid-August. 

How to apply

  1. Ten (10) images saved as .jpeg files (low resolution is fine) with file names: Last Name – Title

    The portfolio of images should be representative of the style and approach you would bring to this project. We encourage applicants to include a few work samples demonstrating accurate rendering of plants, though this is not required. Examples of plants situated within the larger landscape are especially helpful, more so than highly precise botanical illustrations. 

  2. Statement of interest (PDF: Last Name – Statement)

    Please describe why this opportunity is important to you and your connection to the plants, creatures, and landscapes of the Northeast

  3. Brief bio (PDF: Last Name – Bio)

  4. CV (PDF: Last Name - CV)

    A resume for creative projects, and exhibition and publication history

Submission materials

Contact

For questions about this opportunity, please contact Tyler Refsland, Manager of Applied Ecology: tyler@wildseedproject.net

Our Selection Process

We receive hundreds of applications during each open call. All submissions are reviewed by Wild Seed Project staff, and are evaluated on on a range of factors. The strongest portfolios balance a clear and unique artistic point-of-view or style, combined with demonstration of the rendering skills necessary for the project. Examples of plants situated within the larger landscape are especially helpful, more so than highly precise botanical illustrations. We strongly encourage applicants to review the gallery of previous artist collaborations to get a sense of what we’re looking for. Previous experience with commissions or publications is a plus, but not required.

As a place-based organization located in Maine, we prioritize applicants with a connection to our region, (the Northeastern United States), particularly the plants and creatures we live among. Artists of all backgrounds are encouraged to submit, with priority given to queer, trans, and non-binary artists; Black and Indigenous artists and other artists of color; and other historically marginalized voices. We also prioritize emerging or early-career artists.

FAQs

What types of media do you accept?

1

Most of the artists we’ve worked with use a combination of painting and drawing by hand, as well as digital tools. We’ve also received very cool printmaking submissions. Should go without saying: digital is fine, but absolutely no AI-generated work. Due to the nature of this project, we do not accept photography submissions.

How old do applicants need to be?

2

This opportunity is open to any artist over age 18.

What is a CV?

3

A CV is a type of resume that includes exhibitions, publications, commissions and related creative work. We ask for these because we appreciate seeing what folks are up to, and what other opportunities they have had in the past.

If selected for the project, do you provide reference images for the artwork?

4

Yes! The selected artist will work closely with our team and will receive photographs of and information about the species to be illustrated. The project timeline includes a series of sketches and revisions before the work is finalized.

Are international artists eligible to apply?

5

International artists are welcome to apply, though please note that we are particularly looking for artists with a connection to the plants, creatures, and landscapes of the Northeast United States.