I can get $500-$700 by the end of July is that enough?
First, how many images do you need? 16 for the court and aces, 17 if you count the back, 18 if you want custom pips (pips are easy so I just tell them to make one image with the 4 pips), 19 if you want a tuck box (which should count for 2 so let's say an even 20) For 20 images you are offering to pay a professional artist $25 an image. There are plenty of artists in India, Malasia and other hi-tech low income nations that would jump at $25 an image. I'd be very careful though, some of them have no scruples.
Going back to my previous advice, if you have let's just say up to $500 to spend to get the artwork done. Go to
www.guru.com and create a project. Tell people that you want to create images for a playing card deck. That you will need up to 20, full color images delivered in .psd CYMK and in .jpg format. The images will need to be larger than the playing cards themselves, they should be about the size of a normal piece of paper and 300dpi. Provide sample art like the one you shared to weed out the ones whose talent doesn't match. Then post it and let people bid for your work. You can see their responses, email them, discuss details.... Then you can pick an artist to work with for the money you offered. Set up a payment installment plan based on them deliverying the artwork. Your challenge will be how to get the money to them. You need to be able to pay through paypal or a bank account. You may need your parents help.
Make sure you follow the basic rules when working with a contract artist (guru has contract templates)
1. All work must be original
2. You own the work done (copywritten by you)
3. Provide the artist with a written detailed description of what you expect (King of Clubs = Ben, Older Hebrew man in blue and gold striped robe and conical hat, shephard cane, standing in a flock of sheep, ...)
4. First deliverable should be the sketch work, typically in pencil to make sure his artistic ideas and yours match
5. Ink work is the next progressive step, this allows you to see the bold and lighter outlines, normally the sketches look better than the ink, but the artist can make up for it with color
6. Finally, color should be consistent for all the artwork to create continuity. Remember, both you and the artist are trying to express yourselves, so allow the artist some leeway.
Like I said, I normally hire artists to illustrate books, but the process is the same. The only sticky point here is how you can make the payments.
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