Q&A for How to Illustrate a Book

Get a scanner or printer. You can get some pretty cheap off of Amazon or from Staples. Save the drawing and then do whatever you want with it. If you already have a scanner and you don't know hot to use it, search for the instructions online. If you're on a budget, you can just take a picture of your drawing.

You can use whatever medium best suits you. As long is your original artwork is in a format that can be represented in a book, there should be no problem using canvas.

Yes, but try to be creative. Find something that fits the book.

Submit your illustrations to the publisher.

Most of the time you will have to get permission. Some websites sell images you can buy and use however you like, and others offer public-domain artwork that just anyone can use for free. If there is nothing obvious indicating that this is the case, however, assume you need permission. In most countries, copyright applies automatically, even if there is no copyright notice and the copyright is not formally registered.

Of course, it's your book. And if you think that it looks better in black and white, then keep it like that. There are many books out there with black and white covers. There are even covers out there in black and white but with a small amount of colour to make something eye catching.

There are digital art programs you can use. Try ibisPaint, FireAlpaca, GIMP, MS Paint, or Adobe Photoshop.