Thank you all, this is very informative. It appears that our numbers may be off here, fairly significantly, so let me update the prompt one more time to clarify. I also changed the size specs: we made a mistake on our end and had put the sprite at 2x, so we were actually looking for something in the 110x110 range.
Like I said, we are as new as they get to hiring for something like this and we may not have had all the information necessary to proceed.
Somebody asked if they would be on cardboard: currently, it looks like 320gsm cardstock.
Here's a better breakdown of the workload for one character, with character names removed:
There will be six characters with a breakdown like this (one of those six characters will require a single sprite for five different "sub-characters", but four of those five "sub-characters" will be copies of our artist's existing illustrations and one will be a pallet and hair swap ala Ken to Ryu):
1. The character should be punching with his right fist.
2. The character should be punching with his right fist forcefully, showing moderate strain on his face.
3. The character should be delivering a wild hook punch
4. The character should be kicking with his right leg.
5. The character should be kicking with his right leg forcefully, showing moderate strain on his face.
6. The character should be delivering a straight kick, almost as if he were aiming for someone’s chest intending to knock them straight backward or into a wall/through a window/etc. He should have his arms back slightly to steady himself and an angry look on his face.
7. Special Attack 1: Character should be shown at a bar, bruised and beaten but with a grin on his face, with a cocktail in front of him.
8. Special Attack 2: he should be shown with a generic fist coming from off camera, but he is grabbing the opponent’s wrist, pushing it downward and away, while winding up a punch with his other arm.
9. Special Attack 3: This should be a near direct copy of the artist's illustration.
10. Special Attack 4: The character should be shown in the middle of a dodge, on the floor, almost as if he is doing a squat to the side
but clearly ducking, off balance, and midmotion.
11. Special Attack 5: The image should show the character, grinning slyly, looking up from a hand of cards and point a revolver with the other hand. The perspective should be from his opponent in a card game
Some of these images will not necessarily be in a Street Fighter III style as you can see above. They may be more of a "cut scene" style.
Please see new revisions to the original post, which should go up in just a sec.