Update

It's September! And I don't have to go back to school. It's been 5 years since I've had to, but every year I'm thankful I'm not a student anymore (despite all the "real world" struggles).

Got a great commission this month from Magic for M11. M10, as you'll recall, was released back in July, so you get a sense of how far in advance Wizards of the Coast works. But thankfully my cards are coming out on a regular schedule now. The next six (count 'em, six) are Pre-Released on Sept. 27 and officially released the first week in October, as part of the Zendikar expansion set.

Also, as part of the Magic commission, I'm working on a special project. I'm not exactly sure how much information fans of the game know about it, so I'll just leave it up to your imagination.

As fun as working on cards can be, I really have to get cracking on expanding my client base this month. Yes, I just did a Broadway poster. But a major reason I got the job was dumb luck. The ad agency was looking for someone at the exact time I uploaded Lion on the Mound to the Directory of Illustration online gallery.
So, as John Tomac suggested, I'm going to make a mailer from the Broadway image and hit the publishing companies again. Once I make 2-3 more portfolio images of cute kids doing cute-kid things, I'll make another trip into the city to shake some hands. I just wish I knew what Art Directors needed to see from me (The running joke among illustrators is that if you have a portfolio with only paintings of 9-year-old kids, no Art Director will believe you can paint a 10-year-old kid).

Because I believe I have the talent and the desire. If an illustrator is going to make it, he/she has got to believe that. But sometimes I have the will to stick with it, and other days I think I could really use some cash.

My 2008 goal of getting a Magic Card was accomplished. My 2009 goal of a book cover is still hanging out there, with just a few months left. Time to get cracking.