June 28, 2004

People:
I would love to solicit your advice.
Over the past six months or so, I've had the good fortune to be invited to do illustrated journal pieces for the NY Times, Print magazine, Black Book, Book Slut, a new book on mutts for Workman, and The Morning News.
In short, I am very lucky. But my hunger outstrips my fortune and I would love to expand my circle of editorial contacts.
My problem is that having spent my career in the trenches of advertising, I don't know many people in the magazine world.
While art directors like me, I tend to get hired by editors. They seem to value my stuff because it doesn't function as mere illustration but as a novel and concise way to cover a subject and to transform fairly dry information into something visually engaging.
I've covered the Berlin sex trade show, the history of outrage against art, the sociological dynamics of immigrants on the F train, fishing in Manhattan, Christmas shopping along Canal Street, the absurdity of Sky Mall catalogs, the Time Warner building, the Mars landing, the current conditions in Jerusalem, causes of homelessness, the Martha Stewart trial, and, soon the Republican Convention and eventually, hopefully, the Bush impeachment hearings.
I think I could do a good job covering just about anything. Travel is an obvious subject (I've done journals in Wales, Yorkshire, Israel, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Germany, Chicago, Nova Scotia, and anywhere else my frequent flier miles will take me). I think the business world would be intriguing too. Entertainment: I put together a spec piece on covering the on-set doings of the new Wes Anderson film.
Anyway, I can and will continue beating my own drum but I would so appreciate any advice or referrals you could throw my way. If you work for a magazine or publisher, or have pals who do, I'd love your help. Please email me with suggestions.
Your pal,
Danny