My Father-in Law once said to me : "You are not your job." What he didn't understand was that I chose a job that was already a part of me.

Pursue a career path that you enjoy doing. You're going to be spending most of your life doing it.

If you get stuck in your career path, take control of your life and make a change.

Back in the late 90s, my career got stuck. I was getting freelance work, but it was all the same stuff & wasn't improving my portfolio.

I found that I actually had to turn down (low paying) work in order to have the time to do new portfolio pieces that could advance my career.

So even though I had been getting illustration jobs, that particular work was only helping me in the short term, not my long term goals.

Sometimes you have to make tough choices, and reworking your portfolio is a pain. But it can be necessary to get to the next level.

The market is more competitive than ever. There is an army of artists out there that want the same gig you do.

You can't sit around waiting for "your big break". It won't fall into your lap. You need to create your own opportunities.

You want to work for Wizards of the Coast? Okay...are you as good as Todd Lockwood? How about Ralph Horsley? That's your competition.

Create a portfolio that can compete with those guys. Wizards will give you work.

You want to work for DC or Marvel? You are competing against guys like Carlo Pagulayan or Steve Epting or Rags Morales.

Make a portfolio that competes with that.

Then once you get "Your big break", don't screw it up. Don't promise more than you can deliver. Don't blow your deadlines.

Communicate with your art director. Ask questions. Don't be a Prima donna. Be professional. Thats what keeps the work coming. Build a career.

http://www.wizardworld.com/scottjohnson.html

-Scott