My Salute to Freelance Illustrators

I write this to recognize a special group of people who have worked tirelessly to make my life as rich as it is today. Each of these people spent countless hours making my life more meaningful. They poured their life and soul into their work and I was the direct beneficiary. They hold a special place in my heart. Who are they you ask. They are the illustrators of my life. From Disney to Saturday morning cartoons they have been there for me. I salute all illustrators everywhere but, especially the freelance illustrator. Freelance illustrators work so very hard. They often don't know where their next paycheck will come from and yet, they continue on for love of the art, dedicated to their cause. Each one is a hero in his own right. They affect all of out lives in so many ways. Illustrators, especially freelance illustrators draw the illustrations in our magazines, make the Saturday morning cartoons that we so dearly love, and even help us put together our Bar-B-Qs. When I was a kid I loved to read the Popular Science Magazine. I could read about all of the new and exciting inventions that people were making at the time, like the solar powered bicycle that had a killer sound system or the hot air balloon that could fly around the world. They even talked about things that weren't invented or technologies that didn't exist. Naturally they couldn't take pictures of things that don't exist so they hired an illustrator, probably a freelance illustrator, to make a rendition of that particular invention or technology. For me the unknown and undiscovered sparked my interest in math, science, and engineering. Whoever drew those illustrations is one of the principle authors of my drive to learn. Illustrators have not only reached me through the medium of magazines but also through the media of television and movies. I grew up in the golden age of Disney. I was at the prime of my childhood when Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King came out. These were cartoons that I watched over and over again. They were funny, they were something my parents could enjoy and they built a family unity. I to this day have fond memories of those experiences. That nostalgia is a direct result of the work of a team of illustrators, though probably not freelance illustrators. My hat goes off the those illustrators who put such a great effort into my childhood. Now as an adult going to school fulltime and working part-time I enjoy another kind of illustration, computer animation. After those hard days at work and school it is difficult to unwind. I find that a little Homestar Runner or a joke form www.CartoonSolution.com helps me just relax and laugh. They help me keep my sanity and keep things in perspective. Laughing is good therapy and the freelance illustrators at these sites help me do it. Thank you who ever you are for keeping my life sane and happy. I hope this helps you appreciate all of the illustrators of you life, especially the freelance illustrators. They increase our curiosity about the world. They create fond memories and the make us laugh. Theirs is truly a noble job. So next time you see a freelance illustrator. Show your gratitude and thank him or her for the wonderful job that he or she does.