A short while ago The Lancet Neurology asked me to pitch for an amazing opportunity to be commissioned for their whole 2023 front covers. Wow.
I jumped at this chance. Not only is a fantastic job but the perfect job for me. Nothing about it is superficial. They knew why they were asking me, for which I was grateful (it is not always the case with my illustration work) and I never take for granted this quality type of art directing.
I set about the brief, again brilliantly thought out for such difficult subject matter, and made A Lot of work. I thought about what they wanted from me and tried to think about the strengths in my work that I have gone to great pains to develop over the last few years.
I sent off the required illustrations, and a few extra cheeky bits. Off it went, out of my hands, to be judged against the other illustrators who were pitching.
I got back into my busy teaching jobs and waited.
No, was the first thing I read at the top of the email reply. I must admit I’d prepared myself to not get the job so I didn’t feel despondent at all. I felt really happy with what I’d produced and how I’d gone about it considering how ridiculously busy life had just become at that point.
But then I read down the email and although they weren’t offering me the covers for 2023 they did ask me to do them for 2024. Oh yes please. And I am so looking forward to doing it – just have to stay alive another year or two, as we all do!