One of my first long-term freelance jobs was around 1993,  getting a weekly gig drawing cartoons for the covers of the local Metro Food Market's circulars.   For a little over a year, I had a blast illustrating tabloid-esqe covers of animated food in unusual situations.  For a young illustrator, the $400 per piece was a rare source of steady income and had me honing and crafting a cartoon style that ended up feeding into all sorts of jobs down the road.  I can't believe I'm forgetting the Art Director's name right now, but if you're out there,  please remind me and THANKS!!!