Was at NY Comic-Con today and was shocked to find Midori Harada in the artist’s alley just chilling and drawing, with barely any line.
I really wanted her to sign a card but didn’t bring one with me. I spent about an hour combing vendor booths but surprisingly barely anyone had even a common card by her. Finally I found an random CGC 8.5 uncommon Xatu from Sandstorm in a slab pile at a vendor booth for $20. Originally I had no idea how I was going to get the card out, then I remembered I was at a cosplay con lol. So I fought the crowds to get upstairs at Javits to the cosplay repair section. That way I could ask two separate organizers for a pair of pliers and screwdriver to pry the Xatu out, it was quite an ordeal!
Finally I got the card and went back to her booth. Her assistant told me you basically have to buy a $250 sketch before she will auto a card, as she is there primarily to promote her own artwork, not sign cards, which makes sense. Alternatively, she will commission and draw whatever you like (same price), as long as you don’t ask her to draw Pokemon or any Japanese IP. I thought it over a bit and thought, why not, who knows when I’ll see her again.
I finally had her draw Shivan Dragon 
using the original art as a model, since MTG isn’t a Japanese IP. I really like her sketch of it! Though, somehow, I feel her version looks darker and more threatening than the OG haha.
Somehow gives me Red Eyes Black Dragon vibes.
And at the very end she signed my card and drew on a Xatu too. The guy before me had a random stadium card from Aquapolis (?) signed, but requested she draw a Cubone, which she did. I think I’m always going to keep this card just because of all the shenanigans I did to get it signed!
Also, there was a bit of a sad/awkward incident right before my art. This girl in front of me had Harada draw a Batman sketch. At the end she wanted her to sign an energy card ‘for her friend’ she said, and didn’t want it personalized with a name. Harada flatly refused to sign without a name personalization, so the girl paid for the sketch, but walked off without any signature. Both of them looked pretty pissed off at the end . I’m not sure if the girl was trying to skirt the blanket Pokemon Company rule about personalized sigs only, or maybe just wasn’t aware of it.
. And yeah, I suspected based on her reaction that the girl was a mule or maybe a flipper. Harada certainly seemed to think so. Bit sad to watch that go down. I think she wanted the event to be more about her own art rather than Pokemon.