h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Sri. Just thought I'd drop by and say what a marvelous job I think you're doing. Keep it up.
A couple questions now;
What packages do you use?
How long, on average, does an illustration take to complete?
Frogbit.

Hello Frogbit

Thank you so much for popping by and I'm so glad to hear you appreciate the artwork

Mostly I use Flash to do the illustrations. Sometimes I use Photoshop too (either for photos or to further manipulate images exported from Flash).

As for how long it takes, well that depends on the article (factors such as, does it immediately appeal to my personal inspirations, and whether I find a clear and swift visual interpretation for it), how I'm feeling at the time (do I have a hangover or did I wake up with pixie dust on my feet), etc. I can knock out an illustration in under an hour easily, but sometimes they can take up to two or three. Really depends on inspiration/mood/finding the right reference materials.

Are you an artist?

Best wishes

Sri

Not an artist, no. I write a bit, carve stone a bit, but mainly grow plants, collect fossils and play with my daughter.
Actually, I do have the occasional depressive fit, never get round to jumping the bridge between ideas and creation, and would rather do the washing up than actually put something on paper. Does that count?

(OK then, how long did it take you to do the pig in front of Glastonbury Tor pic)?

Factually I rarely put pen to paper - more often the pen is put to the electronic tablet before me and it feels absolutely nothing like the wonderful tactile nature of real paper.

So you carve stone? That sounds great Sounds like you've got plenty of great creative outlets to express yourself within.

Ah so, the pig and the tor Your entry. It took not long at all. About an hour - as soon as I'd established that the pig was to be peeking out from the scene. A nice little bit of information, that bit about the pig...tee hee.

x.Sri

Thing was, by the time the article went through, I'd forgotten all about the pig.
Tell me, do you make a living out of H2G2?
I'm only asking to establish if you have the coolest job in the world. You don't have to answer.

Hey, sorry for the delay in replying - I've been on holiday for the past three weeks and sworn of internet!

Yes I do make a living out of working on h2g2. I'm the resident artist on the site and as such have regular daily work to do to keep articles illustrated & smileys updated amongst many other things, and I do some work on other BBC Online projects too.

Whether it's the coolest job is down to whether it's the exact kind of thing one wants to do

xx Spirit

Quite cool...
Thanks for the water hole illustration for the Wells entry - yet again I had to read my own stuff to be reminded of why it was relevant.
Hope you had a fine holiday - where did you go?

I went to Australia, to visit family and friends. Consequently it was as trying as it was relaxing

I'm actually glad to be back in the misty pre-xmas wintry streets of London.

And did that visit inspire the 'relatives' illustration on the front page the other day?

"I'm actually glad to be back in the misty pre-xmas wintry streets of London"

It couldn't have been *that* bad, surely?

Ach well, sometimes family holidays are just like that. I figure I've had my quota for a coupla rounds now so peace should prevail for the next few years All resolvable though.

And as for the misty streets of London; sometimes in winter they can be quite romantic...sometimes: if you squint your eyes enough and indulge your imagination .

However I am looking forward to getting out of here for Christmas and hiding away in the Mull of Kintyre with an open fire and no television!

So Frogbit, are you looking forward to Christmas?

Spirit

Stupidly so. Now I have a daughter old enough to appreciate what's going on (nearly 2), the meaning seems to have crept back in. Not the meaing actually, but the preparation. Since I was 19 (all those years ago) preparing for Christmas meant getting loads of booze in, but now there's all that tree preparation, the making of pomanders, and all that fuss chasing the one dodgy fairy light that'll bring the rest of them to life. And getting the booze in. Forget the religious connotations - people have been doing daft things to keep warm in winter for millenia.
How 'bout you? Still squinting? It does great things to fairy lights.
Frogbit.

Hey Frogbit

Sounds like you've got a jolly ol' week ahead of you. I think Christmas for all it's sins and trials is best with kids. Mayhem but magical mayhem!

I'm still squinting. It makes everything ever so much more pleasant. Only a couple more hours of toil to go and then off to the tranquility of the Scottish Isles. It'll be extremely quiet, just me and my boyfriend and lots of food, booze, good books & paper and pastels to play with.

BTW: I found a cute 'recipie' on the web your daughter might get a giggle out of (if she's inclined to the Santa myth)...it's for Magic Reindeer Food...mix oatmeal with glitter (I know - the glitter sounds like it might give reindeer indigestion!) and sprinkle it on your garden lawn the night before Christmas. The sparkling light from the glitter is supposed to attract Santa's reindeer and the oatmeal is to give them a treat to munch on while Santa's doing his delivery. I wish I had a kid if only to make this recipie

Well, have a super yuletide, Frogbit. Hope it's stress free and full of smiles and laughter.

Spirit

Mayhem indeed. Scotland sounds great, how did it go?
Didn't manage the recipe this year, maybe next. Why didn't you make it for your boyfriend?
Frogbit.

Mayhem indeed. Scotland sounds great, how did it go?
Didn't manage the recipe this year, maybe next. Why didn't you make it for your boyfriend?
Frogbit.

It was lovely, but freezing, but lovely. Had to spend a little too much time taking care of the boy who was sick all week, which left me to morosely drink all the booze myself and hence things like squinting at fairy lights was not a problem

How was your Christmas? Did you survive it with fond memories? Presumably your daughter had a great time?

Spirit

Christmas was fine. Went to stay with relatives in a small village called Nunney, about 12 miles away. Lots of nice old houses and a very samll castle, in which the pop sang carols at midnight (but we missed).

You drank all the booze yourself? It sounds like hell. I'm glad you came through it OK.

Lottie had a great time, and gratifyingly played with her toys as much as the wrapping paper. Although a big box *did* turn out to be her favourite plaything in the end.

Speak soon,
Frogbit.