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

Tales of a Newbie is my favourite h2g2 cartoon

You know I went to Unc's wedding don't you?

Who?

I thought Unc had devised the h2g2 picture library, but at further glance it appears it was the eds instead.

Sorry, Unc must've been before my time!

Here's her PS U216863 I often pass through it to source new guideml tips

I thought it would be short for "Uncle"

You still doing anything CA-wise?

We've had a lot of activity in the group lately - lots of new blob submissions, a new member joining, and we're trying to get a sort of Peer Review discussion for blobs going. You've been conspicuously absent.

I would love to make art work like you guys do but getting to grips with it hasn't been easy so that's why I've been absent.

You did join up willingly... Nobody ever said it was easy. And weren't you the one proposing that we only give out badges to people who've made five blobs or more?

I'm just trying to round up members of the dwindling group and breathe some life back into it.

Not to be unkind, but you're not acting like a member of the group - we could use your input even if you're not drawing things; that's not its only purpose. I suppose you'll have to decide whether you'd rather devote your time to other volunteer schemes. If you're in over your head and don't feel like being a member, you can make that decision and always join up again later. But if that's the case, please tell us, ok? Then we can stop waiting for your replies that never come

You know what I don't need this so consider me resigning from the Community Artists

Don't need what?

Do you feel that I am being unfair?

If so, please explain.

I feel that I'm being pushed out not encouraged. I did not realise you were waiting on me to comment on stuff. I stand by what I have said before; it would make more sense if those with five blobs were awarded the badge. And if you want more people then help budding volunteers out!

Ok, then. To clarify:

I am not picking on you specifically - I'm contacting various CAs that I see around the site but not the mailing list. Apathy toward things I'm enthusiastic about irks me.

So, since you'd like to get involved, here's how:

You'd mentioned that you'd like advice on improving your art from fellow CAs. So would I. So would the others, I believe. That's why we're working on sharing tips and tricks in the list while we work on blobs and critique them honestly, rather than just having everyone go "Oooh shiny!" when the final version is uploaded. It seems a bit...odd to me that you ask for help, but then completely ignore the list where we're trying to get advice from one another.

I don't have time for one-to-one coaching on my own initiative, especially if you refuse to use the resources already at your disposal. And yet that's what you seem to expect. Frankly, I don't see why I should have to do that. I don't even *have* Gimp, which I believe you're using, and learning to use it just so I can teach you how is definitely above and beyond.

Draw things. Practice is the only way to get better at anything. Play around with your image editor until you know what the different tools do, and what works best - an ongoing process for all of us. I'm learning new things about Photoshop every time I use it. For things you can't discover yourself, online tutorials are very handy. Google knows things I can't begin to imagine.

If you have a specific question, you can always e-mail the group and see whether anyone happens to know the answer. If you want comments on something, upload it and write the group an e-mail. We can't comment on nothing, and we can't draw them *for* you, for goodness' sake! We're willing to give you a fair chance, but you have to take the initiative yourself.

Oh yeah, and you can definitely comment on others' blobs - just like you do in Peer Review. Even if you don't know how to fix something, surely you know what's working in an image and what isn't. (While "this drawing is crap" is as unhelpful a comment as "this entry is crap", something like "the contrast is too low" can point someone in the right direction. We recently had a case where one of us had accidentally drawn a hand the wrong way round, ie a right hand on a left arm, and someone else noticed and pointed it out...) And then it's the artist's job to figure out a way to fix it, unless you can give specific advice. It's a bit trickier than critiquing writing, because there are no set rules you can fall back on, but we all hope to pick it up as we go along.

Expecting us to coax you along while not helping out with anything even when specifically asked (KB and I have been making sure we explicitly ask for comments from all the CAs in the e-mails) won't cut it, I'm afraid.

Since you're not generally rude, the only explanation I have is that you're too busy with other things, or just lost interest in the CAs. These things happen. It might just feel like too much work - because it definitely is hard work. Which is why I ask. I'm *not* trying to force you to resign - the group is falling asleep again as it is, despite our best efforts. I *am* asking you to get more involved or at least clearly state your position, because right now, we're getting nothing from you.

You're in a lot of volunteer schemes. So am I. But the CAs are my special pet (poor little lost abandoned puppy that it is ) so I'm doing what I can to maintain it.

And if that involves badgering people, so be it.

You are right Mala ...I have been busy with doing a full time job and samba classes etc ... for showing me how I can get more involved I will try to find some spare time...I don't expect you to learn gimp or do the work for me.

Glad to hear it!

I have the feeling you think there's something we're not telling you, but that's not the case. Making a blob can be just as time-consuming as writing an Entry. You have to know that, accept it, and be willing to do it *anyway*. That's the real secret Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the truth is quite boring. It's not dust that makes a blob, just...time.

Joining the Artists won't instantly make you a brilliant artist - see A53308361 for a collection of blobs, some excellent, some good, some mediocre, but all made by people who had fun with the process. There's no royal road, just practice, which is what we're all doing every time we make a blob more or less successfully.

If you resent working at it - which unfortunately is the vibe I'm getting from you right now - drawing blobs simply won't be something you can enjoy. You have to be willing and able to put in the time, especially as we lack such a thing as a subeditor who could touch it up later the way they do with Entries We also lack a Writing Workshop or Peer Review. We're all on our own, unless we just ask the others, which is why KB and I are trying to get a sort of hints and tips on works in progress thing going on in the mailing list. And lurking around on the sidelines and just throwing in a comment or a question once in a while is ok, too.

For now I'd be very happy just to comment. Who knows if I end up with more time on my hands at some point I may be brave enough to give artwork another shot.

That's fine - commenting is very helpful, too! There used to be a system like that in place, according to the CA guidelines, but it died when the group got too small.

I'll summarise our recent goings-on for you.

Basically, we've added a new folder for works in progress in the files section, and there are three blobs in there we're currently discussing in e-mail threads - one blob of which I've made three different versions (I'm not certain which, if any, really work) and one in which I've been experimenting with a different technique, as well as a blob by Menthol Penguin that he was having a bit of trouble getting the way he wanted it.

I don't think anyone's currently working on any blobs they've not uploaded at least a preliminary version of, though I did promise Clive one.

Hey - since we can't be in all the PR threads, maybe another thing you (and the rest of us) could do is suggest Entries deserving of an illustration

Oooh now that's something I can do. In light of the fact that I'm a photographer too I can see where the crossovers etc lie. What each can and can't do etc.