Also a chance to see how the new design looks as a flock.
(They're all wrong, by the way, it's actually 'taters' today, which is a step above 'brass monkeys'.)
I've had the idea in my head for a long time, I've been meaning to write out the whole chart (from 'searing' to 'witch's left tit' and obviously all in the correct order) and simply post that as an 'observing from the outside'. But it occurs to me that sheep would be using these colloquial terms because none of them own a thermometer (well one of them did once, but Crow pinched it and we can only speculate about the reasons).
There's probably a name for this type of joke. Ever since someone pointed out to me that the dead parrot sketch is simply the thesaurus entry for 'dead' performed in sketch form I've noticed that finding alternative words for the same thing is funny, and something stand-ups use a lot in a more subtle form.
Personnally I wouldn't had added the disclaimer about the author making up the temperature scale, if the reader is that gullable then let them believe it, and as soon as you write it down it "DOES" exist anyway!
ReplyDelete"Witches left tit!" - LOL, it makes me wonder why the left, but that in itself makes it funnier. I'd have liked to have seen more descriptive similes such as, "Cold as a dog’s nose", instead of the simpler "I think it's freezing". I think they each provide a degree of delight that would be amusing to read.
There's something very interesting about colloquialisms, whether its what you call a bread roll, or how you'd describe the termperature. The latter being further enriched by how that person might perceive the cold!
On to the artwork itself,.... it's nicely done in the new style, but I have a few issues (being a perfectionist).
1 I'd have prefered to have seen a little more variation in the sheep, even if their physical elements need to be identical. For instance, their ears are all identical. Perhaps having them all look forward doesnt work so well in this context.
2 They appear to be arranged in three groups (which is fine) but they all are looking into the centre of the picture, not into the middle of each group. Perhaps having them less spaced would have solved this and made them appear more as a flock, and then they'd look more like they were huddled together for heat. (Have you ever overlapped any?)
3 The colours are too warm for a cold day. In the new world of Yvonne it always seems like a warm summers day. The obvious shadow adds to this illusion.
But niggles aside it's a splendid idea.
Good points, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThe terms. Witch's left tit made me laugh too, but I was a bit uncomfortable using it because it's not in the same line as parky and chilly. Yes a scale of 'it's as cold as' would be funny (funnier than the one I've created in the cartoon) but it's a different scale, I feel.
1. Absolutely right. I've now spent some time drawing my sheep from various angles, and put a couple of these in the picture.
2. Right again. It wasn't conscious at all, I just drew them all looking to the centre. They look much better facing random directions (or facing into small groups as you've suggested).
3. I'm not sure about this. You can have a very cold but bright and sunny day. (And that's called a 'crisp' day, obviously). The frost on the ground isn't done anything like as well as I'd hoped but maybe I'll have another crack at that one day. Yes, the shadows do contradict the apparently cold day, and the frame looks better with the shadows made less harsh. I've toned down the blue sky a little - in the process I discovered that I could only change it a tiny amount. And I think it looks better for this joke. I note that you only have to make a blue sky a little darker, and white clouds a little more grey and you've got something that looks like an angry stormy sky!
(I've also altered the wording about the scale being fictional. But not taken it out completely. Though I do like your point about letting gullible people believe what they want.)
(The updated version is visible on the handspinner site and Tapastic is updated.)
ReplyDeleteNice one, I'm glad my suggestions helped out a little.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed the frost on the hills, but it's not something that is easily added in a simple background. Perhaps just more of that white mottling?
I'd have removed the blue in the sky altogether, but I think the changes you made work OK. Sometimes it just comes down to personal preference.