It's Cold Outside

It's downright freezing out there - colder than the norm for this time of year (in recent years at least). And it's going to stay cold, they tell us.

Eeks!

So, comics artists, how do you DRAW "cold"?

There are a few ways that come to mind:

Mostly, I think in terms of drawing characters who feel cold-


Seeing Breath
For a more realistic style, showing the "steam" coming out of a person's mouth is a great way to go!

Got the Blues
A blue tint to a character's skin is a "cold" color, and can show a cold person! Rosy cheeks and nose can do it, too.

Icicles
This takes us further out of realism - if icicles are forming on a character's face (most often the nose), it's an easy way to show extreme chilliness. This is a very "Looney Toons" thing to do and gets points for being crystal clear. But I think it's my least favorite of the notions on this list.

Chattery teeth
This is a common one. A character with clenched teeth, especially when matched with the right body language, looks "cold". It can also look "angry"…

Body Language
Aside from the chattery teeth pose, body language like hands in pockets or shoved into armpits come to mind.

Shake Lines
Mixed with body language, chattery teeth, and breath or icicles, you can draw "shake lines" around the character to indicate shivering.


In terms of character-less scenes, a blue-grey palette can work, as well as the aforementioned icicles and maybe a little snow and ice on the ground.

I don't think I've drawn "cold" very often - how about you? How do you capture coldness?


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We are closing out this chilly 2017, here - I hope you had a fine one, and that your 2018 treats you well, and that I'll see y'all around the Duck!