Chris Madden Cartoons

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Garden design

  • Is this one of the first cartoons about 3D printing?

    3d printing cartoon

    A cartoon about 3D printing (additive manufacturing).

    A cartoon showing a computer-generated 3D statue of a man generated from digital scans of the man. The cartoon was drawn before the concept of 3D printing entered mainstream public awareness, and definitely before the cartoonist (me) had heard of the existence of 3D printing technology, so it’s an early reference to 3D modelling in cartoons, if not one of the first.

    I’m sure that 3D technology must have existed for a few years before I drew this cartoon, but possibly mainy in research labs and places that were experimenting with early prototypes of 3D printers. 3D printing definitely wasn’t in the zeitgeist.

    The humour in the cartoon lies in the fact that highly advanced, even futuristic, computer technology is being used to produce a representation of a stereotypically simple and technologically conservative old gardener.
    The cartoon is partly a comment on the fact that advanced technology inevitably often ends up being used for mundane purposes (just look at television and mobile phones, where ludicrously trivial content abounds). This is not a criticism of this phenomenon, just a humorous observation.
    A cartoon about hi-tech manufacturing, garden furniture, garden statues, statuary, sculpture, self portraits, gardening.

    Drawn: June 2011

    Cartoon reference number: a194

    See my book of gardening cartoons here.
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  • Relaxing in the garden cartoon – using a wheelbarrow as a chair

    garden wheelbarrow cartoon

    Gardening cartoon. Relaxing in the garden – using a wheelbarrow as a chair

    A cartoon showing a man relaxing in his garden by sitting in a wheelbarrow

    The man is reading a garden furniture catalogue – because he needs to buy a proper garden chair
    A cartoon about outdoor furniture, outdoor living, garden design.
    Cartoon reference number: a191

    See my book of gardening cartoons here.

  • Chess cartoon. Topiary chess pieces in a garden

    topiary chess cartoon

    Chess cartoon and gardening humour.

    Topiary bushes in plant pots in a garden, shaped like chess pieces. The plant pots are on a checkered patio that looks like a chess board.

    A person is clipping one of the bushes into the shape of a bishop.
    A humorous illustration about board games, outdoor games, novelty chess pieces, unusual garden design.

    Drawn: Dec 2011

    Cartoon reference number: a188

    See my book of gardening cartoons here.

  • Sundial cartoon

    cartoon - sundial with children too young to tell the time

    A sundial with young children who are too young to tell the time

    The reason why the children can’t tell the time is because they are too short to see the top of the sundial

    A sundial in a garden as a decorative feature.
    A cartoon about child development, learning to tell the time, clocks.

    Drawn: Aug 2009

    Cartoon reference number: a187

    See my book of gardening cartoons here.

  • Garden flowers for sale – with pretty labels showing the plants at their best

    pretty plant label cartoon

    Gardening humour. Plants for sale in garden centres have images on their labels that show the plants at their best

    Sometimes the plant labels show the plant as more beautiful than the plant will ever be (at least in most gardens).

    A cartoon about selling flowering plants, blossoms and blooms by showing the flowers on the plant name labels.
    Sometimes the flowers or plants on the labels look so much better than the actual specimen that they are almost against the trades description act.

    Drawn: Nov 2011

    Cartoon reference number: a186

    See my book of gardening cartoons here.

  • Solar power cartoon – solar panels on an artificial sunflower

    solar panels cartoon

    Solar energy cartoon -solar panels on an artificial sunflower

    Showing a plant harnessing energy from the sun. The plant in the cartoon is artificial (a sunflower) and the energy it is obtaining is being used to drive a speaker which is producing the sound of birdsong.

    A humorous illustration about alternative energy, sustainable energy, renewable energy sources, electricity generation.

    Drawn: Aug 2011

    Cartoon reference number: a184

    See my book of gardening cartoons here.

  • Garden design cartoon. Using jigsaw shaped paving stones on the driveway to the garage

    jigsaw shaped paving stones on drive cartoon

    Garden cartoon. Using jigsaw shaped paving stones on the drive to the garage

    Cartoon showing a man constructing a drive in his garden, with flagstones shaped like interlocking pieces from a jigsaw.

    The man has just finished constructing the driveway – to find that one of the pieces of the jigsaw is missing.
    This is a joke about the cliche that there’s always one piece of a jigsaw that’s missing.

    Drawn: Nov 2006

    Cartoon reference number: a173
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  • Christmas gardening cartoon – leave the Christmas decorations in the tree all winter

    cartoon - leave Christmas fairy lights in tree all winter

    Christmas gardening cartoon – leave the outdoor Christmas decorations in the tree all winter

    Cartoon about garden and outdoor decorations.

    Brighten up the garden in the dark winter months and bring winter colour to the garden by putting Christmas decorations in the trees.

    Drawn: Dec 2011

    Cartoon reference number: a168
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  • Garden design cartoon – one of the drawbacks of having a curved garden path

    curved garden path cartoon

    Garden layout and design cartoon – someone taking a shortcut to avoid following a curved garden path

    Cartoon – someone wearing bare patches in a lawn by cutting the corner on the garden path.

    Cartoon showing an unforeseen consequence of garden design.
    The cartoon brings to mind the expression “up the garden path”.

    Cartoon reference number: a166
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  • Wendy house with wind turbine cartoon – converting a Wendy house into an eco-house

    Wind turbine cartoon. A wendy house fitted with a wind turbine

    Wind turbine cartoon

    A Wendy house fitted with a child’s windmill as a wind turbine to supply electricity and to convert the house to an eco-house

    A cartoon about sustainability, electricity generation, power generation, alternative energy, sustainable development, fuel supply, environment friendly power, eco-friendly design, environmental architecture
    Cartoon reference number: env3110

  • Garden design cartoons: garden driveway to garage, with paving shaped like jigsaw pieces

    Gardening cartoon: garden driveway made of paving shaped like jigsaw pieces, with one piece missing

    Gardening cartoon or diy cartoon

    Cartoon about jigsaw puzzles

    Garden driveway to garage under construction, with paving shaped like pieces from a jigsaw puzzle. As with normal jigsaws, there’s always one piece missing.
    Drawn: Nov 2006
    Cartoon reference number: gar008
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  • Architecture cartoon: an inappropriately elaborate porch/garage design

    Garden design cartoon. An over elaborate porch and garage design

    Home and garden architecture cartoon

    A modest house with an excessively grand porch (or garage).

    Possibly the consequence of over-ambitious status obsessed nouveau riche owners.
    A cartoon about aspiration and the aspirational society.
    Drawn: Oct 2007
    Cartoon reference number: gar002
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  • Judging a gardener’s personality by the appearance of the garden gate

    Garden cartoon. Judging a gardener's personality by their garden design

    Gardening cartoon
    Garden gate cartoon

    A garden gate with a warning sign on it indicates a gardener who enjoys their privacy

    Judging a gardener’s personality by their garden design
    Cartoon drawn: 2009
    Cartoon reference number: gar001