Watercolor Washes
Why color them at all? The maps could remain black-and-white and they are starkly dramatic at that stage. But for reasons of clarity, pop and broad general appeal, color has been part of map making since earliest times. Colors provide
The Historical Ties
There is no way to get around the fact that any map is partly judged by how it fits into the long history of mapmaking. People really like maps because of this history and to pretend that it is not
Finding the Right Expression
As previously discussed, as each map is more fully drawn, it takes on a life of its own. The backgrounds give way to more detail. The details require more research and careful consideration and this often leads to further areas
Backgrounds and Layers
Once I’ve been able to settle on correct and accurate data, which often includes personally walking the sites to verify certain details, it’s time to actually begin drawing the backgrounds of the main elements. This very tactile experience really begins
Getting it Right
In my last posting, the basic form of the new maps was decided and I had gathered a fair amount of basic information that could be available. The next big step is rectifying and justifying all the competing and contradictory
Getting Started, Where to Begin
Getting Started, Where to Begin--Having stated in the “Cartographic Thoughts and Ideas” section about taking you along with me on the journey of making a map, this is step one of the “getting going” phase. Decide what area to work
Shout outs in Off-Season
I was recently down at the Jersey Shore recharging my batteries for the ongoing new maps that are in the works. While there, I was able to visit some good friends and longtime supporters of my mapmaking endeavors. They have
Facilitating Give-and-Take
As this new, communicating process is pretty much in its earliest stages, I thought it might be fun and informative to chronicle the process and see how the final results might be impacted by doing so. For the next couple
Communicating about Maps
Following the initial launch of my website, www.coastalartmaps.com, and its related Facebook and Etsy sites, I got a lot of positive feedback from friends and other interested parties about the style and content. Many folks asked very good questions about