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 on and begin with basic research of what already exists.  This used to be much more onerous but not since the Internet has been invented.  Although my process really stresses the hand-crafted quality of the final product, it does not mean that I am anti-technology.  There are so many useful ways to expedite and improve what I do, that it would be silly to not avail myself of these tools.  Getting familiar with the area helps in deciding even the most basic issues of how much to show, how big to make any given map, what to emphasize, what is the key nature of the place that resonates for those who know it?  Without answering these basic questions, it is hard to proceed.  In starting to do this, I’ll consult nautical and road maps, USGS and parks surveys, local maps and atlases, the Internet sources, and anything else that is known or can be found.  Just gathering and reviewing all of these items starts to shape my thinking as physical issues begin to suggest forms for the maps.  The first step is then to literally put pencil to paper and begin rough “cartoon” sketches of how I see what to represent.  These first rough sketches usually clarify things pretty quickly and help to crystallize my thinking on how to proceed.  Going from “anything is possible” to “this is essentially what I want to work on” is a huge, critical step.  Without that definition, it is difficult to get anywhere with the transcription of the 3-dimensional world into a 2-dimensional art piece.  Getting this sketch to something I am happy with is among the most important parts of the work, as I will live with the ramifications of these initial decisions for entire the process and the resulting finished product.  More next time.