Very impressive to see a "classic" map passed through the filter of your talent! So many details and beautiful elements! This is really the style of drawing that I like and that I also find in Voolf, J. Edward and many others. I've been trying desperately to copy it for so long now...
And then there's everything that makes your particularities: sea monsters, boats and this border... it's so incredible your art of the border: so many details harmoniously arranged, linked together by this science that you have ribbons and convolutions (the skulls and towers are quite fantastic)
Thanks for sharing !!!
Thank you for the insight in the process! I think it’s awesome that a client adds references like Dürer and Doré! Their work is amazing but not generally connected with maps. I’ve the illustrated bible of Doré on my bookshelf and it is a delight to thunb trough the pages once in a while, will do that again but now with a different view.
Thanks so much, Dim'Door !
Compared to the size, level of details and time spent on this map, it was not a lot of back and forth (I have 16 previews in this project folder, from the very first sketch to the final view), and most of them were about where to place the icons. I had the two reference maps as a guide, so it was easy to set up the biomes without nipicking about how this forest should be a little smaller, or this mountain a little taller.
The client was a joy to work with : he asked for a full colored map, roughly based on my super old Kingdom of Mar style (hopefully enhanced ^^'), and gave me some clues about the general feeling and inspirations he wanted for the map : something dark, dangerous, fancy/crazy gothic borders, with Albrecht Dürer and Gustave Doré as references, which is totally my cup of tea. But out of this general guideline and a few specific requests (the gargoyles, a few ships...) I would say it was the kind of "feel free have fun" commission, so I had the pleasure to add on the map a lot of hidden details and suprises, hoping he'll use them to enrish his RPG campaign
The border was made in a few steps : I firstly drew the top part lineart and asked his validation to make sure it was a style he would enjoy (you can't put that many skulls on a map without the agreement of the client ), then I added the title banner and the bottom right corner for another validation (it's where he asked to add the gargoyles, which was not that difficult on the side pillars anyway), and finally the complete border/shading/color.
Another jewel... Dark yet delightful, I love it !
Thanks for sharing this beauty, there's always so much to learn from your maps...
Sorry for the thread necro but I've not been back in ages and only just seen this thread. Meh, I'm not that sorry, it may give newcomers to the site a chance to see something they may have missed.
Anyway, I saw this map a few days ago on MB's DA page and was blown away. Fantastic map. I recognise the shape and the biomes etc. but otherwise this map is so far beyond what my own attempt was that it makes me embarrassed. Not joking. Magnificent map, Misty, as are all your pieces of art. You should be very proud and your client should be ecstatic.
One thing though (and the main reason for this thread necro)... you mention in the OP that the Lykarnia map was a big inspiration for you over 10 years ago... see, that's where you are wrong. I distinctly remember. It was about 3 years ago. No way it can be 10. Nope. Nuh-uh. I'm not having that. Wrong wrong wrong!
Royal: I'm very sorry for your loss, your mother was a terribly attractive woman.
My Cartographer's Guild maps: Finished Maps
More maps viewable at my DeviantArt page: Ramah-Palmer DeviantArt
Always glad if I can help ! And... lucky you for having that Bible. I own myself the Fables de la Fontaine with Doré illustrations, and that's always an inspiration !
Better late than never (I say this way too often I'm afraid...), thanks so much, Marc !
Awww, I hate to think I can depress you in any way ! In any case, I think our styles can't be compared : there's a poesy in your maps I always envy
But it sounds I made a mistake, as you kindly mentioned. I was, of course, talking about the 2010 we had 3 years ago, not about the one we had 10 years ago. Of course
Lykarnia_Ramah.JPG (Lykarnia by Ramah Palmer).
Glad you love it ! The shapes weren't exactly by me, as I redrew a map already existing here
This map is so gorgeous! I especially love the fade from the warmer climes up into the arctic regions! Brendan