I’m not having too great a day and it’s raining and grey in downtown Toronto. But I just found this post (when I really should be studying): The Joy of Illustrated Maps In The Era of Google Earth.
Illustration hasn’t really been in my focal range since my post about Zestydoesthings, what with all the hand lettering and .. lettering in general. But I still love illustration. I personally feel that it requires vision and also technical skill and the more deftly one combines perspective with ideas, the better the illustration.
So here’s Laura Coyle, a freelance illustrator from Atlanta with her brilliant article that demonstrates each step of her map making/illustrating process. I love the colours of her final product (she uses a Pantone Colour Bridge guide!) and her subtle shadows which (probably) makes all the difference. I also love how she talks about saving swatches and other illustration elements for future use. It might be common sense to some, but I have never thought of diligently saving my swatches.
Perhaps my favourite part about the map is the handwritten (of course) locations that are highlighted on the map. It is something I’ve been wanting to do with my photography for some time now but I haven’t figured out how to do it without a tablet and yet not mess up the ratio of the sizes and weights of my writing. But that’s a different story.
Anyway, I’ve recently gotten a chance to do an infographic and I’m super excited but also really scared about it. Infographics are tough stuff and the really good ones are deceptively simple and amazingly concise. Ah, well. Have a good week guys!
As Told By Caro 