Continuing our series of interviews with cartographers, this month we're talking to Francesca Baerald, known to many as, well, Francesca. 
She's known for her hand drawn and painted maps full of moody watercolor and detailed borders.
We asked her 7 questions, as we will in each interview.
She's known for her hand drawn and painted maps full of moody watercolor and detailed borders.We asked her 7 questions, as we will in each interview.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background...
Growing up my interests have always been focused on music. I played the piano and the guitar and I loved playing with my death metal band.
School absorbed a lot of my spare time but I have always cultivated my passion for painting every time I could.
When I turned 28 I decided that it was time for me to take this passion to the next level so I started studying illustration.
After three years of Art School I graduated and began to get the first jobs as a freelance artist, working on book and CD covers, game illustrations and various kind of published artworks.
2) How did you get into mapping?
At high school during lessons I enjoyed drawing labyrinths and maps for my classmates. They really loved them and encouraged this little passion of mine.
Since then a few years passed. My job at a warehouse absorbed a lot of time. I then left work and started my career as freelance artist.
One day a client of mine asked me to draw a map for his game. The passion for maps and cartography reawakened in me and I didn't stop drawing maps since then.
3) Do you create maps professionally, or for fun? If you've sold your work, how did you get started? Any fun/horror stories to share about commissioned work?
I am very happy to have the possibility to create maps and being a cartographer by profession.
I draw and sell maps on a daily base and I'm truly grateful for this. I have been lucky enough to have always worked with great clients. Well, at least regarding maps.
4) What kind of computer setup/equipment/software do you have? Any advice or tips for learners?
My maps are made with traditional media. Watercolours, ink, nibs and paper are my work tools. I really enjoy searching for the right nibs and inks for my map projects.
But digital media is essential for today's work. For example I often use Photoshop to place text on my maps.
Also I draw maps on A3 size sheets of paper. This means that in order to digitalize that kind of map using an A4 scanner I have to scan many parts of the illustration and put them together using Photoshop's 'photomerge' tool.
The best advice I can give to learners is to profoundly observe the art they love. Look at the details, discover why that particular artwork works so well.
Give importance to composition and learn the basics. Most of all feed your passion otherwise it will fade away. Tools and equipment come later.
5) What are your favourite kind of maps or favourite map makers from history?
Here on Cartographer's Guild I have found the best inspirations for maps. All the contemporary artists I admire are here.
A part from Stephen Biesty that has always been of great inspiration to me. And of course there are some classical map makers from history that I love. Al Idrisi and Henry Pelham are good examples.
6) What do you consider your best piece of work? How about your favourite, if different?
My works vary from paintings to maps and it is difficult to elect one as my favourite.
Most of all that's because I am never happy with my works. When I finish an illustration I think "Well this is not bad!" but there's always a tiny voice in my mind that says "That detail, you know, you could have done it better". But I suppose that's how it works for artists.
It's a masochistic mechanism that helps me improve my work.
7) Where can we find you on the web?
My website is www.francescabaerald.com
But please come say hello on Facebook where I post most of my work in progress.
It's always a pleasure to exchange opinions with colleagues and enthusiasts!
My website is www.francescabaerald.com
But please come say hello on Facebook where I post most of my work in progress.
It's always a pleasure to exchange opinions with colleagues and enthusiasts!
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