More OCD Mountains: New Commissioned World Map for Novel

[xpian]

I've begun working on a commissioned map for a novelist friend of mine, and I'm having lots of fun drawing mountains again. In this progress image (actually a screenshot from my iPad, in the app ProCreate) you can see those isometric-style mountains taking shape, and a bit of my process...drawing lots of little chevrons and then connecting them and filling them in with details. I'm always trying to "mix it up" a bit and create more interesting ridge lines, so that the mountain range doesn't just look like a bunch of little triangular traffic cones.

Also, you can see how I'm working the rivers into the mountains. Draw the rivers first, then lay the mountains down around them.

File Sep 18, 11 22 48 AM.png

[ArcaniteCartel]

I'm rather new to this. What do you mean by "isometric-style" mountains?

[xpian]

It means that the mountains seem to "stand up" from the map, as if you're looking down at them from a 30 degree or 45 degree angle. The other major style of mountain mapping we see around here are top-down mountains, where you're looking down on them as if from a satellite directly above.

Technically, the "isometric" name itself also refers to an intentional lack of perspective in the drawing. So, I haven't drawn the mountains at the top of the range as though they are taller and further away--not really--nor have I drawn the mountains at the bottom of the range in a way as to imply they're actually closer to the viewer. It's all an illusion. If I were doing an illustration of this world, rather than a map, I'd be taking perspective into account and trying to depict things as though they're being seen from a specific point in space.

[ArcaniteCartel]

Thank you. Appreciate the info.

[Tom]

Really nice and very realistic! i love iso maps!

[ChickPea]

Oh wow, those mountains look fantastic! Great job, so far. I presume the map will be line art only, and not coloured, since it's for a novel?

I'll be watching this develop with interest.

[snodsy]

Quite spectacular!