A map in a bottle

[ThomasR]

Drawn on kraft paper with pencils, fountain pens and pigment pens and labelled with a white posca.

I wanted to experiment with worn borders and a map with notes as labels. It's largely improvable.

Next one will be in this style but top down (my first) and I'll work differently the labels (my wacom stayed at home).

About the setting, really, don't pick it up as a vacation spot.

Without labels :
Carte île.jpg

With labels :
Carte île 2.jpg

Let me know what you think.

[Falconius]

I think it's lovely. The problem with the one with labels is just how jarring and white and overbearing they are. Yes I can see a person writing labels onto his finished map, but not labels that seem to obscure so much information and leave little extra space (the impression I get is he's explored the island, so he may find other things to put in there and would leave space for such an eventuality). Also I am somewhat confused by the edges of the map, they are drawn in and I can't really tell why, it takes away the impression of damaged paper and instead makes it look very deliberate.

[ChickPea]

Whilst I have to agree with Falconius that I'm not so keen on the labelled version, the map itself looks great. It's got a lovely textured feel to it that really appeals to me. Nice work and thanks for sharing the WIP over Twitter too!

[ThomasR]

@ Falconius : You're right, I can see what you mean about the overcrowdedness. I was impatient to post this one and put the labels in haste (making them up as I wrote them). I 'll try to redo it digitally by writing in different directions so that it fits in the map without hiding too much linework. For the bright white, what would you suggest ? I thought of it as chalk to get contrast because I thought black would be too confusing with the linework (and had not many pens at my disposal).
About the worn border, do you think it's because of the many stokes I used hoping to give the impression of depth ? Maybe it's because of the black rim ... I don't know. As I was not working digitally and was a little bit lazy, I didn't use any shadow. If you could elaborate, I'd be really grateful as I plan to do more like this one.

Here's a rimless version :
sans bord.jpg

Thanks a lot for taking time to comment, it's really helpful !

@ ChickPea : Thanks a lot ! I cannot take credit for the texture as it is the texture of the paper. I'll try to post the next WIPs of my hand drawn works as well.

[Falconius]

I don't know, maybe its the similarity to the coast line, it sort of makes it look like an island sitting on a water covered piece of slate. Perhaps also it has to do with pen lines coming off the border and into the picture where the "tears" come into the page. I'm not too sure how to gain the effect you are looking for? It's like half way there, but I'd have no idea how to take it all the way. Perhaps get some very black, black, right on the edge like with a piece of charcoal or something?

As for the white, it may be just that it is too saturated and clean. It looks like a very modern pen on an old print, which has a jarring effect. Perhaps something with more an earthy tone to it?

BTW, your penwork in the drawing here is really amazing and clean, it's quite impressive.

[ThomasR]

I get it ! I can see it now ! You're right, too much strokes, it definitely looks like the coastline's details. I tried to mimic what J.Edwards did on Thendrais but I went at it too heavily. On the next one, I'l try to use a 0.05 pen instead of 0.1 and just outline the rips, then complete it digitally with an overlay layer or (if I'm courageous enough) by hand with a brush and diluted coffee. Thanks a lot for your help and comment !