Mapping of ValDreyas

[Dekker500]

I have always loved maps, but have never taken the time to actually create a full-fledged artistic map (as opposed to just a functional one).

With an upcoming new campaign I will be playing in, our DM gave us some of his world-building background. I am somewhat absorbed by his narrative that he is framing the world with, and I decided to pay it forward by beautifying his maps.

This is the starter image that I am trying to represent:

valdreyas.jpg

After some research into what style I'd like, I settled on that taught by this forum's Torstan.

I'm currently only at the shading stage, and am confirming some map details with the DM, but this is my progress so far...

ValDreyas---Early-Draft.png

Thoughts? I can't change major features though, just mapping style.

[Diamond]

Looks like your attachments didn't take for some reason, Dekker.

[Dekker500]

Sorry, attachments fixed!

[Caenwyr]

Hey Dekker, looking great! While the original image was a real mix of styles, the one you created is really consistent in both style and beauty!

What I don't like too much, however, is how every one of the tips of the island (N, E, S and W) are cut off from the image -- or if it isn't an island but a landmass surrounded by a string of lakes, it'd be nice to know that too. So maybe you could show us a little more of what lies beyond the landmass?

[Dekker500]

I agree with the comment regarding the clipping - I will re-work the edges soon.

Here's more progress.

Colour added to mountains:
ValDreyas - Draft 2 - Mountain colour.png

Colour added to the trees:
ValDreyas - Draft 3 - Forest colour.png

And finally, added colour to the grasslands. I'm not sure I like to colour tone of the grassland, but that's easy enough to fix...
ValDreyas - Draft 4 - Grassland colour.png

[Dekker500]

OK, finally got around to re-sizing the canvas (same aspect though) and added some provisional text and border rendered with gold foil. I'm actually pleased by how the image looks when printed in black-and-white! Some features in the S of the continent are not there yet, but they're coming...
ValDreyas - Draft 6 - Resized with Border.png

Overall, it's not as hard as I thought it'd be with just a mouse (no tablet)!

[Will Phillips]

Oh man, that's coming along nice!

[Dekker500]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

Here's the next step - adding a compass rose and windrose lines.
ValDreyas - Draft 7 - Compass and Portolan Lines.png

[Steel General]

It's quite nice, though for me the 'ley lines' are a bit distracting.

[- JO -]

Beautiful work! It goes well and it is done with care!