Hello masters and mistress cartographers...

[Kellerica]

I disagree that you have to interact to get better, I think you just have to draw a lot; I hardly interact (this is an anomalous period) and still my art has bettered.

Of course you improve with just practice and repetition as well, but getting outside feedback can be extremely useful and others often point out things you have not yourself thought to consider. It may not be absolutely necessary, but it sure as hell helps. And we don't interact on this forum just because we want to get better or build reputation, but because this is a wonderul community and we enjoy chatting about our mutual interests in with like-minded people.

So for my two cents, Chris, please do interact and become a proper part of this Guild rather than just another lurker. We'd love to have you along.
I also do like that first map a lot! You have a nice sketchy style and the muted colors work well. A nice little piece.
Welcome to the Guild, and allow me to be the first one to rep you!

Hopefully I'll see you around!
-Kell

[ChrisCB]

I prefer Madame Cartographer.

Ok, so it will be Madame. Even if I think that using Mistress shows more "mastering" than just a simple everyday title .

So for my two cents, Chris, please do interact and become a proper part of this Guild rather than just another lurker. We'd love to have you along.
I also do like that first map a lot! You have a nice sketchy style and the muted colors work well. A nice little piece.
Welcome to the Guild, and allow me to be the first one to rep you!

Of course, I won't chat only to improve my cartographer skills. I know me enough to be sure that I will speak about fantasy worlds, role play, or anything else. I'm french, you know, and we have a reputation for debating about anything. And that's not only a rumor, but we do love to debate... a lot. And thank you for the critics about this map. My style is coming from my technic: I draw my sketch with a blue pencil, then use Rotring pen with Chinese ink, scan the map, remove the blue lines, add the old paper texture and add colors with a wet brush in photoshop.

bout participating, you should do it if you enjoy it, because it's fun

I've no doubt I'll enjoy chatting with you all and participate in the challenges. I enjoy drawing maps, and because it's fun, I want to improve my skills. When something is not fun (to my point of view), I usually don't want to improve myself.

[Tiana]

Chris, the reason I have trouble with 'mistress' is due to its modern connotation of being the side woman of an important man who's married to someone else. I have never felt it's a fair modern woman comparison to 'master'. Don't worry, man, I'm teasing you a lil. Don't look at us as masters but as friendsssssesses.

And we don't interact on this forum just because we want to get better or build reputation, but because this is a wonderul community and we enjoy chatting about our mutual interests in with like-minded people.

Hm, from my perspective as a long term low participation member, people seem to be focused on getting reputation and badges/awards here. That may be the reason you participate though, which is an excellent and pure-hearted one. Anyway, it is a wonderful community compared to many others; this is one of the few forums I've maintained a membership and participation on for a decade. I don't mean to discourage Chris from participating but instead to encourage Chris to keep drawing as his primary form of development.

I'm not saying critique isn't potentially a valuable part of improving your skills as an artist, only that someone shouldn't feel obligated to solicit it. If Chris loves the idea of forums and sharing his art and soliciting critique then he should totally do that instead of lurking! But for me, I can't actually think of a single piece of criticism on my maps that has ever helped me more than several hours drawing, reading a generic tutorial, or really getting up close to stare at someone else's work and try pick apart how they did it.