Jan/Feb 2025 Challenge: The Northern Realms

[Kellerica]

Since I am currently without commissions, I decided to jump in this challenge. Also, someone please commission me, I really could use the money.

Do any of you remember this map from 2016?

Original.jpg

Yeah, I barely did either, until I went digging around my practice map folders and stumbled upon it. Here's also the original thread from when I shared it on the Guild.

This was the first map I ever did after switching from an ancient Bamboo tablet to a Cintiq, and it marked a massive change for how I created maps. For one, given how insanely much I struggled to draw things on a non-display tablet, it was only after this point that I actually started getting maps finished, since the time it took me to draw anything went down dramatically.

Since I retired that original Cintiq last year and upgraded to my current Xencelabs display, it felt like a good enough reason to see what I can do these days!

It's not... a terrible map, I think, but there are so many things that bug me about it almost a decade later. I know I became kind of known for my dark and murky colour schemes, and while I do genuinely love dark colours, I have to now admit that in the beginning a lot of that darkness was more due to me not knowing how to work with textures more than genuine creative vision.

So, yeah. Let's see if I can actually finish a challenge map for once.

[Kellerica]

OK, first actual update! I've edited some of the coastlines a little, while trying to stay relatively faithful to the original.

### Latest WIP ###
Remake_01.jpg

[Kellerica]

Another update: decoration!

### Latest WIP ###
Remake_02.jpg

(just for the record, I am a bit late to posting this on the forum and have actually been at this for a couple of days at this point, so no, I did not actually get this done quite as fast as it seems )

[Diamond]

I think you must've posted the original during one of my periodic absences, but I like it! Already love the decorations; you've inspired me to try something similar with mine.

[Bogie]

Nice work Kellerica.

[Kellerica]

Cheers, guys!

Next update... put together a plan for a frame.

### Latest WIP ###
Remake_03.jpg

[The Elderly Cartographer]

Looks good! You've put in a lot of work already.

[Kellerica]

Line art more or less done.

### Latest WIP ###
Remake_04.jpg

[Simkin]

I think the original was a very good map, so I'm waiting with expectation for the new version. I know you wan't disappoint me.