February 2019 Challenge: The Fortified Kingdom of...

[MistyBeee]

Oooh, so promising ! And those watercolor tests looks absolutely awesome, even if they didn't turn as you expected !

[- JO -]

This is just a very rough sketch for mountain placement so I'm hoping to get the go ahead from JO before I go over them with nicer lines. I also wonder...and this is a question for JO, would it be ok to change the coast line slightly? I'm finding a few areas to be sort of awkward and I just wanted to make sure it was ok with you, since it is you're commission after all.

Oh you don't even have to ask ! Of course you can change the coastline... even the places of mountains, lake, rivers, etc... The main thing for me is to feel that the kingdom is fortified. Whatever you need to arrange in the geography, don't even ask and just do it, you have full licence on the geography of this land !

Also...I'm thinking about switching back to digital for this because I've been spending a lot of my time doing colour tests which just aren't turning out. One of the main issues I'm having is with masking fluid, I absolutely need it for getting water around tiny islands, and on this sh*t paper that I have right now it's just tearing it up something awfull and I just don't have time to order better stuff right now.
This is just one of the many colour tests I've done recently, you can see that the paper and ink have been badly damaged by masking fluid in a few areas, and that I'm just really terrible at getting the colors right... To mee it just looks dirty.
I just did this really quickly for testing colour so please don't judge too harshly on my drawing skills on this one, it was completed in 2 hours, which I think is a record for me.

On that part, I must be blind, cause I couldn't see the places where paper and ink were damaged... I was probably too happy to see what you achieved so far to see the damaged parts ??? I really love your colour tests and the display of the whole map : border with celtics designs, color of the sea and land, the way you play with the border and landmasses ! It's all good for me ! (really good, actually !)
If you prefer to switch to digital, it's OK too : we all know your skills with computers... but if you want to go on with paper, in my opinion, you have more than a good start with what you are showing here !

[Jaxilon]

I'm a watercolor fan. Most of my traditional is done in that medium. I don't usually mess with masking fluid because I don't have any but I do know how easy lesser paper will totally loose it on you.

However, I have to say, I'm loving how this is looking. I want so much to do more maps in watercolor, it's just that digital is easy to play around with (as you mention). So scan it in, photo, whatever and keep going.

[MapMappingMapped]

Thanks! But truth be told, the microns are giving me some grief. They are wonderful for drawing solid consistent lines, but awful for getting tapered ends and varied line widths so I feel they're lacking some expression...If that makes any sense? I'm new to drawing with fine liner pens so it may just be my inexperience but I'm craving for a pen that will give me something more.

Then I recommand that you get yourself some dip pens! I got mines about five months ago and they're my best friends now. However, I use them onyl for watercolour work, as they work best with strong paper. I still use microns for normal paper, but nothing beats the feel of dip pens. They're smooth, make realistic coastlines, feel good... I had the same problem with the 'lack of expression' until I got them. I recommend trying them!
Otherwise, as the others have said, I see nothing wrong with your colour tests -I wish I could do that is the thought that came first... For masking fluid, I have some and they seem to be a danger to any paper... They even take off my ink.. . But I got them pretty cheap (can't remember the price).

[kacey]

I kinda like that coloring, gives it a rustic feel, at least for me.

Thanks!

It looks great Kacey
I'm all trying to see around the paper and see what those other pieces are.
I am betting you have such an awesome stash of stuff you aren't sharing with us.

Thanks J, I wish I could say I was hiding some awesome stash but it’s just more colour tests and mixing charts here. I have many, many pages and sketch books full of colour charts and other not so mappy stuff but nothing that would be appropriate to post here.

This "testing" colour looks great Kacey. I can understand if you don't feel it, but from my pespective it's awesome.

Thanks Voolf!

Oooh, so promising ! And those watercolor tests looks absolutely awesome, even if they didn't turn as you expected !

Thanks Misty, it took me two years drawing every day to learn to make tiny mountains on my computer, so I will force this paint into submission even if it takes that long again.

Oh you don't even have to ask ! Of course you can change the coastline... even the places of mountains, lake, rivers, etc... The main thing for me is to feel that the kingdom is fortified. Whatever you need to arrange in the geography, don't even ask and just do it, you have full licence on the geography of this land !




On that part, I must be blind, cause I couldn't see the places where paper and ink were damaged... I was probably too happy to see what you achieved so far to see the damaged parts ??? I really love your colour tests and the display of the whole map : border with celtics designs, color of the sea and land, the way you play with the border and landmasses ! It's all good for me ! (really good, actually !)
If you prefer to switch to digital, it's OK too : we all know your skills with computers... but if you want to go on with paper, in my opinion, you have more than a good start with what you are showing here !

Thank JO, so glad to know that I haven’t completely disappointed you, I will continue on traditionaly for now and see what happens. I have to admit though the hardest part about you’re request is designing a fortification system. I don’t know anything about medieval fortifications so that’s the real challenge here.

I'm a watercolor fan. Most of my traditional is done in that medium. I don't usually mess with masking fluid because I don't have any but I do know how easy lesser paper will totally loose it on you.

However, I have to say, I'm loving how this is looking. I want so much to do more maps in watercolor, it's just that digital is easy to play around with (as you mention). So scan it in, photo, whatever and keep going.

Yes digital is sooooo much easier and the paper definitely makes more difference then even the paint itself. The problem I’m having with lesser paper is that it pills up and tears with too many layers and looks really terrible... Good news though, I went on a mad search in my area this weekend and found a shop that sells large single sheets of arches paper in both cold and hot press. It was a happy day for me because now I don’t have to order expensive pads on line any more.

Then I recommand that you get yourself some dip pens! I got mines about five months ago and they're my best friends now. However, I use them onyl for watercolour work, as they work best with strong paper. I still use microns for normal paper, but nothing beats the feel of dip pens. They're smooth, make realistic coastlines, feel good... I had the same problem with the 'lack of expression' until I got them. I recommend trying them!
Otherwise, as the others have said, I see nothing wrong with your colour tests -I wish I could do that is the thought that came first... For masking fluid, I have some and they seem to be a danger to any paper... They even take off my ink.. . But I got them pretty cheap (can't remember the price).

Thanks MMM! I bought some dip pens as per you’re recommendation. I only bought two nibs to start just to try it out and I haven’t had much time to play with them yet but I did manage to test them out and so far I’m pretty happy. I’m going to need to do some more practice tests but I can tell already that These are going to give me much more control over my line weights.

[- JO -]

Thank JO, so glad to know that I haven’t completely disappointed you, I will continue on traditionaly for now and see what happens. I have to admit though the hardest part about you’re request is designing a fortification system. I don’t know anything about medieval fortifications so that’s the real challenge here.

Nice to read that you'll go on traditionally ! I can’t wait to see what you will paint !

Tell me if you need some websites address with castles, walls and such !

[kacey]

Nice to read that you'll go on traditionally ! I can’t wait to see what you will paint !

Tell me if you need some websites address with castles, walls and such !

Change of plans tonight... Still cleaning things up but I think I finally have a solid plan for the map and border elements. My battery is going to die so just a quick screen shot...

Dragon.jpg

Thanks JO... I spent all last night reading about Alfred the great and the system he set up to defend against Vikings, it was really interesting actually so I was thinking of mirroring something similar to that, but with dragons. I hope my changes to the border elements will be ok, still very much a sketch but I'm feeling better about it.

[- JO -]

Change of plans tonight... Still cleaning things up but I think I finally have a solid plan for the map and border elements. My battery is going to die so just a quick screen shot...

Dragon.jpg

Thanks JO... I spent all last night reading about Alfred the great and the system he set up to defend against Vikings, it was really interesting actually so I was thinking of mirroring something similar to that, but with dragons. I hope my changes to the border elements will be ok, still very much a sketch but I'm feeling better about it.

Excellent work, Kacey !
The dragon look fierce and bold (my god, the eye is absolutely amazing !)
I’m glad your mind is set up because all the elements I have seen so far are gorgeous, and I can’t wait to see all then put together.

Edit : I already love the wings of the dragon...

Edit 2 : Alfred the great is an excellent choice !

[Voolf]

Minor remark. It seems to me like the dragon chest is a bit sticking out too much.

[kacey]

Excellent work, Kacey !
The dragon look fierce and bold (my god, the eye is absolutely amazing !)
I’m glad your mind is set up because all the elements I have seen so far are gorgeous, and I can’t wait to see all then put together.

Edit : I already love the wings of the dragon...

Edit 2 : Alfred the great is an excellent choice !

Thanks JO, I’m so glad you like the change.

Minor remark. It seems to me like the dragon chest is a bit sticking out too much.

Thank Voolf, originally the griphon had a shield on it’s chest and I didn’t take that into account when I sketched over top of it so thanks for pointing that out. I’ll see if I can take it back a bit. I do want the dragon to look bold and noble though I’m not sure that’s coming across... the dragons here help guard the border.