Mapping Element Chart: Mountains

[Wingshaw]

Hi all,

I have just gotten a new commission, to make a regional map for the same client that commissioned me to draw Brightwater. In the process of working on this commission, I thought it would be interesting to compare and contrast some of the different styles of mountain that I have seen on maps here on the guild.

Allow me to present, therefore, a compilation of mountain styles and approaches that have been used previously.

Here’s how I chose which pictures to include:
• I wanted a diverse range of styles (figurative, satellite, caterpillar, modern, painted etc.)
• I wanted excellent examples of those styles, and so I chose the ones which I like. Therefore the mountains shown reflect only my preferences or what, in my opinion, is a good example of a style.

Mountainous Maps.jpg

1: a satellite image of the Alps in Europe. I don’t know the origin of the image, but I figured it would be useful to have a reference for what mountains look like in the real world. Of course, there are other types of mountains in the world, but this was only meant to be a quick comparison, after all.

2. Blaeu’s map of Scotland from 1654. Many of the mapmakers on the Guild reference Blaeu’s maps, so I thought it would be handy to include this picture, too.

3: J. Edward’s Harlasea. I think the style of mountains that J. Edward depicted in this map is quite unique; I certainly don’t recall seeing anyone else draw mountains in this rugged, rocky, detailed style before.

4: Caenwyr’s Dragon’s Backbone. Caenwyr posted this map very recently, but I think it stood out immediately for the style of the mountains. The dark linework doesn’t overpower the image, but gives it a somewhat cartoonish look (which I think suits the strong colouring).

5: Chickpea’s Northley Island. These mountains are less detailed than some of the others, but they work well with the subtle colouring and give an authentic aged-map feel.

6: Tainotim’s Draisor. This style is I think one of the closest to the Blaeu style of any of the maps I have seen on the Cartographer’s Guild. Like ChickPea’s map, I think Tainotim’s also has a very authentic antique style (which is suitable, since his work is drawn in traditional methods/media).

7—11: Max’s maps. With the exception of Arathem (which has a distinctly Japanese look) and Royaume (which is quite simplistically drawn and shaded), I think Max’s maps serve as good examples of the classic figurative mountain.

12: Schwarzkreuz’ graphic novel map. These mountains are distinct because of their blocky and rather unrealistic appearance, which gives the map a very different look to any of the others in this compilation. The effect is well-suited to a graphic novel.

13: Sapiento’s Briandoland. I think that these mountains are the best that Sapiento has done. The colours are subtle, but I like the painterly style that they give the map.
EDIT: it should be Briandolond, not Briandoland.

14: Land of Gold and Silver Apples by yours truly. I drew these mountains in a very detailed style, and I like it. However I learned that this style is not good for having a highly detailed map, as the mountains take so much space on the page, there isn’t really space for anything else. I think they lean more towards an illustrated story-map (like some of J. Edward’s recent work, too) than the classic fantasy regional map.

15: Carbus’ Kazad Dwavi Realms. The map that Carbus recently created for the monthly challenge stood out in particular for the mountains. I think these mountains serve as a good example of how different colour schemes can be applied to create a very particular mood for a piece.

16: TheRedEpic’s Hyranden. TheRedEpic’s mountains are a lot less rugged-looking and craggy than many of the others on this list.

17: Sapiento’s City of Ashes. This is, I think, the first example to be included of a clear mountain range.

18: Viking’s Arinthia. I have a confession to make: Viking’s style is the best I have ever seen in fantasy maps. The mountains on Arinthia exemplify the painterly style, but the entire work is a masterpiece.

19: Oakfall by Obliro. Obliro’s mountains almost look like they are made of plastic. I think that this image demonstrates that long brush strokes and high contrast can work well, especially, I suspect, for mountain ranges (rather than individual mountains).

20: Lingon’s Regio Silvestri. I think the style in these mountains works well. The linework and colouring are both more subtle than Sapiento’s City of Ashes, and the level of detail (eg. ridge lines, valleys, mountain spurs etc.) is quite high.

21: Lingon’s Kolmara. Gotta love the Japanese style. A difficult style to pull off, I suspect, but it looks great when it is done right.

22: Diamond’s Hallavahakas. This map was recently entered into a monthly challenge. I like the fact that the mountains are not given careful colouring, but rather a simple yet effective contrast of light and dark sides.

23: Warlin’s Atlantide. Warlin hs not even finished this map yet, but it is the best example I have seen of caterpillar track mountain ranges to date. The detail is high, but the linework is very clean.

24: Diamond’s Lotus Coast. I remember that there was a time when Diamond really enjoyed playing with this style. The caterpillar mountains look good, although I think they look a little too mechancial for an aged map style; more suitable, perhaps, to a map depicting a futuristic planet.

25: Schley’s Shamutanti Hills. Schley’s style is very distinct. He uses strong sharp lines, and strong colours, but I think it is the subtle blending between colours that make his work so unique.

26: Daelin’s Central Alemnia. This is the first example of a satellite style, which works especially for modern maps.

27: Diamond’s Lands of the Line. The satellite mountains that Diamond has created tend to work very well with the strong rusty colours he uses and the post-apocalyptic vibe that his worlds give off.

28: J. Edward’s Thendrais. I included this primarily because I like the experimental white chalk highlights that have been used (also, there are many more J. Edward mountains that I could include, but, sadly, I have to limit myself to only 31 images in total)

29: Vorropohaiah’s Atlas Elyden. This is the only example I could find of modern atlas style mountains. The thumbnail I have included doesn’t do justice to the amount of detail that has been included in his mountains.

30: Chashio’s Cladonia cristatella. This map recently won the monthly challenge. They sacrifice detail for the painterly style (but clearly it’s a winning formula).

31: I need your help. A while back (I think in the last few years) I saw a map created in a Japanese style. I wanted to include it here, because it was beautiful as well as depicting a very attractive and different style. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of the map or the mapmaker. If any of you have some idea what it could be, I’d like to know. I’m keen to track that map down again. I think it was originally a challenge map, too.

I quite liked making this chart of mountains. I might make more in the future (eg. city icons, forests, coastlines, hills etc.). What do you guys think? Is this useful at all? Also, if you know of any other exemplary mountains in maps, maybe point them out; I could possibly make a second of these charts, if other people find it useful.

THW