Fort Eelry

[Misjay Maps]

Hiya Everyone...

I know I have been pretty intermittent here, but I thought I would drop in and post the settlement map that I just finished.
This one was based on a suggestion submitted by one of my Patreon Supporters last year and has finally come to fruition.

There were a lot of firsts in this one.
First time including locations that had previously been mapped at a battlemap scale (the fort and the church)
First time drawing rocky hillsides in this way
First time with the light coming from the top-right instead of the top-left
First time I really thought about showing layers of history and change over time (with ruins of various ages and orchards being 'newer' with smaller trees the further up the hill you go)
I have done my trees this way before (using Photoshop Layer styles instead of drawing each one), but this is the first time I have really liked the result (used a different brush and a different combination of layer styles from previously).
Not the first time for the ripped paper frame look, but the first time in quite a while - and I am wondering why I stopped doing it?

More info here: WIP Thread

Anyways, enough blathering. Here is the finished map. Not full resolution - the full map is A1 poster size
MJ_Fort Eelry_Free Map (2500x3500px).jpg

For those of you who like to see the nitty-gritty... A couple of sections in full colour & at a higher res:
Fort Eelry_full size 1.jpg Fort Eelry_full size 2.jpg Fort Eelry_full size 3.jpg

[ev_maps]

Amazing work! I love the way the hillsides flow, it creates a fantastic rhythm for the map. The forests have a nice, organic look to them, as well. I'm definitely saving this to my inspiration folder!

[Misjay Maps]

Amazing work! I love the way the hillsides flow, it creates a fantastic rhythm for the map. The forests have a nice, organic look to them, as well. I'm definitely saving this to my inspiration folder!

Thanks Helliagon ... I have one of those as well,with amazing maps from so many folk in it

[Voolf]

Lovely work. I love the colour tones. It looks very inviting.
Forests and cliffs are amazing. Love it.

[KaiAeon]

The cliffs have me enamoured. I like the details on the houses and surrounds.

[Kellerica]

This is gorgeous. The colouring and shading are beyond beautiful, and I love the way you've drawn the elevation. Very impressed with the way you did the trees - I'd be really curious to know how you pulled that off with the layer styles, because this looks incredible.

Amazing stuff all around, thanks for sharing!

[Misjay Maps]

Lovely work. I love the colour tones. It looks very inviting.
Forests and cliffs are amazing. Love it.

The cliffs have me enamoured. I like the details on the houses and surrounds.

Thanks Voolf & KaiAeon ...
I am pretty pleased with how it turned out too :-)
and am looking forward to trying that cliff style out again - even if it did take for ever!

This is gorgeous. The colouring and shading are beyond beautiful, and I love the way you've drawn the elevation. Very impressed with the way you did the trees - I'd be really curious to know how you pulled that off with the layer styles, because this looks incredible.

Amazing stuff all around, thanks for sharing!

Thanks Kellerica :-)
For the trees, it is 'just' a soft fluffy spekly brush and 2 levels of outer strokes (a thinner dark green one and a wider very dark green one under it). plus a little bit of bevel and emboss and a slight drop shadow.
I did a tutorial for you and added here:
https://www.cartographersguild.com/s...507#post448507

[arsheesh]

A very attractive piece. Love the soft watercolor hues.

Cheers,
-Arsheesh