Steampunk-ish political watercolor map

[- Max -]

Same here but it's an invalid link attachment

[Lingon]

I guess it was the server problem yesterday, then. But there was nothing on yesterday's WIP that you can't see on today's


I began painting the mountains here, the southern range, and… I don't know if it looks ok or if I hate it. I mean, it looks sort of like it did in my head, except it's ugly I don't know if I can save it either, or if I'll have to print one of my scans and restart the coloring. My printer can't handle A3 paper, and not heavy aquarelle paper either, but it's maybe the best option still. Does anyone have an idea of how to improve the mountains, or should I start over?

[priggs]

That looks really good. Nice smooth color with texture.

For ideas on mountains, here are two:
Erwin Raisz mountain symobls

Heather Child mountain symbols

The current symbols seem to be the hairy caterpillar style seen in the Heather Child symbols. If you want to get really into this, see Cartographic Relief Presentation by Eduard Imhof

[Chashio]

One question, because I'm not sure, and I like asking questions... would a steam engine produce a black cloud or a white cloud, or does it depend on the cleanliness of the pipes?

I like the colors and the shadings on the mountains. You might look at Google's satellite map imagery of Iceland for more ideas too, if you're not convinced of the direction you're going. I was running into a similar feel with the inktense map I started not so long ago. Part of it, I learned, is adjusting the contrasts, light and shading so that not all of the rivers and streams appear to be the same depth within their respective watersheds, and the hills between them don't all look to be the same shape and height. If that makes sense

[Diamond]

I actually like those mountains just the way they are. I may have to steal your technique...

[Lingon]

That looks really good. Nice smooth color with texture.

For ideas on mountains, here are two:
Erwin Raisz mountain symobls

Heather Child mountain symbols

The current symbols seem to be the hairy caterpillar style seen in the Heather Child symbols. If you want to get really into this, see Cartographic Relief Presentation by Eduard Imhof

Thanks, glad you like it. Interesting links too.

One question, because I'm not sure, and I like asking questions... would a steam engine produce a black cloud or a white cloud, or does it depend on the cleanliness of the pipes?

I like the colors and the shadings on the mountains. You might look at Google's satellite map imagery of Iceland for more ideas too, if you're not convinced of the direction you're going. I was running into a similar feel with the inktense map I started not so long ago. Part of it, I learned, is adjusting the contrasts, light and shading so that not all of the rivers and streams appear to be the same depth within their respective watersheds, and the hills between them don't all look to be the same shape and height. If that makes sense

I'll pretend I'm smart and try to answer the steam engine question: It'd give both white steam and black smoke, as coal is burned to boil the water. Actually, maybe I should add some white streaks in the cloud to show that?

Thanks for your thoughts on the mountains, very helpful and encouraging I've taken a look at Iceland, and Norway and Himalaya as well when I was at it. Google Maps might be the second best thing to use the Internet for (after discussing nerdy things on friendly forums). Mountains can look really strange from above… Anyway, I'll work some more on the contrast and variation. Thanks again!

I actually like those mountains just the way they are. I may have to steal your technique...

That'd make me very happy


So, to summarize: Thanks, all of you, for convincing me to not start over

[jturner]

Wow. This is beautiful. Usually Photoshop-users want to achieve a watercolour effect, but you've managed to use watercolours to achieve a Photoshop effect! (That's meant to be a compliment, by the way )

[Chashio]

I'll pretend I'm smart and try to answer the steam engine question: It'd give both white steam and black smoke, as coal is burned to boil the water. Actually, maybe I should add some white streaks in the cloud to show that?

haha, thanks for the answer I'd not add white, myself. Maybe leave it alone for now and if you think it needs it when everything is near completion, add it then.

[Lingon]

@Jturner
Thank you! Interesting thought

@Chashio
Yup, good call. I'll focus on the actual map before the smoke!


And speaking of the map… I know I said I was going to keep the caterpillar mountains, but when I began painting the second mountain chain and just laid down some darker grey-brown to give a bit of pre-shading before the details, I realized that maybe no details are needed. So I finished the second chain in the most simple way possible, and it looked like I wanted it to from the start without knowing it – or, well, it felt like that anyway. And I just had to have the first chain in the same style, so I ripped a piece of paper from a new sheet and glued this over the fat southern peninsula, and redid it. This is when I see the benefits of painting digitally… But the extremely simple mountain style is really fast, so I finished the whole surgery today. It did give an ugly scar though (this metaphor is completely improvised as I type, promise) and first I thought I had ruined the map completely. FUBAR. But then I saw that the edge of the glued-down piece actually made a rather nice shelf for the coast, so I tried to copy the look of that along the other coast as well. Now, I don't know if shelves could be mapped in the 19th century, but, you know, steampunk!

[Chashio]

Love it! Next you'll have to try a torn paper elevation map in watercolor. Could be interesting. Could be wonderful.

I have been curious about something else... did someone sit on your scanner cover? because there's that odd, darker, sort of fuzzy patch in the middle there, and it's rather distracting.