July 2016 Challenge: Harlasea

[ChickPea]

Wow! Just... wow!

I am *not* looking forward to voting this month. There are soooo many fantastic maps.

[- JO -]

Wow !

So "alive"... I have the feeling to be there (too bad for me, with the dragon) !

That kind of picture stays in my mind for hours...

Thanks a lot !

[ThomasR]

John, I've been amazed by the pictures you posted on this but due to a little engagement, my head was mostly buried in the sand. I've finally had time to look more closely at the different stages of this map and I'd like to thank you for it. I've already said it but it's a little gem you did here. The maps you do in that style are my favorite so, again, a big thank you to you Sir.

[J.Edward]

Ok, now I'm actually in love with this map. The dragon and its fire are just splendid to behold.

Shame I can't rep you again. Did that on one of the earlier versions

Haha, well, maybe I can ruin that with my latest update ;P

Oh boy, the fire and the reflection of it on the chest scales looks just fabulous! It rounds up the whole piece very nicely, and i promise, next time i'll shut my mouth regarding the colors until it's finished!

Haha, no worries Abu Always appreciate input.

Holy WOW!! That's looking amazing! The map itself is gorgeous, but that dragon is the (flaming!) cherry on top. Fantastic!

Thanks Neyjour I am glad the dragon turned out well.
i hadn't done a dragon for a few years, so was out of practice.

What was that mearrin said in Sap's thread? Oh yeah...

<quietly withdraws from competition>

Dang that's one nice map. I LOVE the shelving effect of the mountains/valleys. Really fantastic.

Haha, I am in good company in this challenge. It will be hard voting I think.
And I pretty much went overboard on this one.

I'm speechless.

Well, thank you Sap

*throws hands into the air*

I give up! What can mere mortals do against such power?! ...

This looks incredible. Wish I could rep you.

Never give up Thanks Wired

Wow! Just... wow!

I am *not* looking forward to voting this month. There are soooo many fantastic maps.

It is going to be a hard vote, I agree.

Wow !

So "alive"... I have the feeling to be there (too bad for me, with the dragon) !

That kind of picture stays in my mind for hours...

Thanks a lot !

Thanks JO

John, I've been amazed by the pictures you posted on this but due to a little engagement, my head was mostly buried in the sand. I've finally had time to look more closely at the different stages of this map and I'd like to thank you for it. I've already said it but it's a little gem you did here. The maps you do in that style are my favorite so, again, a big thank you to you Sir.

That is okay Thomas I think all of us have been super busy trying to get these maps done.
I know I was.

Okay... so... I sort of went overboard...
decided to do the map as on parchment, all worn and torn and spotty.
I've just been enjoying that lately, so I thought I'd give it a go.
Names and labels all done. So I think this piece is finished now.
And I am so ready to be done.

I'll go ahead an reiterate the original description here...
Harlasea, an ancient plane of rough-hewn valleys and sapphire oceans, illuminated by a golden sun.
The plane is primarily the home of humans, with smaller numbers of other races.
The Humans of Harlasea are beset by swarms of wyverns.

### Winner ###

[Mouse]

Well that's a bit different... but I still love this map

[Neyjour]

Ohh! That looks fantastic! Normally I'd think so many rips/tears/holes would look too overdone, but for this map I really love it! It just seems to work... perhaps because it compliments the craggy style of the mountains. And I love how you've put some small holes inside the map, and not just around the edges. Also love how you did the river labels. Everything's just gorgeous! This is definitely going into my map collection, for my screensaver.

[tainotim]

As always, nothing less than mind-blowing. Splendid work J.! Your work is such a great source of inspiration.

My only nitpick is the town/city icons. This map is so detailed and convincing in its design, that these basic icons don’t really fit as well as they could have. On a map like this, with every cleft and crevice illustrated, I would have expected similar illustrations for the settlements. Small houses/towers scattered across the map. Obviously it works like this; however, more convincing and unique “locations” would have leveled the map from superb to a masterpiece.

Not a big fan of the dragon though

Cheers,
Tainotim