Welcome!
The Cartographers’ Guild is a forum created by and for map makers and aficionados, a place where every aspect of cartography can be admired, examined, learned, and discussed. Our membership consists of professional designers and artists, hobbyists, and amateurs—all are welcome to join and participate in the quest for cartographic skill and knowledge.
Although we specialize in maps of fictional realms, as commonly used in both novels and games (both tabletop and role-playing), many Guild members are also proficient in historical and contemporary maps. Likewise, we specialize in computer-assisted cartography (such as with GIMP, Adobe apps, Campaign Cartographer, Dundjinni, etc.), although many members here also have interest in maps drafted by hand.
If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ. You will have to register before you can post or view full size images in the forums.
Although the concept of blogging was born as early as 1995 and the name itself introduced in 1999, it was at best a vague shadow in the corner of my awareness until 2004 when blogs became mainstream. Since then, I've been a loyal reader of a number of different blogs. Everyone knows the "blog" is a contraction of the words "web log". It helps to have a catchy-sounding name to catch on to the public's awareness, but I think the idea of the media meritocracy was one who's time had come ...
When I was a teenager, I could have listed any number of desirable qualities in a person. In fact, I'm sure I did. Exhaustively. To anyone who would listen. One of those qualities was probably not "reliable" however. There were plenty of adjectives like "imaginative", "original" and "you've got to haggle", but "reliable" would have been reliably missing. Now that I have surprisingly survived to the ancient age of seven-and-forty, I see things a bit differently. Part of wisdom is learning ...
I've noticed lately that there are quite a few city maps popping up here at the Guild. I think that is great. mappers are bravely going off to map these labyrinths of streets and buildings and getting it right. I wonder what the base fear we all have of cities is? Does it have to do with filling ALL that empty space with buildings? Is it getting it to look like something other than a neat orderly grid? If you're anything like me orderly just doesn't feel right. I love a maze of twisted alleys along ...
What's the point of having a blog, if I don't blog, right? And so this is how I came about posting, again, after a rather long absence, here. Ah, nothing quite like good intentions, eh? Why, I'll just create a blog on this Cartographers' Guild site, and begin blogging away. Just. like. That. Ahem. Today, I thought that I might dip my toes in the cartographic waters, again. Knowing what to actually blog about can be a bit mystifying. Why write it? Who'll ...
Originally Posted by OldEarth Ink and Watercolour (A5 size, Cold-Press watercolour paper) Inks used are a mixture of: De Artremis waterproof Document Inks (Brown and Dark Red) Pilot fine steel nib, Pigma Micron pens (005 to 05 tip), Staedtler triplus fineliner (not waterproof, used for initial river line and final detail river outline, 0.3 mm) Watercolours: Blue - Prima Marketing Watercolor Tropicals Palette (#23) ...