The Cartographer
This whole day I have been working on a big map. I have made maps before for historic books, but this one is supposed to be printed in 2 x 2 metres so there has to be quite a lot of details. With modern technology you can sidestep a lot of the original hardship. I used google maps to make the simplest and most truthful projection - just a screenshoot of the globe. As it is the Nordic countries it can still be on one image in this way with its centre somewhere around the Little Island, Jan Mayen.
Anyway - I have made a small drawing of a Cartographer...
And here is a small version of the giant map. I have handdrawn all of it, projecting larger map onto the original projection as guidelines and using perspective tools to make the coastline fit. I am pretty content with the result.
As the map is for a project about Nordic culture, there is also a part of current day Russia and Germany, the parts that Denmark and Finland lost in the world wars and their prequels.
The cartographer: the guy looks funny - not a self-portrait? But he is quite accomplished - ambidexterity!
I am, sort of: I draw with my left, but write and use tools with my right hand.
Would like to see your finished product - but able to zoom! I am very interested in the subject.
Not a self portrait ... yet :) I am all too much right handed, but have the ambition to use my left hand more. I play piano so I have good control of my left hand, but seldom fro drawing or painting.
I am doing this for money so will have to find an agreement with the customer, but maybe it can be published as creative commons. It is pretty simple, but with a high level of detail (for a map this size at least). I have converted it to vector graphics so it will look nice in any enlargement.
Intrigued by this project for sure. I love your cartographer hunched and studied.
I think the Nordic are such silent hardworking backbone of the world. Dealing with the harshest weather and light and diligently creating the world without complaint. Anyway, I suppose that's the way I see it.
I find them hardworking and admirable too :) I am an artist of course so I don't count, but I have of late made it a habit to tell people. I was at the hospital again a month ago and when they let me go I went out and then I went back again and found a nurse just to tell her to thank everybody for their special combination of loving care and professionalism making sure that even the not too charming and the outright difficult was treated with respect and friendliness. I was really touched by what I saw there.
I will also write my youngest daughter's music teacher as he is just doing a great job introducing them to opera and all.