I love illustrating maps, I took an online course in” map-making” and I became addicted. I loved spinning the globe (remember the globes in classrooms) I was even gifted one once at Christmas, what a thrill; or page turning in an atlas. I always dreamed of travelling & seeing more of the world, hasn’t really happened that way! but I still love the spirit of adventure & travel! I did get to Ireland, and I’ve done a lot of travel within Canada, I’ve driven across Canada several times but haven’t made it to Newfoundland yet, but did travel to the Iles de la Madeleine and fell in love with them, it was the first map I illustrated. And I’ve travelled a fair amount in the Eastern US states, not mind-blowing travel, but I’m grateful for what I have been able to see!
I always wanted to escape, run away, leave my family and never look back. I think that’s why I enjoy illustrating these maps, I don’t have a lot of world adventures to record, but they allow me to tell my story, my adventures, share my memories. And I think that’s what I love about my motorcycle, it’s not fast, it’s not sleek, but to me, it;s the essence of travel, back roads, secondary roads, getting off the super highways & exploring my surroundings! I may never get to ride to California, but I can explore the hundreds, if not thousands of km within my own province. And those travels will hopefully make it to a map someday. That is the purpose of a map isn’t it? finding your way? and I still haven’t found my way, but I will never stop looking! I love unfolding a new map, using a highlighter to mark my journey, doodle on it as I travel, interesting scenes or attractions, and then unfolding that map many years later & reliving it, try doing that with a GPS! Anyway, I think that’s why I love maps & why I enjoy illustrating my own, they let me tell my story, through my drawings & text. This one pictured below is my current map in progress, #7 in the series ( the rest are on my website if you care to have a look) So get out there & explore your surroundings, turn off the GPS and the smart phone and use a MAP, you might be surprised at what you see & what you discover about yourself! #oldschool here’s the link to the kourse if anyone cares https://sketchbookskool.com/kourses/lets-make-a-map |
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