My road to making a map-zine
I’ve always been a sucker for maps. There are many curiosities about the way maps relate to space and make you engage with it. Within TRPGs I’ve been particularly struck by the diverse styles of maps that artists make within the OSR-adjacent space. Some of my favourite artists are skullfungus, paths peculiar, ways unseen, gnarled monster, and Fernando Salvaterra. I love how the simplicity of the line-art and doodles can convey so much style. When I see these drawings I immediately begin imagining what its like to be in those places, and how they would be navigated and experienced through the medium of trpgs.
I’ve set a goal for myself, an aspiration I would like to achieve someday. I’ve started trying my hand at drawing maps, and I would love to eventually publish a small zine of my own, with some illustrations and light lore to go with them, and inspire others as well.
The people that inspire me are skilled artists. No matter the often apparent simplicity of their drawings, a lot of work goes into achieving that polish. So I inevitably wonder if I can produce anything that will be remotely as inspiring or creative as their work. But the truth is its something that I care about, its something I would love to be able to do. And the great thing about maps is they can exist at various levels of detail and still suggest interesting ideas.
I have decided to practice map drawing 3-4 days of the week, to try and be consistent and develop the skill. I’m working mostly from reference, looking at work I like and trying to learn a “language” and feel more comfortable with it, so I can slowly begin adding my own flair and ideas.
I’m already quite happy and proud with these. It’s still strange to feel “proud” when a lot of this isn’t my own work, but a copy of someone else’s. Yet some of it is my own already! I’m proud that practicing has already led me to imagining how to use lines to create my own space without having to count squares in someone else’s. Is my style gonna be to similar to those that I’m learning from? Will I find my own flair? I guess we’ll see as I continue to grow.
I realize this is important for me because I tend to feel like I read a lot and think a lot about the things that interest me, but I tend to engage more as an observer than as an active participant that contributes their own ideas. I don’t aspire to make anything groundbreaking or incredibly sophisticated, but I strive to be more creative, share, propose, contribute in the spaces that I exist within and care about, because that exchange does help me feel more a part of a community. Whenever I get excited about other people’s work, I wish I could also say “hey, look at what I’m making too!”. Too often I’ve felt like I’m just don’t have anything to show for myself (even though its likely not true). Creating and sharing my work matters to me. I guess it would be better if I did this purely for myself, only because I enjoy doing it. But the truth is, I want it to be seen and I hope others will enjoy what I make. Not because of any grand sense of recognition, but because sharing and being a part of a community of creators is something I find meaningful.
But there’s still some ways to go before I’m ready to show anything as a final product. For now I want to try staying consistent with practice, and explore different things, and have fun in the process!