It's a hell of a journey till I was satisfied, but it was worth it
First things first, it took me about 200 hours, including watching dozens of tutorials like how to draw a forest to got to the point I was quite satisfied. For God’s sake, I re-draw my mountain range three time. Which took me about 20 hours everytime. Just for the sake of my own happiness. I never asked anybody if they liked it tho. And there are hundreds of possibilities how to draw it and I only tried 3.
I came across videos where artists used rice to achieve random shapes in their artwork, a technique that intrigued me. However, being aware of my own preferences, I opted for digital means to bring my vision to life. I stumbled upon the website https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/, which proved to be the perfect tool for generating a random shape and establishing boundaries between counties. Once I had the initial shape, I immediately began working on the stylistic aspects of the map. My inspiration at the time revolved around the map of Middle-earth from the famous Lord of the Rings series, and I started by emulating that style.
Cities, Mountains, Plate Tectonics
To advance the narrative of the map, I first needed to position the cities strategically. In most cases, I placed them near rivers or bodies of water to ensure a stable supply of resources for the inhabitants. However, certain cities had distinct purposes, requiring them to be situated in other specific locations based on the availability of certain materials or unique geographical aspects.
Crafting the mountain range was a delightful experience for me, as I have a deep affinity for mountains due to my upbringing in a small village surrounded by them, where only about 500 people resided. I learned about the geological concepts of plate tectonics and the influence of high and low pressure zones in forming diverse landscapes, especially how the eastern mountain range played a pivotal role in creating the nearby desert of Sipan. My hand-drawn mountains were meticulously shaded and lit, followed by the enchanting task of creating the forest. I particularly enjoyed the process of smoothly blending the forest into the mountains, giving it a soft and natural appearance.
One significant aspect that impacted the map's style was the inclusion of sea lines. I found that there were various techniques to represent them, each having its distinct visual appeal. I explored these options thoroughly to determine what best suited the purpose and atmosphere of the map. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of this creative journey was adding intricate details to the map. Such as the tiny ship beside Asinos or the city in the right-top corner, that brought a unique charm to the overall piece. Each city on the map had its individual symbol, carefully crafted to represent its essence. Of course, when I completed writing the book, the map underwent further edits to enhance its impact on the story, infusing it with even more captivating details.
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