Using Shape Language to Give Your Maps Character
Did you know that the shapes you use when drawing features on your fantasy maps can actually cause certain emotional triggers in the viewer? In this guest tutorial, Gerralt (DimensionDoor_Maps) will walk you through how you can use the power of shape language to give your maps more character!
What is Shape Language?
Shape language is often used in character design to give personality based on a particular shape. If you look at the example you’ll notice that the character on the left which uses more rounded shapes conveys a very different impression than the character on the right!
Fortunately, this principle can also be used when drawing maps!
Pick a Shape for Inspiration
The first thing you’ll want to do is select a basic shape which will drive the style of your map illustration. Keep in mind that different shapes tend to trigger a particular emotion in the viewer.
Look through these short lists of word associations and decide what will work best for your drawing.
Sketch Silhouettes Using the Shape as a Guide
For this example, we will be using a city icon which can appear on one of our maps. At this point just focus on sketching the overall silhouette of the city, using your shape as the inspiration for the buildings and structures.
Create Terrain & Add Detail
You can now bring it all together by completing the rest of the terrain surrounding your city. Notice the rounded nature of the mushrooms on the circle example compared to the blocky rock formations in the square version, and the harshness of the spikes surrounding the city using triangles. One feels like a magical kingdom where your traveling party will find rest, while another feels sinister and full of peril.
Applying to Your Own Maps
With Josh Stolarz | @MapEffects
I really love the way Gerralt brought the use of Shape Language into fantasy cartography and showed how it can give your maps more personality and character.
I was inspired to try my hand at his technique as well, and I thought you would find it helpful to see how you too can take the principles of this tutorial and put your own style and spin on it.
By all means trace and copy Gerralt’s drawings in this tutorial for the purpose of learning, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different shapes, subjects, and methods to make it your own!
Happy Mapping!
- Josh
We Hope You Liked this Guest Tutorial!
Thank you so much Gerralt (DimensionDoor_Maps) for generously creating this tutorial and sharing how he uses Shape Language to create his stunning fantasy maps. Be sure to check out more of his work and follow him HERE.
