THE LEARNING ARCHIVES

Whether you're creating maps for a novel, rpg, or just for fun, this collection of tutorials and map tips will help you create more professional and believable maps for your story!

How to Draw Better Dead Trees
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Better Dead Trees

Have you ever tried to draw some dead trees on your fantasy map and realized it just looked like a tree without any leaves? How can you convey that it’s actually dead and not just defoliated? In this Map Tip, we’ll look at some simple tricks you can use on your maps to make sure your trees are appropriately deceased.

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Forests - Where to Place Them on Your Maps
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

Forests - Where to Place Them on Your Maps

Have you ever wondered if you’re placing forests in the right spot on your fantasy maps? How does a forest even form, and why do trees grow in one area and not another? In this Map Tip I will walk you through how a forest grows to fill a landscape so you can have confidence when placing them on your maps!

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How to Draw Forests
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Forests

From the gloom of Mirkwood to the comfort of the Hundred Acre Wood, forests are one of the most iconic settings in storytelling. There is just something about a forest that brings a feeling of mystery, not knowing what lies around the bend in the trail. Whether you are creating a setting for your next rpg campaign or writing a story for your book, an enchanted glade in the middle of a dense canopy, or a lost city reclaimed by the trees is where myths are born and retold.

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How to Draw a Jungle on Your Fantasy Maps
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Jungle on Your Fantasy Maps

Ready to enter the dense canopy of a tropical jungle where the air is so thick you can feel it, and there is a new danger under every leaf? In this tutorial I will walk you through some steps so you can learn how to draw a dense jungle on your fantasy maps!

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How to Draw Forests - Top Down Perspective
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Forests - Top Down Perspective

You’re city or village map is just about done, but you need to add some trees to breathe some life into the surrounding landscape. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how you can draw some simple trees that will stand out and really make your fantasy map pop!

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How to Draw Forests on Hills & Mountains
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Forests on Hills & Mountains

Are you tired of your forests on your fantasy maps looking a little too…flat? This is a common issue and one I know I struggled with for a long time as I was learning. In this Map Tip I’ll give you a couple of simple things you can do to overcome this issue, and draw forests that look like they’re popping off the page just with line art.

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