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 Kragspire Mountains
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Kragspire Mountains

These sinister rock formations will loom ominously over your map, their impassable cliffs and sharp, jagged peaks casting long shadows across your world. Mountains are not just obstacles; they are characters in your tale, whispering of dangers unknown.

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How to Draw Old-Growth Forests
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Old-Growth Forests

Do you want to learn how to draw a dense, old growth forest on your fantasy map? From Fangorn in Middle Earth, or The Old Forest in Harry Potter, some of the most iconic locations are hidden beneath the trees.

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How to Draw a Chasm
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Chasm

There are so many storytelling possibilities for your RPG adventure by including something like a mysterious chasm. Is it a natural feature? Was it created by someone in the ancient past with the power to make fissures in the rock itself? Is it the entrance to a portal or an underground city? The question is…how do you draw a chasm?

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How to Draw An Isometric Fortress
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw An Isometric Fortress

If you want an easy way to draw three-dimensional buildings and structures on your fantasy map, then using an isometric perspective is the method for you! The reason this technique is so achievable is that it really comes down to following a grid. As long as you do that, then you can draw all kinds of things like buildings, towers, or something as complex as a city.

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How to Draw Stone Pillars
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Stone Pillars

If you enjoy finding inspiration for your stories from real-world locations, then look no further than the stone pillars of Wulingyuan, China. These impressive monoliths are one of the most iconic locations in the world; with their unusual shape, covered with trees that somehow manage to grow hundreds of feet in the air like a natural hanging garden. In fact, the movie Avatar pulled inspiration from this location when creating the world of Pandora! But the real question is, how do you draw something like that on your fantasy map? In this tutorial, I’ll break down the process so you can add these iconic features to the world you’re crafting.

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How to Draw Dungeon Walls - Rough Stone
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Dungeon Walls - Rough Stone

There are so many ways to draw walls for a dungeon map, but if you want something that looks like it’s hand-made from uncut stone then this is the technique for you. This is great if you’re creating a map of a tomb or a cultic site for your next rpg campaign; anywhere you want a setting that feels ancient and lost to time. In this tutorial, I’ll break down the process so you can draw rough stone walls on your next dungeon map. Let’s get mapping!

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