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 a Snowy River
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Snowy River

How do you draw something like snow on your fantasy map? Fortunately, it is pretty simple if you know how to draw your line art and build your color palette. In this tutorial, you'll learn some simple steps to transform a typical river into a winter setting for your next story. This is a great way to level up your maps whether it's for an rpg like Pathfinder or your next novel. So let’s start mapping!

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How to Draw a Mountain Lake
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Mountain Lake

It’s one thing to draw a lake in a nice open region, but how can you realistically draw it tucked into the mountains? In this map tip, we’ll look into how a lake forms, and then help you to learn how to draw one on your fantasy maps!

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Creating a River On Your City Maps with The City Map Builder
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

Creating a River On Your City Maps with The City Map Builder

What is the best way to create a river on your map using the City Map Builder? Adding buildings, forests, and other features is pretty straight forward, but how do you add something like a stream flowing through your settlement? In this tutorial I’ll walk you through my favorite method so you can easily add some interesting rivers to your maps!

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River Sins to Avoid on Your Fantasy Maps
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

River Sins to Avoid on Your Fantasy Maps

Rivers have to be the most common thing for new map makers to get wrong; and even seasoned cartographers may have some of these mistakes sneak up on them if they’re not careful. But, having an awareness of some of the most common issues that come up when it comes to river placement will go a long way in making your maps and worlds more believable.

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Sea Monsters - What Scale Should You Draw Them?
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

Sea Monsters - What Scale Should You Draw Them?

Do you want to draw some awesome sea monsters on your fantasy map, but aren’t sure what scale they should be? Should you go with a more realistic scale, or will they be too hard to see? Can you make them larger or will that throw off your whole map? But, is striving for “realism” negatively affecting the impact of your maps? Lets get into it!

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How to Draw a Whirlpool Vortex
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Whirlpool Vortex

There is something mysterious about a swirling vortex of water that seems to be draining into the depths of the ocean. This is why a whirlpool or maelstrom is a compelling feature to include on your fantasy maps as it opens up so many storytelling possibilities. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through some easy steps so you can draw your own whirlpool on your fantasy maps.

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How to Draw a Kraken
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Kraken

What lurks below the surface? There is something terrifying about knowing there could be a massive predator swimming just below you with no idea that it’s even there. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through some easy steps so you can draw a kraken on your fantasy maps.

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Where to Place Rivers on Your Fantasy Maps
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

Where to Place Rivers on Your Fantasy Maps

Rivers are likely an essential feature for the fantasy world you’re creating. Water is vital for life as we know it, not only for survival but transportation or trade. Understanding where to place them on a map is challenging if you don't want it to appear arbitrary. But if you grasp how water moves through a landscape, it will go a long way toward creating a sense of realism for your maps and worldbuilding.

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River Rules - Lakes Only Have One Outlet
Map Tip Josh Stolarz Map Tip Josh Stolarz

River Rules - Lakes Only Have One Outlet

Rivers are one of those tricky things to draw correctly on a map because they’re almost too familiar; we don’t usually spend much time thinking about how they actually flow through a landscape. In this case, it’s how rivers interact with lakes and how being mindful of this when you draw your maps can go a long way in making your world more believable.

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How to Draw Rivers
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw Rivers

How do you make your rivers stand out so they’re more than just a squiggly line on your map? In this tutorial, you will learn how to draw rivers that have a sense of depth and look like they are actually part of the landscape.

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How to Draw a Sailboat - Top Down Perspective
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Sailboat - Top Down Perspective

Drawing a ship sailing the seas of your fantasy maps is a great way to convey a bit of the culture of your setting. You can also use them to indicate trade routes, and if the city is a major port in the region. In this tutorial, I will walk you through how to draw a simple wooden sailboat you can use on your fantasy city maps.

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How to Shade Oceans & Seas on Your Maps
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Shade Oceans & Seas on Your Maps

In this tutorial I want to show you how to give your oceans & seas a little more character. Not only will you get a nice painterly texture, but this method is also a great way to hint at the topography just below the water’s surface.

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How to Draw a Waterfall
Tutorial Josh Stolarz Tutorial Josh Stolarz

How to Draw a Waterfall

How many of us have hiked for miles just to see a waterfall? Even if you haven’t, it’s not difficult to recognize the beauty and power that so many find compelling. This is why they are such an interesting feature to include on your fantasy maps. In this tutorial, you will learn some simple steps to walk you through how to draw a waterfall on your map for your next rpg or book. Let’s start mapping!

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