Illustrated Map Creation: Reflecting a City's Essence

Meet Stef, learn about her experience as an artist and designer, and see some of her work. Discover the artists and illustrators that inspire her and find out what you’ll learn in the course.

Begin the second unit by analyzing different types of maps and seeing the elements you can include in your own map. Find the place you want to illustrate and gather references of your chosen city. Stef finishes the unit by discussing the types of materials you can use for your illustration.

Time to get started on your map! Choose the right size for your artwork and decide which elements to include. Follow Stef’s tips and tricks for illustrating your elements with watercolor and gouache. See how to create textures and add these to your textures library in Photoshop, along with all your other hand-painted elements. Compose your map in Photoshop following Stef’s step-by-step method.

Learn how to save your file for different uses and formats, see the types of paper Stef recommends for printing, and frame your illustration so it’s ready to hang. Finally, learn how to photograph your work and share it on Instagram with Stef’s recommendations for lighting and flat-lay styling.