Monday, June 21, 2021 - how we put it
together......the title block
We are asked periodically how we put together our maps. Each one is different and depends on what's inspiring us at the time. For the title block, sometimes they reflect the theme of the map. Other times they are just simply beautiful. Below are some of our favorite title blocks and some background notes.
This was a fun title block to compose: it has the horn or antler of all big game species in North America. Can you name them all?
This was a very personal composition.
The father-son image was inspired by an old print in my childhood home.
The two dogs are my Llewelyn setters, Aldo and Gauge.
When the Caribbean map came together we were
in a mood for classical architecture.
Being an oyster lover (see below), this was a
fun vignette sketch to compose.
Friday, June 18, 2021 - all about birds
Friday, June 11, 2021 - finding inspiration and looking and maps
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 - oysters, oysters, and more oysters
When the temperature starts to drop, we think of several things. Ducks flying south. Getting bird dogs back in the woods. And great get togethers centered around a fire pot and an oyster table. We are from the Lowcountry and love our oysters......but we have also been known to enjoy this briny delicacy from other locales far and near.
Actually, I've always enjoyed going to an oyster bar and getting a couple of oysters from as many far off places as I can eat (or afford). Places like Tomales Bay, Prince Edward Island, Apalachicola, are always near the top of the list. But where are those places? We had a vague idea but hadn't sat down with my atlas to pin them down. I was too interested in the upcoming plate of oysters and a good cold IPA.
Along comes a couple of really good books: Rowan Jacobson's The Essential Oyster and A Geography of Oysters plus Drew Smith's Oyster: a gastronomic history. Check them out at your local bookstore.
After reading them, we were inspired to gather this information and make a map! The images below show the myriad or locales with great oysters plus several that have such a beautiful shape and color we included them on the title block.