![Lands of Qaliste [stage1] by sirinkman by SirInkman](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/b4b868d6-b2d6-4489-9781-a2612af4fb5c/d9m2oeo-ed53c5b0-a321-43d3-9f8e-5d5d6584ee41.jpg/v1/fill/w_792,h_1009,q_70,strp/lands_of_qaliste__stage1__by_sirinkman_by_sirinkman_d9m2oeo-pre.jpg)
![Lands of Qaliste [stage1] by sirinkman by SirInkman](https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/b4b868d6-b2d6-4489-9781-a2612af4fb5c/d9m2oeo-ed53c5b0-a321-43d3-9f8e-5d5d6584ee41.jpg/v1/fill/w_1024,h_1306,q_70,strp/lands_of_qaliste__stage1__by_sirinkman_by_sirinkman_d9m2oeo-fullview.jpg)
Participant of the CGTrader Digital Art Competition
www.cgtrader.com/
I'm entering CGTrader's competition for 2018 with a few pieces.
This one is for Environment Illustration.
www.cgtrader.com/
I'm entering CGTrader's competition for 2018 with a few pieces.
This one is for Environment Illustration.
I've been working on this one over the holiday. It started life a long time ago as a sketch and sat there for a number of years.
I fiddled with it a bit over some years but didn't really do much. Then the other week I bought some new fonts and wanted to play with them.So I made some quick thing with that old map and put some sample text over it.
The thing was, my sample text was saying something about making your map something special... and well, the map I was using wasn't really.
So I set out to make it special. Then it got out of hand and this is what it turned into.
I want to take this further and try to make a campaign out of it and do some map sets to go with it.
Time will tell how that plays out. In an ironic twist, I'm going to start a wip thread after posting this.
It would mainly be to show some other directions I went and some things I might do further to this - hence the Stage 1 title.
I want to try something more interesting for a border but had to move on atm. cheers, J.
Other bits...
![Britannia game board [commission] by SirInkman](https://t00.deviantart.net/Emn-L_rLvjFosmPvwFRIN1wm3Zk=/fit-in/150x150/filters:no_upscale():origin()/pre00/ca1a/th/pre/f/2015/342/8/d/britannia_game_board__commission__by_sirinkman-d9jcozs.jpg)
![Menzheim [final-L] by sirinkman by SirInkman](https://t00.deviantart.net/cSof6TvMPodhS3PhE0_gNRT-ARo=/fit-in/150x150/filters:no_upscale():origin()/pre00/68cf/th/pre/f/2015/328/4/d/js_menzheim__final_l__by_sirinkman_by_sirinkman-d9hxl4p.jpg)
![Bourmout [frontpage] by SirInkman](https://t00.deviantart.net/3OSXLMq5LxuoxIBfuf6tzRr6PFU=/fit-in/150x150/filters:no_upscale():origin()/pre00/62bb/th/pre/f/2014/252/1/1/bourmout__colored__11a_frontsheet1g__mid__by_sirinkman-d7yjqbr.jpg)
:origin()/pre00/1c75/th/pre/f/2015/197/5/6/northlands__l__by_sirinkman_by_sirinkman-d91izgg.jpg)
![Sagemound [front] by sirinkman by SirInkman](https://t00.deviantart.net/egChCWk0lqI5GHoWXcNGQJyIpkM=/fit-in/150x150/filters:no_upscale():origin()/pre00/3e12/th/pre/f/2015/173/e/5/sagemound__front__by_sirinkman_by_sirinkman-d8yaevo.jpg)
![Frosthaven [2015] by SirInkman](https://t00.deviantart.net/TywoM2QFYqQerMUkPDGDpLktgXY=/fit-in/150x150/filters:no_upscale():origin()/pre00/80e5/th/pre/f/2015/065/4/8/frosthaven__2015__by_sirinkman-d8kkk19.jpg)
The only thing I don't really like are the 'wavelines' (or whatever they're called) around the coasts, they look a little too digital compared to the soft, hand-painted feel of the landscape.
I can understand that.
I have mostly changed to doing the wave lines by hand, as it does tend to fit the look better.
It takes a lot longer [A LOT LONGER
Part of the reasoning for that color is that as you get closer to the coast, the land under water rises up toward the water.
As it gets closer the water is blocking less light and you can see the land underneath. That's the general idea at least.
I'm not really trying to do totally photorealistic but I am trying to make sure what I'm doing is as accurate as I can get within the style I'm working on at the time.
That's part of why I put so much effort into top down styles.
They're not as popular as the iso style mountains but I like how much more accurate they can be.
When I do perspective, it's perspective and not iso.
I just feel like it's more cohesive.
One question:
How did you make those mountains?
I'm asking because i'm trying to create a world map for my RPG, but i'm despairing because i can't get mountains to look good.
Then on a new layer I do the light side [often set to soft light]. There's a lot more to it involving painterly skills developed over time but that's basically how it's done.
No real tricks - just a lot of hand drawn/painted light/shadow and texturing. It's by far my most difficult style.
This must have been a LOT of work! But it's worth it imo. It looks absolutely amazing.
PS: sorry for my late answer.
And no worries.
I was pretty happy with this one, though I struggle a bit for awhile before I got the color right.
Always appreciated.
Great to hear.
If any files need to be sent, for example roughs to show what you want done and such, it's just easier via email.
I'll note you with my email or you can check my profile for that too.
edit - sent you a note.
I'll check it out.
Still trying to solidify this style though I came a long way with this one.