Heima: Commissioned Map for Novel

Author Shawn Gunn commissioned me to make this map for his upcoming novel (link to novel page: www.swgunn.com/heima )

The black and white look was chosen so that it would look its best printed crisp and clean on the page of the book.

As usual, I had a great time drawing the mountains. The border was a bit of an exploration--I'm getting more complex with borders, but I still don't want them to overwhelm the map itself. I used a new technique on the forests, and I like the way they came out. Yes, the trees look a little "large" compared to the mountains, but it's not a satellite view, after all. Maps are symbolic, and these features, especially in a fantasy/medieval map, are meant to convey the most important and relevant information to the viewer.