The specialized focus of creating map illustrations for a variety of institutional and corporate patrons attracts some artists. Map art can range in styles from decorative or informational 2-D cartographic maps, to illustrated 3-D scenes. A good understanding of the laws of perspective will aid the 3-D map illustrator as will an ability to render architecture and landscapes. The 2-D artist can rely on her design abilities to create enhanced, attractive representations in a flat-map method. With a history that pre-dates the written word as a means of visual storytelling, historians credit illustrated maps as the oldest form of art. Today’s map illustrators still utilize this historic method of visually informing and soliciting an audience with minimal text and entertaining imagery.
Ile de lá Cité © 1996 Albert Lorenz
Range Creek © 2014 Tony Morse
Cowboy America © 2014 John Roman
San Francisco to Marin Bicycle Map © 2013 Cindy Salans Rosenheim
Map of Pennsylvania From Memory © 2014 Mario Zucca