One of my favorite illustrators, Jenni Sparks, just completed this unbelievable hand-drawn map of London. You’ll find Tube routes, landmarks, and waterways, as well as some of Sparks’ own personal favorite spots.
Los Angeles, acrylic on canvas, 2010
Chinese artist Lu Xinjian has started a new series called “City DNA” in which he uses arial maps of cities to create stenciling patterns which he then paints. These geometric abstract works are painted in colors reflecting the area’s flag, and named for the city they represent (shown is LA). See the entire project here.
Do you prefer your maps in watercolor? Yeah me too. The pros over at Stamen Design have created a birds-eye view map in watercolor, as well as terrain, or toner (that’s my BK hood in watercolor) with zoom capabilities just like Google Maps. Head over to their site and scope out your neighborhood!
OCD graphic designer Mason Philips mapped out every subway ride he took in 2011, and organized it by subway line. Amazing.
US interstates as a giant subway map by designer Cameron Booth. Wouldn’t this just be so much easier?
Streetview Stereographic is a new app that allows you to create “a little planet” using Google Streetview. Check out the Williamsburg Bridge!
Springstreets: A map of New Jersey based solely on Bruce Springsteen lyrics. 200+ references on a 23x32 newsprint poster. Amazing.
James Bridles’ Rorschmap is a geographically useless but beautiful project that turns Google Earth maps into kalediscopic masterpieces. (That’s NYC) Go have some fun with it!
To my SF peeps: this ongoing project is one of the coolest things out there. Mike Giant, and others (TCB Couriers, Skull and Sword Tattoos, Benny Gold, etc) have been working on a hand-drawn map of The Mission, highlighting local businesses and hangouts. The creation of this map has really brought the community together over there, and if folks want to get together to do this in my BK hood, I’m all in!
Graphic design master Paula Scher has a new book out, titled Maps that illustrates different areas around the globe in a colorful, distorted, overwhelming way. It reminds me of when I first moved to New York and was terrified of getting anywhere by myself and made my boyfriend ride the subway with me everyday. But eventually, you calm down, gain confidence, and begin to understand the nuances and details of your city, as you do with Scher’s illustrations. Maps is available here.
