This is a map of Ponyland in my fanfic, Generations. I felt I really wanted a map becuase my characters travel so much during the story, and I wanted to help keep things clear for the reader.
My greatest discovery in mkaing this art is that drawing things from an aerial point of view is HARD!! I just couldn't do the buildings, so I drew them flat. The other thing I had trouble with is the cliffs. It's that grey part right below the valley...can you tell that's what it is? How do you draw cliffs from up above anyway? Any other thoughts/constructive critisism of things I can correct?


Thanks everyone for looking and PLEASE leave some suggestions if you have any...

If I had to count how many times we've revised the map for EoD...

I think you did a really good job for your first time. It actually looks QUITE similar to the EoD map--but then again, we're basing our illustrations on cannon pony stories. If you'd like a reference image of EoD maps, you can see them here:
Version 1: mushrump.mlparena.com/...461759ae0d

Version 2: mushrump.mlparena.com/...461759ae0d

Version 3: mushrump.mlparena.com/...461759ae0d

Version 4: mushrump.mlparena.com/...y/map.html

Youll notice that v1 has the flatten building look. As the map became larger, the need to represent buildings as icons was removed. All the maps were done by different artist. I LOVED the look of v3, but the file became too large to represent everything accurately.

Currently we're working on a 5th version (I think...) that details the half hemisphere of the pony world. Who knew ponyland was so large? ^_^

I love your little pine grove, btw! Very cute!

Oh, I do love maps!!!! Thanks for posting those, you guys!!

As for cliffs looking like cliffs, I'd use what they do for topographical maps, which are thick topo. lines I think.

I actually like the first EoD map, however I understand the need for revised maps.

Cool!
I'm going a have to make a mape of my story one of these days.

Maverynthia wrote:

As for cliffs looking like cliffs, I'd use what they do for topographical maps, which are thick topo. lines I think. I actually like the first EoD map, however I understand the need for revised maps.

Ahhh! That one was mine!!

Ooo, neat, maps are really flibbin' hard! But I think flat buildings work fine, since on a map that helps the viewer know what they're looking at more (a castle from above would perhaps not register as *castle* right away).

One thing that may help is limiting color, or having certain colors pertain to certain landscapes or whatnot (like all the forests are the same green, the mountains the same brown. You did that, really, except I was looking at the pale green strip between the castle and the desert). I think you did splendidly, though. I canNOT draw maps worth anything.

Thanks for the comments everyone.
Mav, thanks for the suggestion about the topo maps. I think I'll look some up and see if I can improve the cliffs that way.
Marbletoast, that green strip right now is nothing. Just a way to fade from the desert into the valley. I may use it in a later story though. (Yes, this is going to be an ongoing series, each story forcusing on a different character who, in previous stories, was merely a brief mention)