Annie Cicale
B203 Map Your Space
With GPS and Google Maps, you might think map making skills are no longer needed, but a handmade map can be a treasure. In this workshop we will talk about the many kinds of maps, both geographical and imaginary, and then learn ways to make them. A lot of information can be included on maps; we will see some historical versions that might surprise you and make you think about how we engage with the land. You’ll choose a topic, and then learn some cartographic techniques. You can make a camera-ready version of your space, or you can make a fine painterly map to hang on a wall. Those Tolkien maps of Middle Earth can’t be found on your smart phone, and you too might want to design a map of your own imaginary space.
We will review the letterforms you know, adapting them to various places on your maps, from simple place names to complicated titles. We’ll learn some of the cartographic traditions to make your map accessible and reliable for your audience, whether it is just a map to your house from the airport, a map to the wedding reception or a treasure map of your back yard for visiting children. The emphasis in this class will be on learning the design skills needed to make a map, but with a bit of fun thrown in as well.
Supply List
- Basic calligraphy supplies, including broad-edged, pointed, and monoline pens. For a monoline pen (we’ll use it for small writing) you can use a Brause or Speedball B-series, roller ball pen, Pigma Micron or other favorite.
- Ink: your favorite basic black, or walnut, or color
- Color: gouache, watercolor, with brushes and palette, and/or colored pencils
- Tracing paper
- Pencils (mostly an HB, if that’s your favorite)
- Erasers
- Masking tape and/or transparent tape
- Scissors, X-Acto knife or snap off craft knife
- Cutting mat
- Glue stick, such as UHU (the yellow one)
- Road atlas (if you are not flying) or maps of places you might want to use as a source for your map;
- Sketches and photos for illustrations of a real or imaginary place. (There be dragons!) Please contact me in advance to help make your decisions.
- Graphite transfer paper if you have some. I’ll demonstrate how to make your own.
- Tracing paper
- Rolling ruler or small T-square
- Good rag paper if you want an original frameable map; other papers you might want to try. I will be bringing some paper for parts of the projects, so just bring what you have. The size will be dependent on your final map; don’t cut it down in advance. I like watercolor paper (90 lb hot press or cold press) and Arches Text. I will provide a rag tracing paper if you want to make a map for reproduction.
- If you have a portable light box that can be easily transported, please bring it.
Materials Fee
The world of books and writing has captivated ANNIE CICALE since she was a child. She has an MFA in graphic design, has taught calligraphy and book arts worldwide, and has taught at most of the international calligraphy conferences. Her travels to Europe and Asia have expanded visions of letterforms. She is the author of The Art and Craft of Hand Lettering, a 2011 publication of Bloomin Books.