Greetings

[Ashara Koh'inor]

That sounds suspiciously like what I did to get him to join TarValon.net to begin with.

Oh sounds like there is both history and a story here!?

 

[Lithiel Morn]

I wonder what would happen if both Selvyn and I PMed you the (hi)story.

 

[Ashara Koh'inor]

Well you certainly know how to pique a girl's interest

 

[Lithiel Morn]

Well, you can expect a PM from me one of these days, as soon as I can make it happen. As for Selvyn, well, that is his decision. :shifty

 

[Alyccea Nymaessene]

Ooh, new face! :joy

I too adore maps. Some day I want a room that resembles the Map Room in the Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace) in Venice:

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I love seeing the inaccuracies in old maps. Sometimes the inaccuracies are just due to places that haven't been discovered yet (like Australia, hehe), or due to inaccurate measuring techniques that result in misjudging of distances and angles so that the maps come out warped. Many of the maps in the Palazzo Ducale were inaccurate for another reason, though - the Venetian leaders wanted Venice to appear stronger more important, so the maps are all distorted to make Venice seem abnormally large compared with its neighbours! It was basically political propaganda, which I find absolutely fascinating!

Some of the maps in the Palazzo Ducale are also oriented in different directions, so that north isn't necessarily at the top - it reminded me of how the Elves point their maps westward, while the Dwarves face their maps to the east. It's fascinating how we adopt different conventions for showing the same thing! I wonder whether history would have progressed differently if we had adopted the convention of orienting all of our maps eastwards, for instance - would some nations have appeared more or less desirable for trade agreements or invasions, I wonder?

And I love that you're ok with my weird food. Broth and herbal tea are lovely, aren't they! In fact I should probably stock up again, now that winter is here. What sort of things do you do, as a naturopath?

 

[Selvyn al'Aran]

The Dragon :fistbump I feel new sigs coming on, Dragon

By the way, I saw some of your other handiwork today while browsing forums - beautiful work. Are you a designer by trade or just by happenstance?

Dragon signatures, now that's an idea.

I wouldn't call myself a designer at all, really! I just like using Photoshop, mostly for tweaking photos a little, but also for other things - signatures are quite common these days :shifty - so all I know can be attributed to fiddling about on my own or online tutorials.

I've also made a few maps, because I, too, adore maps (and am consequently bedazzled by Alyccea's image of the Map Room ). There are some amazing maps on places like deviantART.

I love seeing the inaccuracies in old maps.

I'm also very much interested in that - I remember seeing this one globe in the corner of a room once that was pretty old, though I didn't check to see how big Venice was. Even if they are inaccurate, they all tend to look great, in my experience.

 

[Alyccea Nymaessene]

Oh man, I'm squeeing just reading this thread! My pocket family is so awesome

You've both probably seen this before, but...

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(I'm trying to find a similar gif of a Cahill-Keyes projection but I haven't had any luck as yet)

And, because maps are practical as well as beautiful,

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:waggle

 

[Ashara Koh'inor]

Alyccea,
All of your maps are incredible, but that last one got both my inner anthropologist AND my inner biologist (first time in college was pre-med with an interest in microbiology & DNA). I grew up drawing maps and spent my time pouring over a National Geographic Atlas my mom had, planning my next adventure. I used to have both of my kids draw maps as a way to pass the time and Elyss's still does! I will have to redecorate my own pocket now to better accommodate THE pocket dragon who is in love with the map room (who isn't?)
Haha it was so early here when I saw your first comment about the face I didn't quite understand - but, yes, I never heard back with permission to use the first image. I have searched through hundreds for a second one I still can't quite decide between that one and two or three others. Sigh.

 

[Lithiel Morn]

Ashara, if the artist hasn't been active in a long while, the permission is as good as yours, really. But if you feel more comfortable this way...

 

[Alyccea Nymaessene]

Who was the artist of the first image? It's often tricky deciding on an avatar (especially when there's so much great artwork to choose from!)

Biology! :fistbump I studied genetics and chemistry for my undergrad, before spending my Honours year on a wet-lab molecular biology project (studying the interaction between the intracellular loops of the beta and gamma subunits of the human GABA[sub]A[/sub] neurotransmitter receptor). I never studied any anthropology, though some of my friends did and I bet it was really fascinating! I would love to hear more about it

 

[Ashara Koh'inor]

Ashara, if the artist hasn't been active in a long while, the permission is as good as yours, really. But if you feel more comfortable this way...

Thank you, Luna. Unfortunately he's quite active AND pretty well known so I will just have to see if he ever responds.

 

[Ashara Koh'inor]

Dragon signatures, now that's an idea.

I wouldn't call myself a designer at all, really! I just like using Photoshop, mostly for tweaking photos a little, but also for other things - signatures are quite common these days :shifty - so all I know can be attributed to fiddling about on my own or online tutorials.

I've also made a few maps, because I, too, adore maps (and am consequently bedazzled by Alyccea's image of the Map Room ). There are some amazing maps on places like deviantART.
/QUOTE]

Selvyn - Photoshop is like chocolate in some ways, I love it! I think the fact I can use layers and manipulate transparency makes me the happiest because that's what I do in RL on a canvas. I've never made a real map though, too chicken I suppose. I'm sure your maps are stunning, perhaps you'll share with us one day (elbows and winks). Am going to check out that link on deviant art...
Cheers!

 

[Elyss Koh'inor]

*Peeks into Ashara's pocket* It's looking nice in there!

 

[Ashara Koh'inor]

Time to redecorate the pocket for the pocket Dragon.

Ok, Selvyn so I think instead of my Bedouin tent look you may prefer this...

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Watch your head, there's more coming your way (and move those silly ropes out of the way please, we won't be needing those).

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Now, here are a few more goodies so you will hopefully be comfy while you peruse the maps. You aren't still suffering from Hobbit shock, are you?

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[Selvyn al'Aran]

The tent certainly had its charm, but this is just... magnificent. I think I am going to enjoy staying in this pocket - even more so when those excessively hairy Hobbits leave my consciousness for better pastures. *Settles into the armchair, pushing his trauma aside in favour of tea*

As for maps I've made, here are a few. They all have many (many (many)) layers, but only the first one is 'finished'

Spoiler

Edit: Oh, I meant to say - your new signature is great.

 

[Alyccea Nymaessene]

Oh Selvyn, they are gorgeous! Do they have stories to go along with them?

I should probably mention that this is absolutely my most favourite thread ever. <3

 

[Selvyn al'Aran]

Thank you! They all have some kind of writing attached to them, though that side of things is unfortunately underdeveloped. The first map was the only one created with a story in mind. It was a short story, but I tried to fit too much into it and the end result was pretty clumsy as a result - not the mention the dialogue felt a little stilted in general.

The rest have some development - ideas, mostly - but not much else. The focus on those projects were the maps themselves, though I did think of going further with them at the time. Usually when the urge comes up I create a new map and start working on that instead.

 

[Alyccea Nymaessene]

I don't blame you, I'd do the same thing! Maps make me want to know more about the history of the place they represent, though, so I had to ask. And that includes geological as well as political/human history - I like looking at mountain ranges and continent edges and imagining the events that would have taken place to drive sections of land together or apart, and how that would have affected people and/or animals that lived there, from an evolutionary and a cultural perspective. And languages, too! In our world it's amazing how different two languages, cuisines, styles of dress etc. can be simply because the people involved were separated by a mountain range or a rough sea. And how similar two groups can be despite being separated by a large distance, simply because their people invented bridges or boats or tunnels or good shoes!

Mordor's geography has always kind of irritated me, tbh.

I love seeing the inaccuracies in old maps.

I'm also very much interested in that - I remember seeing this one globe in the corner of a room once that was pretty old, though I didn't check to see how big Venice was. Even if they are inaccurate, they all tend to look great, in my experience.

Maybe they're all inaccurate - can you tell whether the "normal" modern maps you find in an atlas or on a globe are accurate? :shifty Just a thought.

 

[Ashara Koh'inor]

THOSE MAPS, Selvyn! I guess you probably tire of hearing the praise, but I am just astounded. They are lovely, and I can tell how much time you put in to them to make them so painstakingly beautiful. I am fascinated by the various landforms, mountain ranges, names, etc. And, like Alyccea

I like looking at mountain ranges and continent edges and imagining the events that would have taken place to drive sections of land together or apart, and how that would have affected people and/or animals that lived there, from an evolutionary and a cultural perspective.

(I hate to steal her quote, but I cannot think of a better way to put it - bravo to the beautiful and well spoken lass from down under)! I tend to be more of a worldbuilder myself so whenever I draw out a map or try to write I end up enjoying the details of culture, land, etc. more than I often do plot. Which, is probably why I am not a writer or at least one of the reasons. I also noticed that your maps are all singular landforms set amidst an ocean with very little else (this is not a criticism, just an observation). Is this an influence from your own island home? Belonging to a large land mass here, but being on the coast, I find that when I sit down to draw my own land influences my choices greatly. Just curious.

You mentioned a map of Venice a few posts earlier. It is my favorite city, I spent some time there when I flew to Italy to stay with my family. Are you familiar with Venice?

Thanks for the compliment on the sig - I wanted to see what one could do with such a tiny format. I had no idea just how tiny it was until I got to work. I had very little time to give it a good go. I hope one day when you have time I can coerce you (perhaps you need more items for the pocket?) into making me one? You are always having so many requests, and now your new job here at TV, so I did not want to seem pushy. I mean, not that smacking you over the head and stuffing you in a pocket would ever seem pushy either....arch

 

[Ashara Koh'inor]

I should probably mention that this is absolutely my most favourite thread ever. <3

Yes!!!!

And boy do you and I have a lot in common, I have a feeling we could talk over coffee for hours. I need to make a list of all the things that you have mentioned that I want to respond too, but would look more like its own thread than a post! Naturopathy, biology, maps, anthropology. Speaking of which, for someone who claims to know very little on the subject - you, my dear are already on your way to being an amateur cultural anthropologist in your heart.

So excited.

PS - are you going to join the Handwritten Letters thread? I'd love to send you an actual letter (which may *wink*wink include an art envelope)! I would do the same for Selvyn, but he seems more like a half-tame dragon and doesn't come across as one who would want to be inundated with letters and attention.