Today’s tutorial isn’t for the faint of heart — but I promise that you can do it! An illustrated watercolor map usually takes a couple of days to make, and it requires some artistic judgment calls. Still: the creation process is so enjoyable, and the unique results justify any time and effort spent to make it.
Why Make an Illustrated Watercolor Map?
You’ll probably encounter illustrated maps the most in a wedding context. A map makes for an excellent addition to any invitation because it allows you to add a lot of personality to the presentation. Some couples choose to showcase the places in the area that are special to them, while others treat the map as more of an informational tool (e.g. this is where we’re getting married, this is where the reception is, etc.).
I only used a touch of gray watercolor on the map for this whimsical Kaitlin Style calligraphy wedding suite. The map shows the location of the couple’s wedding, along with a few suggestions for places to go in the area.
Sometimes, illustrated watercolor maps may commemorate something else, whether it’s an anniversary or just affection for a particular city or area. You can make a watercolor map as a gift for someone, or you can create it as a sketchbook project (or simply an art piece to display in your home)!
I created this 8″ x 10″ anniversary watercolor map as a gift for my friend Rodger. It features all watercolors (and watercolor calligraphy — no ink here!
The main reason to make a watercolor map is for a creative challenge. Artistic maps take some time, thought, and problem solving. Even so, they make for such a fun project, so it’s absolutely worth trying to make one yourself! Below, you’ll find the steps that I follow when I make one.
1. Choose Special Places to Include on the Map
Before you decide which places to include on your watercolor map, it’s important to consider the space you have to fit them into. If you’re working on a small map (for example: 4″ x 6″ [102 mm x 152 mm]), then you’ll want to incorporate a smaller number of places … maybe four or five. For a medium-sized map (5″ x 7″ [127 mm x 178 mm]), try five to seven places. A large map (8″ x 10″ [203 mm x 254 mm]) has more space, so it can accommodate more places — try for seven or more. Once you’ve chosen the number of places you can include, make a list of the places and their addresses (if applicable).
The number of places on your list depends on the size of your map.
If you’re making the map for someone else, make sure that you understand why each place is significant. Sometimes a restaurant isn’t just a restaurant, for example — it may be where a couple met for the first time.
2. Make a Rough Layout Based on Geographical Areas
Once you know which places to include, go to the Google Maps website. Type in one of the places that you mean to include in your map. Then, ask Google for driving directions to the next place. From that place, ask Google for driving directions to the next place, and so on, and so forth.
The driving directions feature on Google Maps will help you to understand the spatial relationships between your places!
Once you have a good idea of the geographical relationships, you can plan out how to fit everything in the space that you have on your map. I usually do so with a rudimentary pen or pencil drawing.
This plan isn’t polished, but its rough indication of locations will come in handy!
3. Make a Pencil Draft
Once you’ve got a rough layout, you can start work on a draft. Make sure you create it on high-quality paper — try watercolor paper or 80# drawing paper — because you’ll draw directly over the draft with ink in the next step. I’d pull up a picture of each place online and draw your own version of that place on the draft. If freehand drawing intimidates you, use a light box! Just print off a tiny version of each place and trace over it on the draft.
If you’re making the watercolor map for a client, make sure you show them the finished pencil draft before you move on to the next step! They may find spelling mistakes or want to make a modification.
Make sure you draw with a light touch! You’ll probably need to modify your draft quite a bit as you progress with it. Don’t be afraid to add banners and other elements that enhance the map, like flourishes, symbols, and calligraphy labels. As you work through this step, be patient — this draft will probably take you a couple of days to make, and that’s okay!
4. Draw Over the Draft with Waterproof Ink
Once you’re happy with how the pencil draft looks, it’s time to trace over your pencil lines with a dip pen and waterproof ink. For this step, I prefer to use a straight pen fitted with a Nikko G nib and Ziller Soot Black ink.
I like to use Ziller Soot Black ink because it’s completely waterproof once dry. India ink also works, but I find it to be a little less reliable in its waterproof properties.
Once you’re finished, let the piece sit for several hours or overnight, then carefully erase your pencil lines.
Be gentle as you erase! You don’t want to accidentally wrinkle or crease your paper.
5. Add Watercolor
Once you erase your pencil lines, it’s ready for watercolor! Try using a small brush to paint buildings first. Once the paint you used for the buildings dries, you can use a larger brush to add some color to the map’s landscape.
Start by adding some color to the tiny, detailed parts of the map, like buildings. If you’re intimidated by watercolors, you can always fill in your map with a medium that you’re more comfortable with, like colored pencils.
Filling in the map with watercolor is basically like filling in a detailed coloring page. Again, this step takes some patience, so set aside at least an hour or two to complete it! Once you’re finished filling in the piece, leave it alone for a couple of hours. Then, look at it with fresh eyes from a distance of a few feet. You’ll probably find that the piece needs more contrast, which you can add with additional layers of watercolor!
I ended up adding a lot of contrast to this map. At first, all of the landscape was green, which made it look a little too homogenized. Some brown accents fixed that! I also ended up adding colored shadows to most of the calligraphy.
You’ll know you’re finished when you can look at the piece from a distance and feel good about it. The colors and contrast should all work together to create a piece that makes a casual observer want to take a closer look!
6. Digitize the Watercolor Map for Printing (Optional)
If you created your watercolor map with the intention of distributing it to several recipients, you’ll want to digitize it in Photoshop. Scan it into your computer, play with the color levels, maybe use the burn tool to add additional contrast for printing, and make sure you include bleed room! (If all of that sounds foreign to you, don’t worry — you can learn all of it in the Digitizing Artwork and Calligraphy eCourse.)
If you don’t know how to digitize your artwork, learn! Photoshop isn’t as difficult as you think, and I take you through it one step at a time in this eCourse.
Once you’ve digitized the piece, send the file to a professional printing company. If you know of a good local place, definitely patronize them! It’s nice to work locally because you can easily go in and see samples and talk about your project. Otherwise, I’ve had excellent luck with printingforless.com! Their printing, paper, and customer service is off the charts.
I hope that you enjoyed learning about how to create a watercolor map! It’s not a short process, by any means, but it’s certainly one that’s worth trying. I’ve made several maps thus far — some with watercolor, some without — and all of them have been fun and challenging to make! If you find that you have a knack for custom maps, try selling them on Etsy (just follow steps 2-7 of the How to Make Extra Income Selling Calligraphy article). Clients love them, so if you enjoy making them, it’s a win-win!
In 2013, I made my first ever illustrated map! It was for a wedding client in Lexington, KY.
If you end up trying your hand at making a watercolor map, I’d love to see the results! It’s always so rewarding for me to get to see the projects that articles like this one inspire. You can share the map on Instagram and tag @thepostmansknock or hashtag #thepostmansknock; or, if you would prefer not to share your map publicly, you can email me at [email protected]
Thanks very much for reading, and have a fun, creative weekend!
Warmly,
wow just wow
Thanks for this tutorial! I am going to give it a try!!
I have wanted to create something similar to recap our family vacation to Maine. Now that me and my siblings are all grown up, the days spent together and new memories made seem even more important to document. Thanks for this tutorial!
Thanks for this post! My daughter is getting married next May and I have made creating one of these maps on my “to do” list!
I love the idea of a map like this. I hope to try it soon. Thanks for all your ideas and instruction.
You make this look so easy. I’ve always wanted to do something like this because I love how it looks. I’m definitely going to try and give this a go in my Hobonichi.
You make it look simple, Lindsey! I doubt I can get my map done in only one weekend, but you did the hard work of showing the step-by-step method. Will let you know if I achieve the results I imagine.
Thank you for sharing how to do this. I am still learning, but I plan on creating a map for an upcoming wedding!
this is really amazing
Cool! Love your posts it has been soso helpful 😀
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this tutorial. I am have always loved this type of map. I live in Charleston, SC and we have so many wonderful places to call out. You could make several iterations of maps depending on the theme: Plantations, Historic Sites, Restaurants, Ten Must Do’s ….. it could go on and on!
I’ve been *dying to try this. I always come back and stare at your msos 🤣🤦. This summer, I’m making time to try one out!
I’m an architect and map lover and a nice similar activity I really love is drawing huge treasure maps with my four-year-old daughter! She tells me places and characters and I draw them on paper. Then we colour them together.
It would be a lovely project to do, in smaller size, just for fun!
Thank you SOOOO much for sharing your journey with us!
You are so generous, talented and creative that you are truly an example to follow.
This is a GREAT article and very informative.
AWESOME tutorial. Can’t wait to try it!
I’m so pumped to see this tutorial now! I’ve been wanting to learn how to do this ever since I saw the first one you posted on instagram Lindsey! I think my very first one would have to be a map of my college where I went to undergrad and grad school. I think it’d be fun to put some of the places on there that are associated with funny/sentimental memories, and it would look pretty neat framed and hung with my diplomas.
I would draw a map of Washington, D.C. because of all the museums and history there!
It’s beautiful! I’m going to give it a try. I have made several maps but always boring. I want to change that but, first, I need to make some practice to draw nice buildings.
Thank you very much, your blogpost are always inspiring!
Personally, I want to draw a map of Mokdong, South Korea. I’m korean myself and even though I was born there, I came to America when I was very young and don’t have many memories of living there. I went to Korea three years ago and still vividly remember everything I did, all the smell, all the sights, everything! I stayed in mokdong and that’s where all my memories of Korea come from now. It was such an amazing experience and it truly felt like coming home when I got the motherland. It’s a little cheesy but something definitely clicked and I truly felt like I belonged there. So it’s something I would love to draw a map of so I can finally record my experiences!
I’ve been waiting for a blog post tutorial on this and now I can’t wait to start my own…just to figure out which map to do first…hahaha!
This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. It seem SOOOOO hard, but I would love to give it a try. Just need to not feel completely overwhelmed by it.
Thanks so much for the gorgeous tutorials. They really make my day! 🙂
In my excitement to tell you how much I love this, I neglected to say that I would like to do one of the yarn shops nearby to help celebrate our annual Los Angeles Yarn Crawl. It would be a huge area, though.
Thanks again for the great photos and tutorials. They are amazing!
I’ve always loved these maps and now I can’t wait to make one of my own. Thanks so much for the tutorial!!
Ohh, this tutorial is so inspiring!!! I’d love to have a try with my home town, Torino, in Italy. The nice hills surrounding the city, the rivers and the iconic buildings that compose the city skyline would be great elements to compose into a map. Thank you so much, that’s such an amazing idea!
an east coast map!!!
Can you pls make a world watercolor 🗺 one day😍
LOVE your tutorials! Keep on doing them please 🙂
I would love to make a map of NYC!! I’m from the Bronx so I would love to have an excuse to go back and just wander the areas and doodle!!!
These are awesome! I’d love to make one of the Anaheim, CA area and have Disneyland as the theme! I’d mail it from the park so it would have a cool postmark on it!
Amazing. I hope some day I will be brave enough to try this. Thanks Lindsey!
Endless possibilities!
I would do a map of Salt Spring Island, the place I’d love to live. It’s the largest artist community in Canada. It’d be cool to do an art map.
I would love to create a watercolour map of my hometown city, Winnipeg.
I would love to create a watercolor map of the areas of Alaska that my husband and I have visited. It was so beautiful and we cannot wait for our return visit. Thank you sharing this post with us!
Your creative genius just amazes me, as well as your generosity in sharing so many ideas, tips & tricks with us. Thank you so much Lindsey!
I’m really excited about this one! I have wanted to do one for a while but wasn’t sure how to go about it. Thank you!!!!!!
Another incredible and well thought-out tutorial from the best. The fact that you share this type of knowledge free of charge is part of what makes PTK so special to so many of us! Of course, once we’re hooked (which we all are), we are happy to pay for your courses and printouts! Never stop being so awesome 🙂
Daniel
How beautiful! Thank you for these instructions, you make the steps so simple that I know I can do this, too!
Whoa, another Myers! We must have good tastes, or something. 😀
I love your maps, so I’m going to put this tutorial to good use!
Thanks Lindsey! Fond memories and yikes, 30 years approaching!!
I can see lots of opportunities for making illustrated maps! Thanks for the inspiration.
Oh man I would love to make one of the Portland downtown waterfront area. It’s so beautiful there, I think the river and the cherry blossoms would like great.
So, in your final example, do you color in the ground color around O’Hare and Midway (for examples) BEFORE you do the green, or after?
Great question! I would have put in that gray before the green, and blended the green into it. 🙂 The browns, though, came after the greens, when I realized I’d overdone it on the green.
What a wonderful idea! Thank you for the inspiration.
I would like to make a map of the city I grew up in to remember it since I no longer live there.
Love this idea!! I would want to make one of the town my summer cottage is in! There are so many memories there that I’d want to put on paper.
What a beautiful idea! I think it would be fun to make a map of the town we moved away from, with places like our church and favorite park, to help my kids remember it.
I want to make an illustrated map of my favorite vacation spot. The map would begin as a sketchbook piece, but if successful, would be displayed in my home.