Map Art Lab: 52 Exciting Art Explorations in Mapmaking, Imagination, and Travel

by Jill K. Berry, Linden McNeilly

Travel through the exciting world of cartography with Map Art Lab. This fun and creative book features 52 map-related activities set into weekly exercises, beginning with legends and lines, moving through types and styles, and then creating personalized maps that allow you to journey to new worlds. Authors Jill K. Berry and Linden McNeilly guide readers through useful concepts while exploring colorful, eye-catching graphics. The labs can be used as singular projects or to build up to a year of hands-on creative experiences. Map Art Lab is the perfect book for map lovers, creative/DIY-inspired, designers. Artists of all ages and experience levels can use this book to explore enjoyable and engaging exercises. Everyone loves maps. And what's not to love? They are beautiful and fascinating, they teach you things, they show you where you are, places you long to go, and places you dare to imagine.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Maps, Crafts, Geography, How To, Reference

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible selection of varied and inspiring projects in this book. Some are not my thing but there's enough here to keep me dipping into it for a good while to come.

[Lio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend gave me this a few years ago now as a birthday present. I've flipped through it a hundred times or something (because seriously, this is the most beautiful book about maps I've ever seen) but I've only really sat down and read the actual words now. The advice is as great as the pictures, and it wants me to go out and buy tissue paper, dyes, and PVA glue in good old Art-Attack style. The projects look like great fun and really easy to have a go at whether or not you're an artist. The information is detailed and the right kind of easy to digest, and gives me a desire to look up all these featured artists and techniques and historical things about maps. It's fantastic and I really can't wait to have a go at making some maps having a go at some of these ideas and projects. Best book ever for a wannabe-cartographer! Thank you!

[patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one is crafty, imaginative and loves maps this book is for you. History tidbits, handy reference and resources links included.

Did you know that one of the first commercial board games made in America (1843) was The Mansion of Happiness? On it you pursue morality and try to avoid vices. Loved seeing a photo of the board with old-timey lettering and graphics. This book is chock full of historical images.

I cannot imagine the time it took to put this book together. There is something for everyone here.

[Jen Potter · Rating 4 out of 5]

For awhile now, I've had a map project in mind, but no idea where to start. This book not only gave me ideas for that project, but inspired me to tackle a few others that would have never occurred to me.

The labs are well written and all seem doable. Even if you are not a trained artist. The sidebars with historical and other tidbits are interesting. The artist profiles are inspiring. And the list of resources is great. (Unfortunately, at least one of the URLs is out-of-date (I've not tried them all), but that's always going to be a problem with the internet. So, a forgivable issue.)

Many of the labs would be fun for kids and adults alike.

[Tracee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. Very creative. It helps if you love the idea of representing info in a map-like-form

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved! Definitely need to buy my own copy because the library copy is just bristling with "try this" bookmarks.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love looking at maps--both the formal, official types and the illustrated, personal types. Picking this book up was a no-brainer. It's a delightful, colorful, project-a-week-for-a-year book if you are a maker, and if you are a reader, it is a visual delight with information about the different projects, highlighted artists, and the occasional quote. There are also step-by-step guidelines that appear easy to follow.

This book will appeal to anyone who is interested in maps, collage, storytelling with maps, art projects for groups, art projects for themselves, and fans of illustrated journals.

[Mona Cook-Haught · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I have always loved endpaper maps in books and was interested in making one of my own in an altered book I am creating. Map Art has a nice mix of practical and artistic map making assignments. I especially enjoyed the history tidbit sections. I definitely learned some items that I want to include in my map and the history behind them. Lots of great ideas for teachers to use.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of ideas that you can take and run with in any direction you want. If you have some prior art experience, the ideas are easy enough to follow without detailed step-by-step. There are directions, but more overview than every-eyelash-on-the-fairy. Good for inspiration, too.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the fantastic “Lab” series and this Map Art Lab addition to the series is no exception. Included are 52 lessons with art projects featuring maps. Fabulous ideas for artists or any adult working with children.
Highly recommended.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many great ideas here -- from literal maps to more figurative ones (a friendship map, map of you & me) to things that can be made with maps. Plus map basics -- like a compass rose, legends, cartouches, and artistic elements, like decorative borders and even sea monsters.

Start with Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney for the youngest kids . . . and then have a whole map program.

Lots of great ideas for all ages (plenty for adults -- not necessarily a kids book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of great projects in here .. some for personal exploration, some for group exploration (which were neat) and a lot of great things for kids. I would have LOVED to have a book like this when I was a tween or nerdly teen. Brings back shades of my adventures in D&D map making. The ideas in here would have added a whole new dimension.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Map love, inspiration !! I can hardly wait to incorporate maps into my art work., I have always loved maps!! Ask me how to get to a place and I will draw you a map,,
A great resource for teachers and artists. Visual entertainment!

[Brigette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creative ideas! I've had several ideas for some map/art/memorabilia projects brewing for a long time & this book has given me some more to think about. I like how the author's bring out maps' artistic & storytelling qualities.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful world of maps!

I was so inspired by this book. I can't wait to try my hand at map art. So many different ideas, where to begin? I will go back to this book for reference many times in the future.

[Amoreena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had really high hopes for this book and when I finally got it, I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be...There are a couple of good starter ideas but not a lot I would incorporate into my own art or use in my classroom. My expectations might have been too high?

[Betsy Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice pictures and examples. Plenty of interesting ways to make maps. The author has a cheery and engaging way of writing.

In spite of that, it still wasn't exactly what I was looking for. Maybe I'll have to write that book myself.

[Terrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some fun ideas here if you like working or making/drawing/creating maps. I like all the Lab books.....

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had time to do some of these amazing looking projects. Instead I'm content to look through and enjoy the creativity.