Illustrated Map Of Hong Kong

Hey guys! I’ve been super busy with new commissions recently, including a visual identity for National Museums Liverpool, and a creative collaboration of Animal Farm. If you want to take a look, they are all on my illustration portfolio.

Today though I want to talk about my new illustrated map of Hong Kong!

Illustrated maps are a big part of my illustration identity, and I love creating them. I seem to remember doing a map project at University a few years ago, where my addiction started! I love researching, capturing a place in one image, and discovering new places to travel! (Bolstering my portfolio is also an added benefit too)!

I’ve illustrated the likes of San Francisco, Berlin to Singapore illustrated maps, some of them I’ve been lucky enough to visit. I choose Hong Kong as I have never been there, and thought this was a great chance to learn more about this great city!

Beginning with researching, I discovered the top tourist attractions of the city. From Sky100, Victoria Peak to Mong Kok, I developed an understanding of the best places in Hong Kong. From here I drew thumbnails of compositions and how the illustrated map might look.

This is an ideal opportunity for me to see what works and what doesn’t. Moving things around until I’m happy with how they look, and how they interact with other landmarks. This is the most important stage for me, as if I don’t plan, I plan to fail! I need to know exactly what my illustration will look like in my sketchbook before sitting down to paint.

I don’t generally look at the colours that I’m going to use beforehand, and go for it when I sit down to paint. You might think this is reckless, but it keeps me free and makes me think about the colours that I’m going to use. I use a limited colour palette with my illustrated maps, as it keeps my colours focused and refined.

Gouache forms the majority of an illustration, using watercolour to set a base. This is then scanned to edit, which usually takes the longest. As I correct mistakes and colours, and make my illustrations more pleasing on the eye.

What I’m left with is what you can see below. I have also shown my sketchbook and how the composition developed below, alongside the final illustrated map.

I hope you enjoy this illustrated map of Hong Kong, produced with watercolour, gouache and digital. Let me know what you think of it by connecting with me at the links below, or visit my illustration portfolio to see more!

Many thanks for listening and visiting my news page today. You can follow what I’m up to on my Twitter, Facebook or Google + pages, I’ll really appreciate it if you do, and don’t be afraid to say hi to me! Many thanks again, and have a great day!