The owners of a ranch used a hand drawn map to show visitors (for various reasons) how to find the right pastures, and they decided that a pretty map would better serve their purposes. They brought the hand drawn map along with a county map showing property lines and buildings.
Think, think, think. How do I do this? I started by tracing the country map and transferring it to a large sheet of drawing paper. Then we went over it together to determine property lines, fence lines, troughs, internal roads, gates, and to list what else would be helpful to add.
When all those things were figured out, the lanes were named, the pastures were numbered, and all the gates and water troughs were located, I walked the property a second time for a sense of what belonged in the margins to prettify the map.
When all the drawings were in place, I scanned it in 2 parts, because OF COURSE it was too big for my flatbed scanner. Then hours and hours using Photoshop began. (I seriously underbid this job. . . so what’s new?) When it seemed finished, I emailed the owners to see how it would print for them, since they often need to hand one to a visitor. (Duh. That’s why they had me do this job.)
The owners thought it was great, but needed to make a few corrections and changes
We decided that the heron looked weird, the word “faucet” on the legend needed to be replaced with “trough”, a fence line was missing, the map and words needed to be darker without changing the drawings, and, get this, I drew the wrong horse at the bottom left corner.
What?? Seen one, seen ‘em all (and I think most yellow flowers and most babies look alike too.)
So with coaching from these horse experts, I turned Mr. White Nose into Hopper, a black horse (yes, I can tell the difference in horse colors, just not features).
There were many layers of tissue paper, sketches to figure out what might fit where, copies to correct, piles and piles of papers when the job was finished.
Here is the final map of the Bar-O Ranch. Really challenging job, very satisfying results, lots of new experience in problem solving and design that I probably won’t get another chance to use. However, if you know of anyone who wants a pretty map, I’m the one to call.
9 Comments
Wonderful job!!
Thanks, Kathy! I was surprised by how much fun this odd job was, but those customers are terrific to work with, which was a real bonus.
Now I would be proud to hand out this map to my visitors!
Sharon, do you need a map for your cabin?? Matches here, iron skillets there, broom over somewhere else. . .
What we have is a multi-page inventory list that, most likely, is outdated (“Where is the hacksaw?” “Oh, we gave that away in 1994.”).
What would be fun is to re-create the “road map” that showed items of interest along the road with the mile markers. I did one many years ago; MKPS expanded it into a tri-fold brochure. I wish I had it so I could copy or reprint it!
I did a drawing many years ago titled “Long and Winding Road”. Got it reproduced as 14×18” print, and included a guide that told of the places along the way. The Miner’s Tree and the over-the-road Cabin Cove sign are gone—prolly some other things too.
I’ll see if I can track down the original brochure–maybe MKPS has a copy. I would love to see yours, if you are willing to shoot me a copy.
I’m just annoyed that I can’t find MY version of it anywhere among my many MK documents. I can’t I believe I deleted it! Grrrrrr.
It turned out great! And yes- I’m sure you did underbid it with all those details!
Anne, underbidding is what I specialize in. And when I actually bid correctly, I feel guilty. (Know any good therapists who specialize in monetary confusion?)