While literally hundreds of books exist on the subject of "cartographic" maps, The Art of Illustrated Maps is the first book EVER to fully explore the world of conceptual, "imaginative" mapping. Author John Roman refers to illustrated maps as "the creative nonfiction of cartography," and his book reveals how and why the human mind instinctively recognizes and accepts the artistic license evoked by this unique art form. Drawing from numerous references, The Art of Illustrated Maps traces the 2000-year history of a specialized branch of illustration that historians claim to be "the oldest variety of primitive art." This book features the dynamic works of many professional map artists from around the world and documents the creative process as well as the inspirations behind contemporary, 21st-century illustrated maps.

The Art of MapIllustration combines practical instruction with inspirational art and photographs to both enliven and educate aspiring map artists.

The How To Draw series takes a highly visual and practical approach to drawing, featuring step-by-step instructions for each art project. This comprehensive drawing handbook covers all aspects of drawing a wide variety of different illustrated maps, from fantasy landscapes to modern metropolises, including essential concepts such as scale and composition.

In 2011, the brother-and-sister design duo Nate Padavick and Salli Swindell founded the website They Draw & Travel. Today it is the largest collection of online illustrated maps created by artists, illustrators and doodlers from around the world. This book is a selection of 100 illustrations of places in the United States envisioned by the artists who contribute to the vast and diverse creative community on They Draw & Travel. Including personal, practical and idiosyncratic perspectives on cities and towns-large and small-around the United States, the illustrated maps in this collection guide readers to the overlooked, forgotten and even underappreciated parts of American places, while celebrating the country's iconic cities. 100 Illustrated Maps of American Places is a uniquely personal means for exploring and learning about cities through illustrated narratives by contributing artists. For example, do you know where to go for a really great urban hike in Brooklyn? Do you know there are over 36 places to eat cashew chicken in the town of Springfield, Missouri? Or, how about all the fun things to do with kids in Los Angeles? A fantastic bike route in Vermont? Hotspots in Anchorage, Alaska? Experienced on the road or in the chair, 100 Illustrated Maps of American Places is an exciting way to get to know a place.

With wonderful examples and easy-to-follow instructions, this beautifully illustrated how-to book makes it simple and fun to create one-of-a-kind hand-drawn maps. Helpful templates, grids, and guidelines complement a detailed breakdown of essential cartographic elements and profiles of talented international map artists. From city maps and family trees to treasure maps, palmistry charts, platformgame maps, and more, the wide range of projects collected here will satisfy first-time cartographers as well as veteran mapmakers inspired by the popular map art trend.

The maps in this book were submitted to They Draw & Travel as entries in a 2019 contest called Mapping Special Places. This contest, sponsored by Stroly Inc., challenged artists around the world to create a map of a place that is very special to them. While over 300 maps were submitted to this contest, 100 of them appear in this book. They represent a global sample of the various special places chosen by 100 different artists. Some chose to illustrate their home town, while others picked a favorite vacation spot. Some maps tell a story, others provide fun itineraries, a few share insightful histories, and they all beautifully celebrate a place that is indeed very special.