I’m a map artist, making custom, unique imagery for print or pixel, usually delivered as a PDF. I specialize in maps for publications, locations, and worldbuilding. I also make my own map art projects. Check out a few examples of each below.
Keirtography for publications helps authors convey their stories or articles with a visually compelling, easy-to-understand reference map graphic.
I have decades of publication layout design experience (magazines, annual reports, research journals, self-published novels, and more), so I understand how these image assets will be used, either by the author themselves, their layout designer, or their print vendor—and I can optimize these maps for any physical or digital format.
Below are three recent examples of my map illustration for publications, as well as a fourth that’s quite old but was an important professional milestone for me.
I’m stretching the word “location” here to mean several different things, from wayfinding at campuses, facilities, and events to promotion and education by nonprofits and neighborhood associations. Maps for any of these purposes must be intuitive and accessible reference tools, created to help users find out what they need to know and get where they need to go as quickly and easily as possible. I love to create stylish and beautiful digital map illustrations—branded to match a client’s visual identity guidelines—that invite viewers to visit and experience the places those maps depict.
Below are examples for nonprofit associations (used in general branding, event collateral, and fundraising support campaigns), county fairgrounds (event promotion and wayfinding), college campuses (used as both online reference and physical wayfinding), and local commercial promotion (a realty welcome package).
I love helping authors and game designers bring their imaginations to life with compelling creative cartography. The mutual inspiration loop that creates is infectious and wonderful.
I’ve been smitten with fantasy maps since childhood, whether hand-drawn from classic sword and sorcery and historical fiction novels or equally-classic 8-bit home video game digital overworlds. Taking the next step to create my own (with a unique process) and help others do the same has been some of the most fulfilling creative work I’ve ever done.
Below are examples of map illustration for worldbuilding which are actually collections of many maps—posters, sourcebooks, and gazetteers—created for both print and digital formats.
In the past decade I’ve explored making visual map art inspired by both real-world cartography and digitally-distorted programming effects, creating found-texture pieces, mixed-media pieces, even hand-drawn doodles—all enhanced by smartphone or laptop design tools used in ways they weren’t intended to be used—and releasing them serially on social media.
Whether reacting to dire global news, keeping my sketching skills sharp, or achieving a major mental creative breakthrough that cascaded into myriad future projects—both paid and passion—creating these pieces helped me set the stage for what Keirtography has become today.
Below are pieces from four separate social media series, collected on this site to remove them from social media platforms and keep better control of my own work.
