Ernold Same by Grandpa Snail 

Grandpa Snail (known as James amongst gastropods) has sent over his incredibly detailed illustrated map of suburban London. Inspired by the Blur song of the same name, the map captures the mundanity of the city's samey suburbs.

"A familiar sight in suburban London."

Thanks Grandpa Snail! I guess today will always be tomorrow.

See more here: www.grandpasnail.com/comics.php

U.S.A Map by Gabriela Nicole Gonzalez

This wonderfully textured map of the U.S was sent over by Gabriela. Whilst creating the map, she realised there is much of her own country she is still yet to see...

"Since I was really little, I have been very into traveling, and my family would take me on big trips to Europe or South America, places far away. As I've gotten older, my love for traveling has not faded at all and I've saved up my money several times to go abroad exploring new places and new faces. But recently it has dawned on me that I have not traveled much in my own country, so I am making it a point to explore the U.S. and what it's all about soon in my future."

Thanks for getting in touch Gabriela!

See more of Gabriela's work here, and check out her cool portraits on her tumblr blog right here > fromgabriela.tumblr.com

Seaside Map by Lucy Davidson

Lucy Davidson (aka Peas and Needles) sent over her lovely image of where she wants to live; by the sea...

"I've always wanted to live by the seaside in a big tall building right on the coastline. Where you would have views of all the boats sailing past and people swimming in the sea. This is my dream and where I feel happiest. Minus the seagulls though please."

Thanks Lucy! Keep a look out for Lucy's website... www.peasandneedles.co.uk

The Village of Hartley by Kerry Hyndman

Kerry Hyndman has a large and impressive portfolio, and now it's just got even more impressive with this fantastic map of Hartley...

"This is where I grew up and where my parents still live. I didn't realise until I moved away how great it was to have friends and family living so close by. Even though when I was growing up it felt like everybody knew what I was up to! I've made it look at lot more picturesque that it actually is. But in my mind it's pretty idyllic!"

Thanks Kerry! Go have a look at more of her work here > www.kerryhyndman.co.uk and while your at it get yourself a lovely print from her shop at kerryhyndman.bigcartel.com

Where I Grew Up by Timothy Hunt

Tim got in touch via Twitter to contribute to the Maps project, and this is his awesome creation.

"The map is of the village where I grew up, the forest was very scary and there were a lot of strange stories about ghosts and all sorts of weird things.
I made up the lake, there wasn't one, but that is all that was missing. There were lots of open fields of grass and some filled with crops, getting chased by farmers was a regular occurrence."

Beautiful, simple and great colours; Nice work Tim!

Go have a look at Tim's other works at www.ficklefate.co.uk

Lighthouse by Ryan Chapman

Illustrator and artist Ryan Chapman has sent over this great map 

of where he belongs; on a luminous beacon by the sea...

"People say the Lighthouse keepers job is the loneliest job on earth, I however think it's ideal as you have the days to surf, paint, cook, fish and relax. Then at night you guide ships home while falling asleep to the sounds of the sea. And best of all; no neighbours."

Nice one Ryan! Now go check out www.ryan-chapman.com

Continuing from my last post, here's more of my favourite maps created by the students of the Maryland Institute of Art...
















Janna and the World of Wonderful Shoes by Janna Morton

Janna's colourful map of shoes...

"It is hard for me to be sure at this time in my life where I belong geographically and/or emotionally, but one thing I can be certain of is the fact that I belong in wonderful shoes! With an 11 wide shoe size, thick calves, a tiny budget, and a penchant for the bright and unusually obnoxious, I have a lot of difficulty finding agreeable footwear. Everything is either too tight or too loose or too boring or too sporty! In my dreams, however, I walk in forests of De Stijl flats, breakfast-themed high tops, and kitten heels (adorned with actual kittens!) and every shoe fits me better than Cinderella’s glass slipper."

Forest Memory Map by Meghan Walsh

I really love Meghan's delicate and detailed map of the forest behind her house...

"I have always felt most at home in the forest behind my house. It was always a place I could escape to during my childhood and the possibility of having a place where I could be alone and have adventures was very freeing for me. My dog would escape my house and I would always have to be the one to capture her, so I've mapped out the routes on which I've chased her. This map is meant to portray this forest as I remember it, so I have drawn different portions from different viewpoints to more accurately show how this place exists in my memory.

"Recurring Dream from my Childhood by Caleb Lin

Great underwater colours in Caleb's map...

"When I was in elementary school I had a recurring dream where I would be drowning and a lifeguard would come and rescue me. Once I learned how to swim in the 3rd Grade the dream altered so that the same lifeguard would be drowning, and I would rescue her.The more memorable part of this dream, however, was the fact that it was set on the rocky California coast, where I grew up. In this dream I had an underwater home carved right into the rock, and the entrance was hidden deep underwater and functioned like that of a beaver’s den. This dream was a favorite of mine because I guess it fulfilled fantasies of being a hero, having superhuman swimming ability, and having my own secret hiding place."

It's Really Frustrating by Sarah Straub

Sarah maps the process of making her map, and in turn creates a journey of frustration...

There comes a point in every semester where you are given an assignment that causes your brain to just cut its losses, power down and cut up the power cord. At the ripe old age of 22, I don't really "belong" anywhere geographically, but instead I belong to my mind and its twisted route of frustration. So with this particular task, I mapped out and listed some of the phrases that trampled up and down my cranium when I'm stuck. Hence, we have a map of frustration. And if this map was not frustrating enough, consider this: just prior to getting the title in, the file corrupted and I had to re-finish it, resurrecting it from its festering grave from a pdf.

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A big thanks to all the students who took part in the assignment and to Rebecca Bradley for helping the collaboration take place.

Keep an eye on all of the work created by the MICA illustration students by following their blog here: http://micamaps.blogspot.com/

Earlier this year, I worked with Rebecca Bradley at MICA in Baltimore on the Maps project for her illustration class.

Each of the students produced fantastic and original maps and I was totally blown away by the standard of the work.

Here's a selection of my favourites...

Icons of the American Outdoors by Mitchell Goodrich

Mitchell created this amazing map of the American outdoors. Being a bit partial to outdoor living myself, I was instantly attracted to the theme and drawing style of this map.

"It is not in the "Great American Outdoors," as a geographical location, that I find a sense of belonging; rather it is in the image of this imagined landscape. My comfort dwells in nostalgic associations, such as hot-dogs and hamburgers cooking atop a grill, as symbols of family vacation. This image is an attempt tocompile several vibrant icons representative of the American materialization of the outdoors. Exclusive of the real-life annoyances of actually inhabiting the "natural world" is the comfortingimage of the idealized American landscape."

Where I Belong in 10 Years by Jilly Yoffe

Jilly's map is one which imagines her future country retreat, complete with letterpress studio out the back!

"This map is the mental plan I have for my future home. Thinking of this place always makes me feel at peace. This imagined home is on a small farm with plenty of space for my dog to run, and in a house that has plenty of room for my favorite material things (books, records, art supplies). This place will be my sanctuary."

Sailing the Open Ocean on a Piece of Driftwood by Danie Drankwalter

I really liked Danie's map of a raft, which contains everything she needs to sail the world...

"Sailing the Open Ocean on a Piece of Driftwood. How great would that be? No obligations, just a fishing pole and a tent. I don’t even eat fish! My suitcase would be a large infinite magical suitcase in which Everything I Need would be among its contents, regardless of if I packed it. I could visit my friends all over and make new ones along the way! The garden would do wonderfully most of the year on the sunny seas, though upon entering colder climates a hoop-house can be erected. The watchtower is both for looking out for pirates (or friends) as well as reading in the sun."

Bel Air, Maryland Map by Kristin Nohe

Kristin's maps her hometown according to the places she's at the most...

"This is a map of my hometown, Bel Air, Maryland. I don't know that I belong here forever, but so far that is where I have spent the majority of my life and obviously have the most meaning to me. I haven't included everything in my town, but only the places that I frequent or have special meaning to me, and the roads that I take regularly. Important places on my map include my house, my boyfriend's house, Spenceola Antiques(my former place of work), and the parks that I frequent."

Map of a small section of the Internet by Aimee Fleck

Aimee has mapped the unmappable...

"My map is of part of the internet-- a "place" I spend a lot of time. I think everyone sees it somewhat differently-- I often picture it as a library, partially because of the overwhelming amount of knowledge and media you can find there, but also because I find libraries comfortable. It's a small section of the internet because I think that no matter how long you spend there, everyone kind of sees only their own corner of it: thus, a small section of the large "series of tubes" that some say make up the internet."

See more work from the class here: http://micamaps.blogspot.com/search/label/assignment%202

Mt Oliver by Richard Sanderson

The brilliant Mr.Richard Sanderson has contributed a map of where he belongs; on an arctic archipelagan outpost...

"This is a sort-of map of a ghost town, inspired by the recently abandoned Russian settlement of Pyramiden in Svalbard, Norway.

Mount Oliver was a mountain rich in natural resources, which led to the construction of mines, power stations and factories. That is until the fires started in the mines. They're still burning today."

Both a great map and great idea, thanks Richard! Be sure to give his portfolio a webhit at www.rjsanderson.co.uk

Birkenhead Map by James Clapham

Illustrator James Clapham has turned the area where he lives into a fabulous (if not lethal) hand drawn mythical fantasy...

"I wanted to not only illustrate my area, Wirral, but also the surrounding places; looking into bits of mythology and playing around with local landmarks."

Nice one James! See James's great portfolio here: cargocollective.com/jamesclapham

Living Out of a Bag by Tom Jackson

Tom Jackson is a 3rd year illustration student at Bucks University. Tom came across Maps whilst on a group visit to our studio (see here) and swiftly set about creating his own artwork for the project. Living Out of a Bag is Tom's brilliant illustration...

"It's a map of my backpack because I guess that's where I feel most comfortable, or atleaast have most fun, travelling around, living out of my backpack, great fun! "

Thanks Tom. See more of Mr. Jackson's portfolio here; http://cargocollective.com/tomjackson1.

If you're an illustration or design student who would like to be part of the project, send over your map!

Untitled by Åh

Åh are Swedish-Finnish design duo Johanna Lundberg and Elin Svensson, and this is their awesome contribution to the project!

"Our map is a journey starting in the Swedish suburb, through the Finnish forest, becoming Åh, and heading towards..."

Thanks Åh, great map!

See more of the talented duo's work over at www.ah-studio.com

Manhattan Map by Hye Su Lee

Illustrator Hye Su Lee splits her time between London, South Korea and New York and finds inspiration for her beautiful and vibrant map from the city streets of Manhattan...

"I am creating a visual autobiography based on city maps from where I have lived, and am currently living. I am getting inspired by people; anybody and everybody who I run into and New York is my current home. Thank you for those people on my map."

A great map! Thanks Hye Su!

Check out more of Hye Su's work right here: www.heyheysu.com