The Essential Geography of Oregon
The Essential Geography of Oregon is the first map to illustrate the basic geography - land, water and human footprint - of an American state. This is also the first map to illustrate an American state with the combination of scientific accuracy and artistic expression that is standard in disciplines such as botanical illustration.
This is the first map from which a reader can form coherent mental images of a state's basic geographic character and beauty. Oregon's diversity makes it an ideal subject with which to demonstrate this new standard of geographic communication, a standard that needs to become the norm if geographic awareness stands a chance to become part of popular American culture.
Several years of experimentation with art maps taught me ways to get shaded relief to reveal more about the land. A new understanding of bright color vs. dark color helped me build in higher levels of visual contrast. And a new, for me anyway, discovery that the greatest visual harmony is found where graphic values differ by factors of two helped guide my orchestration of visual hierarchy. I feel this is my best work to date.
Printed with the latest Epson archival technology, the image on all versions The Essential Geography of Oregon is vibrant and sharp. Lightly-printed adjacent states print cleanly, as do the deep shadows of the Cascade Range. This allowed me to use a broader range of light than I had been able to use before.
-Dave
The Essential Geography of Oregon is the first map to illustrate the basic geography - land, water and human footprint - of an American state. This is also the first map to illustrate an American state with the combination of scientific accuracy and artistic expression that is standard in disciplines such as botanical illustration.
This is the first map from which a reader can form coherent mental images of a state's basic geographic character and beauty. Oregon's diversity makes it an ideal subject with which to demonstrate this new standard of geographic communication, a standard that needs to become the norm if geographic awareness stands a chance to become part of popular American culture.
Several years of experimentation with art maps taught me ways to get shaded relief to reveal more about the land. A new understanding of bright color vs. dark color helped me build in higher levels of visual contrast. And a new, for me anyway, discovery that the greatest visual harmony is found where graphic values differ by factors of two helped guide my orchestration of visual hierarchy. I feel this is my best work to date.
Printed with the latest Epson archival technology, the image on all versions The Essential Geography of Oregon is vibrant and sharp. Lightly-printed adjacent states print cleanly, as do the deep shadows of the Cascade Range. This allowed me to use a broader range of light than I had been able to use before.
-Dave
