How a Cartographer Drew a Huge, Freehand Map of North America
North America has practically 10 million sq. miles of prairies, mountain ranges, forests, taigas, and deserts, rimmed by practically 40,000 miles of convoluted shoreline. It’s large and energetic, with extra element than most can think about, a lot much less decide to paper. However for 4 years and 9 months—averaging greater than 5,000 sq. miles per day—Melbourne-based Anton Thomas drew North America by hand, utilizing a pen and about 24 coloured pencils. His ultimate product, accomplished in February 2019 and spanning 20 sq. ft, has utterly reshaped Thomas’s life.
For Thomas, now—for the primary time in his life—a contract cartographer, who excursions the world exhibiting the North America map, geography is a little bit of a homecoming. He had begun drawing maps for enjoyable as a toddler, after which took a decade-plus hiatus from it. He started sketching once more whereas residing in Montreal in 2012—on his fridge. The outcome was an in depth predecessor to his new map, which is pictorial, illustrated with all kinds of landmarks, fauna, and flights of fancy.
From the Arctic reaches of Nunavut’s Ellesmere Island (that includes a musk ox) to the tropical forests of Mexico’s Yucatán (with a toucan), the map is a shocking reminder of what might be achieved with a bit of little bit of talent, lots of creativeness, and much more onerous work.
Atlas Obscura spoke with Thomas concerning the newest work, prints of which shall be on sale in January 2020.
Let’s begin with the fridge. Why did you begin drawing a map in your fridge?
I used to be working as a prepare dinner within the outdated port of Montreal. And in traditional Montreal style, we had littered the condominium with issues we discovered on the facet of the highway. And one was this large fridge. It had all these rusty, brown stains on it. My housemate Douglas, from Zimbabwe, had been urging me to attract him one thing as a memento, since he knew I used to be going to return to New Zealand. He had painted the fridge with white home paint to cowl up the stains and I assumed, “What concerning the fridge?”
The fridge was in use, so it was stuffed with meals and the door would should be opened. I’d be sitting there, drawing on the fridge—although most of it was actually on the freezer, not the fridge. And the sink was subsequent to the fridge, so water would splash on it and I’d have to color over the streaks and redraw. That wasn’t precisely simple. In any respect.
I began with British Columbia, and once I acquired to Vancouver, I assumed, “Wow, it will be fairly cool to attract the Vancouver skyline,” not likely eager about the precedent you set by drawing one skyline. After which I acquired to Seattle, and Portland, and San Francisco, and onward and onward.
How does mapmaking form your worldview?
There are two facets to all the pieces I’m doing. It’s half technical execution and half analysis. It’s not an actual break up, it’s intertwined. The rationale the map works is as a result of the world is so attention-grabbing. I’m simply attempting to take the true content material I discover on this planet and make it look good.
By way of an Australasia map I drew between the North America maps, particularly with Australia and New Zealand, I used to be having to consider my actuality and my very own expertise in life and the place I’m from. Going to North America after drawing my very own a part of the world, it was much less summary. It’s essential draw locations with respect and endurance. It’s a must to all the time do not forget that it’s the true world that you just’re representing, and which means actual folks, and locations which might be part of who we’re.
The map has a lot element, however how did you resolve what to incorporate and what to go away off?
The whole lot south of populated Canada, my metric was not less than 100,000 folks in a metropolitan statistical space. The whole lot above that may be a entire completely different sport, since you don’t have that many individuals. The Canadian Arctic, Greenland, and Alaska. The metrics are good for me as a result of they break up sure hubs if there’s sufficient geographic area between them. The distinction is like how Manhattan dominates Jersey Metropolis or Yonkers.
I’m self-taught. I haven’t had cartography or artwork coaching. It’s been a means of simply figuring it out as you go, and taking actual inventory of individuals’s suggestions. That suggestions informs your imaginative and prescient, your geographic imaginative and prescient. If a neighborhood tells you what you bought proper or improper about their state, it tells you much more about what you bought proper or improper than what you get from Google Avenue View.
Have you ever gotten any destructive suggestions?
One of many first instances I revealed my map on-line was the subreddit r/MapPorn. It was a extremely horrible image, really, nevertheless it was a part of the South and it had Texas in it, and Louisiana and Arksansas. I drew Dallas, however not Dallas–Fort Value. The metroplex is a twin-city dynamic. The response to that was savage. I keep in mind distinctly being referred to as a idiot. And I used to be like, “Okay, this isn’t your common trolling.”
However you’re simply awash in info, so you must create guidelines across the map. It’s necessary to have these pointers, however you must have some give in it as effectively. Within the years since I drew the map, I am going over it on a regular basis. However on the time—I used to be in Melbourne drawing this—I used to be simply taking a look at a listing of cities. And it was Dallas: test.
There are such a lot of illustrations past geographical locations. How did you resolve what to place the place?
I feel the animals assist folks interact with the map. They’re residents of the land. A longhorn is de facto going that can assist you in Texas. A grizzly bear is nice in western Montana. However generally I’ll simply have a little bit of area, and put some wildlife there, so I’ve a skunk in Kansas, which doesn’t actually endear me to folks in that state. They take it alright, however in america, you must be a bit of cautious.
And once I put this raccoon in Arkansas—barely extra common than a skunk—I acquired this e-mail from a man who stated, “I used to be bought the second I noticed that raccoon in Gillett, Arkansas, to commemorate our annual raccoon competition.” However I used to be like, “What the hell are you speaking about?”
However it’s not simply the animals or the cities. Content material all throughout the map says issues about agriculture, tradition, historical past. I attempt to be apolitical as potential within the issues I signify, nevertheless it’s a bit of onerous. Since you’re attempting to inform the story of place, and locations are difficult. They present up in statues, and landmarks, and the state flags.
I feel it helps that I’m a Kiwi, I’m not American, however I’ve a love for the continent broadly.
What influence did the map have in your life?
From once I made the fridge map in 2012 by way of the primary yr of the large one, I used to be misplaced. I used to be actually on the highway, Kerouac-style. I used to be cooking, I had ambition and aspiration, however I wasn’t in a superb place in my life.
The ray of sunshine by way of all of it was these pictorial maps. Once I began the North America map I used to be directionless, and I wanted a map.
You have to know rather a lot about North America now. The place do you most need to go to?
Out of the entire continent, southern Utah. It’s a preferred place to go, however I haven’t made it but. It seems completely, out-of-this-world stunning. There’s Grand Staircase, Arches, Bryce Canyon. Once I was drawing it I used to be like, “Get out of right here. That is so rattling stunning.” Coming from the South Island of New Zealand, now we have some fairly nice surroundings. However southern Utah seems supernatural.
Additionally Baffin Island in Greenland. So few folks have been to that a part of the world. And Cuba. I need to go to Cuba so badly. I used to be listening to Cuban music as I drew Cuba. It’s identical to once I was drawing the Arctic, I used to be listening to Inuit throat singing. And I put my air con as chilly as I may in my home, simply attempting to think about darkish winters and snow below my ft. Does this really influence what I’m doing? Perhaps. However now I’m increasing my music style, and for those who’re extra engaged with the duty at hand, there’ll be no speeding.
This interview has been edited and condensed.