The Earth in the palm of your hand
“A map says to you…Read me carefully, follow me closely, doubt me not. I am the Earth in the palm of your hand.” So wrote Beryl Markham (1902-1986), the first person to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic from Britain to North America in 1936. She wrote about her adventures in her memoir, West with the Night. I love the perspective that sketching a map can give you. It is a wonderful way to learn about the places you visit and to record your experience.
Teaching a class this week on how to make a vacation map gave me a chance to revisit Cabrillo National Monument near San Diego. We enjoyed fantastic tide pooling there two years ago, but I did not make a map at the time. Creating one now makes that adventure feel more complete: I have a piece of southern California in the palm of my hand.
Drawn In 
Thank you Jean for your Earth in the palm of your hand quote . I often have had sketchers do this as part of my trips. It took me back to Greece and Cuba trips. My friend Carolyn Doutre traveled with you to Portugal and had a wonderful time with you. Cheers from Norwich CT where I continue to do art and feel very lucky.Off to an ice and biddeford protest this morning. I must go make my sign. Nina Barclay
Hi Nina— How nice to hear from you and make the Carolyn connection. I’m glad you are still traveling and sketching. Use the quote in future classes! Life is good here in NY.
Jean! You’ve always inspired me to include maps with my nature sketches, especially when I’ve “misplaced” this wonderful advice deep in the folds of my memories. This map with the landscape painting goes well beyond inspiration ….. adding the landscape view is pure genius!
….. love the presentation, composition, color choices, and the page of beautiful tide pool goodies! Thanks so much for sharing, and have a fun class!
Get mapping! I was pleased with the color palette here— just a few primaries carried through both map and landscape. Thanks for your post on finches. We’ve had several broods this year with lots of young visiting our feeders.
I’ve placed a big “Get Mapping” sign in my studio!
So happy you enjoyed the finches post ….. not surprised to hear you’re enjoying boisterous (and hungry) brood babes! They are so much fun. Spent this morning observing a gorgeous lesser goldfinch pair snacking on my native sunflower seeds, and flocks of bushtits gobbling ants on the flowers. Love this time of year! Enjoy your weekend.
oh!!! What a marvelous compass rose ….. the center is so much fun!
I enjoyed your wonderful thoughts about maps and how important Journaling a travel vacation map can be. Thank you for sharing the amazing story of the woman who was first to fly solo over the Atlantic in what I imagine was such a precarious adventure!
Ooooooh this would’ve been another great class to take. I’ll need to keep my eyes peeled for the next time you offer it! 💕
Is that a nudibranch in the compase rose? What a wonderful detail!
how do I paint a map without an aerial view? I love your maps & have always wanted to draw one in watercolor.
Hi Kathy- Sorry to take so long to respond! I use Google Maps to get an aerial view and zoom in to the scale I want. They I sketch it freehand. It’s a game changer for sketching maps.