Finding Cartographic Inspiration

A matte-white painted tin ceiling tile
One of the painted tin ceiling tiles at Soapy Gnome

Earlier, I was working in the upstairs loft at Soapy Gnome, my spouse’s retail store. In a moment of contemplation, I looked up and saw the above tile. My first thought was Now that would be a cool campaign map!

With mind adrift, I surveyed the other tiles within line of sight. Seafaring adventures, ports of call, land of lakes, the pocked crater, commerce, and trade. Small river craft and nimble vessels connecting the archipelagos. A diaspora of language.

I’m looking at coast lines. No real consideration, yet, of rivers nor mountains.