Monster Manual IV Maps

[mikeschley]

how do you get involved in designing maps for the major companies? it would be fun to do it, and that is one of my aspirations. any advice would be great. thanks

My experience was fortunate but rather untraditional. I was working over at Paizo doing design and art direction for Dungeon Magazine and got to know Rob Lazarreti fairly well since he was working on a number of cartography projects for me. He was running the in-house cartography department over at Wizards at the time and I sent him some of my samples to see if he would be interested in signing me for a freelance job or two. I was feeling a little clausterphobic about being boxed in as a manager of artists and not having the chance to develop my own work. Luckily he had a large project that needed to be done fast and I happened to be in the right place at the right time.

As for the typical route, most publishers websites have guidelines for contacting art directors with new submissions. I'd suggest getting a strong portfolio of work together and posting it to a website (preferably your own) that you can direct potential clients to via email or forums. However you get the work in front of the client, the most important thing is that you present a quality portfolio and project an air of professionalism that tells them that your going to make your deadlines and not require too much direction or hand holding. Also, you want to present a style that is unique and inspiring. Try to catch the art directors eye immediately since there's alot of competition out there.

Love to see if you have any tutorials posted

I'd definitely enjoy putting together some tutorials, I just have to find the time. I'll probably post something to the website I'm working on. I'm currently teaching myself Dreamweaver and have registered mikeschley.com. It's going to take me a few weeks to get it up and running though since I've got quite a bit of work on my plate.

Mike

 

[Oscaron]

I'd definitely enjoy putting together some tutorials, I just have to find the time. I'll probably post something to the website I'm working on. I'm currently teaching myself Dreamweaver and have registered mikeschley.com. It's going to take me a few weeks to get it up and running though since I've got quite a bit of work on my plate.
Mike

Well, let us know if you need any help or questions answered. A fair bit of us, including myself, have some web experience to share.

I,for one, wouldn't have any problem helping out with an answer or two.

BTW, notice you are using Yahoo to host. Should you ever want to do anything with MySQL, databases, forums or anything, let me know. I can recommend a good host.

Osc

 

[RangerWickett]

New personal goal: Get an adventure published by WotC or Paizo, so Mike can map it.

What other projects have you worked on?

 

[pogre]

These are outstanding maps. Great job!

 

[mikeschley]

Well, let us know if you need any help or questions answered. A fair bit of us, including myself, have some web experience to share.

Thanks! I just might take you up on that.

What other projects have you worked on?

Starting from the most recently published; Monster Manual IV, Players Handbook II, Tome of Magic, Red Hand of Doom, Races of the Dragon, Magic of Incarnum, Weapons of Legacy, and numerous small magazine and Map a Week projects. Two of which were the updated Tomb of Horrors and White Plume Mountain adventures.

Project which I've worked on but that have yet to hit the shelves (That I can talk about) are; Dragon Magic, Complete Mage, Cityscape, Scourge of the Howling Horde, Fiendish Codex II, Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde, Complete Scoundrel, Dungeonscape, Barrow of the Forgotten King, and Expedition to the Demonweb Pits.

Hope that's comprehensive enough for ya.

Mike

 

[Odhanan]

Absolutely awesome. What I love the most about your maps: your textures, your cave walls (with cool cracks and lightly colored edges that make them stand out). That's some darn good work, Mike.

Do you have a website/email where you can be contacted?