Geographical Map (Assignment #2)

For the second assignment, I chose to create a geographical map.  I am fascinated by cartography and have always enjoyed looking at old maps; as such, I tried to infuse mine with an old-world aesthetic.  Contributing to this are the texts I utilized for the neighboring states, as well as the classic compass rose, which is difficult to see here.  I chose New Jersey because it is my home state and I am very familiar with many parts of it; I also wanted to portray it in a more positive light that it usually is in the media.  Part of my goal was to show parts which are usually ignored in popular culture (for example, the pine barrens: the center of southern NJ is home to over 8 million acres of forest and plenty of wildlife.  Further, many of the northern/northwestern parts of the state are exceptionally scenic).

What I depicted on the map revolves mostly around those things with which I am most familiar.  I gave my hometown, Columbus, distinction with a representation of my house.  The capital city of Trenton, about 20 miles north of home, is set apart with a large star.  I also included the town where I spent much of my high school career with family and friends, Moorestown, and the place I first learned to sail, Riverton.  I spend a lot of time at the beach, and was sure to make mention of the two beaches I frequent: Cape May and Long Beach Island.  The yellow dotted line shows the path I took for most of this summer.  During the week, I interned at one of the northernmost points in the state, Montvale.  During my time here, most of the parties took place in nearby Hoboken, a town reminiscent of Brooklyn, located directly outside of New York City.  On the way home for the weekend, I would often stop in Princeton and hang out with a few friends who worked in the area.  Finally, after a visit to LBI, I would return home.

Regarding color, I wanted to draw the eye directly to the central state.  I accomplished this by leaving the central state white and coloring the surrounding ones in warm muted tones.  For the water, I drew a repeating wave pattern that serves to fill the empty space nicely.