Carmarthen Fans - Vector Landscape

**chrisjrichards** · 22 October 2016, 08:01 AM

I've wanted to create stylised vector landscapes for some time, but have only recently got what I had in my head out onto the page. This is the Carmarthen Fans in Wales - this particular place is called Llyn y Fan Fach. It took about 6 hours and I mostly used the shape tool.

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**iamtheblues** · 22 October 2016, 09:14 AM

That's impressive, Chris.
I just wonder if it's possible to achieve a similar result with a photo and Xara's Bitmap Tracer or similar application like Vector Magic.
Bob.

**pauland** · 22 October 2016, 09:56 AM

I really like what you've done. My wife was at Trinity College - many years ago!

It brings back memories. Thanks for posting it.

**chrisjrichards** · 22 October 2016, 03:27 PM

Thanks. I've tried the bitmap tracer before, but found it didn't quite do what I wanted to achieve. It gives a pleasing effect, but not always as stylized as I would like. I'm not sure about Vector Magic as I haven't used it.

Originally Posted by iamtheblues

That's impressive, Chris.
I just wonder if it's possible to achieve a similar result with a photo and Xara's Bitmap Tracer or similar application like Vector Magic.
Bob.

**chrisjrichards** · 22 October 2016, 03:28 PM

Thank you. Ah, Trinity St David's? I was born in Wales, but lived in Sussex most of my life. I relocated here last year and can safely say the scenery has got my creative juices flowing!

Originally Posted by iamtheblues

That's impressive, Chris.
I just wonder if it's possible to achieve a similar result with a photo and Xara's Bitmap Tracer or similar application like Vector Magic.
Bob.

**pauland** · 22 October 2016, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by chrisjrichards

Thank you. Ah, Trinity St David's? I was born in Wales, but lived in Sussex most of my life. I relocated here last year and can safely say the scenery has got my creative juices flowing!

Yes, Trinity St. Davids. A long time ago.

I think a human can always build these vector images to build an impression of a place - which is always better than a photo conversion.

Stick at it!

Paul

**Ron Duke** · 22 October 2016, 04:50 PM

Nicely done Chris. I like feeling of the "flow of the landscape".

**chrisjrichards** · 22 October 2016, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by pauland

Yes, Trinity St. Davids. A long time ago.

I think a human can always build these vector images to build an impression of a place - which is always better than a photo conversion.

Stick at it!

Paul

I agree, and as much as it kills my mouse-hand doing these, I like knowing it's an actual 'hand-crafted' piece as opposed to the result of a filter or plugin. I will stick at it. I have another piece that is nearly finished. Hopefully will post it soon.

Originally Posted by Ron Duke

Nicely done Chris. I like feeling of the "flow of the landscape".

Thanks, Ron. I really appreciate that comment as I was aiming for a flowing feeling. On my first pass, I used the shape painter and made it too busy and didn't like it. So second time round, I opted for less detail and more clean lines. It seems less is more with these images.

**Penny O'Rorke** · 23 October 2016, 03:17 PM

Beautiful, Chris. Reminds me of Paul Nash - there's an exhibition of his work opening this week at Tate Britain.

**chrisjrichards** · 23 October 2016, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Penny O'Rorke

Beautiful, Chris. Reminds me of Paul Nash - there's an exhibition of his work opening this week at Tate Britain.

Thank you. That's interesting. From what I can see on Google, his images convey the scars of war. I'm trying to convey the beauty of Wales with my vector images - but I do like to draw the old decaying, overgrown buildings in pen and ink!