When you see a map you do not usually think of it as artwork. That is not the case with the creations of one Central Texas man who is using his unique talent to bring Texas history to life.
For 39-year-old Chris Smith, the sound of creativity is measured one tap at a time.
“The pen and ink, the stipple technique takes countless hours. It's just a tedious process," Smith said. “Even the lettering is all done by hand.”
Smith makes maps, and they are anything but ordinary. His hand-drawn creations combine his passion for history, geography, and art. The detail is staggering.
Smith says the reaction from those who see his maps up close is always the same.
“They're blown away when they see it in person. They're like, 'You do it by hand? That's crazy. Why do you do this? Are you crazy?'” he said.
Smith lost his job in the publishing field five years ago. That is when he decided to map out his future and create his art full time. An extra bedroom in his house is now headquarters for Smith Map Studio.
“It took three attempts before I was pleased with the first map,” Smith said. “It didn't happen overnight, that's for sure.”
Smith's first piece was a Republic of Texas map. The next project was a series of maps marking Texas battlefields.
“My newest one is the ranger badges,” Smith said. “I've got the flags of Texas, and several battle flags. Mission trail over there, San Antonio, and of course the Alamo.”
Smith sells his creations to art lovers, collectors, and history buffs. Originals sell for hundreds of dollars.
It can take up to two years to finish a piece. For the past eight months, Smith has been working on a new project that reaches beyond Texas borders -- a Civil War map.
With each tap of his pen, Smith continues to map out his passions and hopes his works about the past will make his future a bright one.
Fore more information about Smith Map Studio click here.
