There are a lot of maps on the market that depict Montana, Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, but none are quite like the ones being produced by Chris and Greg Robitaille of Xplorer Maps.
The brothers have created a limited edition artistic map of Flathead Lake that is being sold to raise money for the University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station in Yellow Bay. According to research scientist Tom Bansak, the project will raise $20,000, which will be used to support continued water-quality research on the lake.
“We consider ourselves sentinels of the lake,” Bansak said. “I think the map is beautiful and it’s a great fundraising opportunity.”
The map took Chris nearly a month to draw and paint and 300 limited-edition, signed and numbered prints are being sold for $300. Everything on the map is done by hand and is the most recent project completed by the brothers. Xplorer Maps made its first Montana map in 2005 and in 2010 the brothers decided to make it a business, based in Missoula. Since then, the company has created maps of Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Chris draws the maps and Greg runs the business.
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courtesy of explorer maps | Click Map to Enlarge |
“It’s gotten crazy fun in the last six months and people are really getting into it,” Greg said.
Greg said Xplorer Maps works to partner with conservation and community groups and the Flathead Lake Biological Station project is a perfect example of that. Both the biological station and the nonprofit Flathead Lakers provided information to the mapmakers.
The Flathead Lake map was painted on canvas and from it high-quality Giclee prints were made. The maps are printed with archival ink that is supposed to last two centuries. As with all of Xplorer’s maps, Chris uses an antique style that resembles old nautical maps.
“It just pays homage to the style of the original cartographers,” Greg said.
Time and research are just two of the challenges when creating artistic maps. But perhaps the biggest issue facing Xplorer Maps is while Greg is in Missoula Chris is based in the Middle East. The brothers communicate via email and Skype.
Chris, who also paints landscapes, has lived in China, Africa and now the United Arab Emirates. While he was in Kenya, he began making maps in his signature antique style.
“I take out my paints and set up shop wherever I am,” he said.
Having access to as much information as possible is critical for Chris and Greg does much of the research. One of the keys to making a good map is balancing the information and the art. A map that’s too cluttered just looks bad, Greg said. Chris’ own trips to Montana and the Flathead area have helped in this most recent project.
“I have a good feel for Flathead Lake and Montana, but I don’t profess to know it as well (as others),” Chris said. “But I’ve been there and I love it.”
Xplorer Maps is now working on other projects, including an artistic map of the University of Montana campus, which will be used as a fundraising piece for the university’s alumni association. Greg credits the maps’ popularity to the subjects depicted and Chris’ artistic talent.
“That in and of itself makes the maps really interesting, because there’s nothing else like it on the market,” Greg said.
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courtesy of xplorer maps | Click Map to Enlarge |
The maps are now on sale at www.xplorermaps.com. Also, people will have a chance to bid on the original art in an online auction that ends Sept. 4. Half of the money made in the auction will be donated to the Flathead Lakers and the biological station.
For more information about the programs the fundraiser will support, visit www.umt.edu/flbs or www.flatheadlakers.org.