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“All mapmakers choose what to include as well as what to leave out — and accordingly, a map is a reflection of its maker and how it will be used. Santa Cruz artist Kirby Scudder created a poster of Santa Cruz that included only the features he found most emblematic of the city. To create large Regional maps, he uses Google Earth for research and Photoshop with a Wacom tablet to painstakingly draw people, vehicles, buildings, shadows, land and water features from an angled aerial perspective. He takes great liberties with spatial accuracy — bending and foreshortening land masses, selectively showing only the resonant landmarks, streets and buildings he believes are the essence of “The Cruz.” Santa Cruz Sentinel

25 years illustrating California

I have been lucky enough over the last 25 years to travel throughout this amazing state as an artist and able to create illustrative tributes to California’s great Regions. These travels have allowed me to meet thousands of amazing people who are the guardians to these great areas. As a result, I was afforded the opportunity to spend a year traveling the State creating a documentary about California. Today I continue to illustrate the State’s fascinating Regions sharing with broader and broader audiences.

New Projections Podcast

Interview Kirby Scudder – A Unique View for Regions

Drawing on a whimsical approach to depicting areas, Kirby Scudder has tapped into a greater depth and continues the tradition of the American Birds Eye View map. Here we chat with him about his early work for the Tech Regions around Boston with “Route 128” as well as his early Silicon Valley. Visit him at http://www.kirbyscudder.com New Projections

Illustrating California’s diverse Regions

How these illustrations are made

Enthusiastic audiences at exhibits throughout California

My 2011 Documentary “Inspired by California”

Premiering at the Santa Cruz Film Festival, I spent a year traveling throughout California using 5 different film crews and interviewing 250 people about what inspired them about this great state.