Halden Works

Field Notes on Maps & Cartography

Notes from a small studio that draws maps by hand.

Drawing contour lines by hand

June 2, 2026 · Notes

Contours are the quiet backbone of a map. This week we look at how a steady hatching rhythm reads as slope long before the reader notices the numbers.

Paper, light and the colour of distance

May 18, 2026 · Materials

Why warm paper makes far ridgelines recede, and a small palette we keep returning to for alpine sheets.

Small marks that help wayfinding

April 30, 2026 · Method

A short catalogue of glyphs — springs, fords, cairns — and how little ink each one really needs.