Mar – Jul 2025

Vail Mountain Map

Snowboarding and skiing with my cousins have always been an important part of my winters. This project aimed to fulfill a commission request from my cousins' family for an enlarged version of the ski map, designed for sharing a ski day's journey with guests unfamiliar with the mountain, while also serving as a statement piece.

Given much creative freedom, I planned and executed this project independently, practicing my build, art, and client-communication skills. Staying under a $160 budget, I am proud of successfully combining functionality and art into this series of canvases.

The initial vision for these maps was quickly drafted on a sticky note that became my project guide and final dimensions.

I began by cutting all the wood to size using a miter saw to make 45° ends.

All frames were assembled using screws and a hand drill.

I used a hand sander to round all the edges which would be in contact with the canvas.

Canvas drop cloth was cut to size, stapled in tension, and trimmed internally.

The canvases were prepped for painting with white gesso which also tightened the fabric.

Once properly dried, I used a ruler, pencil, and Posca pens to translate a copy of the paper map onto the canvases. I started with the chair lifts, then run names, and ended with the runs themselves.

I double-checked my translations and color-coded the runs appropriately. This mapping step required much focus, mental math, and a steady hand.

Painting was done starting with a base brown layer, followed by 3 different shades of green for the trees, background, and sky.

Finally, the maps were finished with two coats of glossy varnish for UV protection and touch resistance. The next image in this timeline has gloss applied on the left, the right without.