ARTIST'S STATEMENT

I have always loved maps. When I was asked if I could draw a three-dimensional map of Putney, it was an opportunity I couldn't resist. It was easy to decide to portray Putney in the fall with full autumn color. At first the map was going to be used just for the view book, but then I was asked to make it a little larger, so the original could hang in the Admissions Office.

Given the size of the Putney campus, it was a good thing we decided on a larger size, or the scale of the buildings would have been too small to see clearly. The original is 22" x 28", pen and ink and watercolor, on heavy paper. The perspective is not "pure" perspective because the buildings are spread out too far and the distant ones would be too small. So I used my imagination and "artistic license" to give the illusion of a three-dimensional viewpoint somewhere above Putney.

I counted the buildings and studied the roof lines, because that's mostly what is seen from above. Then I counted trees and noted species, because different trees turn specific colors at different times. The seasonal activity vignettes in the corners are framed by maple branches drawn to match each season's activities. The name of every building and road had to be hand-lettered. And finally, the coloring and shadowing of every building and tree was added to bring the map to life.

Betsy Rogers

Descriptive text for the illustrated map pages provided by Geoffrey Trowbridge '05, Harriet Stupp Rogers '49, & Betsy Rogers.