By Angie Sullivan

Georgina local Jordan Findlay’s hand-drawn and painted maps can be found all over our community if you know where to look.

He is the spotlight ‘artist of the month’ for December at Elpida Café & Roastery in Keswick, where customers can purchase a map along with their fresh roast. His work is also displayed at Twig Gardens & Company in Keswick, The Georgina Centre for Arts & Culture in Sutton, and seasonally at the Park Store at Sibbald Point Provincial Park.

The Boondocks Eatery has an entire wall dedicated to his mural of Lake Simcoe, and Turkey Shoot Brewing Company features his artwork on cans of Lake Simcoe Lagered Ale.

Jordan Findlay in front of his mural in Boondocks.

Findlay said, “I had never done a mural before, but I thought it was a great idea, so I dove into it. The owner really did have a great idea because people really do love that mural.”

Much of his cartography features Lake Simcoe, and Findlay said, “I focus on Lake Simcoe because I grew up in Keswick. I’ve been here my whole life and when you grow up in Keswick the lake becomes part of your culture. I understand it so I know how much it means to us.”

Findlay explained his passion for creating maps, “I’ve always been a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and his books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. I loved the maps in the books they always fascinated me. I thought I needed to do a Tolkien inspired map of Lake Simcoe where I grew up. I drew a map of Simcoe and gave it to my Mom. She hung it in her massage therapy office and people would start inquiring about custom places for them like Keswick, Georgina, and Canada.”

Learn more about Findlay’s work and his special Holiday Giveway at www.jjfcartography.com or on Instagram @j.j.f.cartography.

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