At Frame of Mind we love Xplorer Maps. Not only do we take pride in our partnership with Xplorer Maps and matting and framing for these one of a kind story telling, old world style maps, but we are so impressed with the hand illustration, time, and history that go into each individual map.

The Xplorer Maps journey began with two brothers - a talented, globe-trotting artist and an entrepreneurial geography buff who had a mission to create hand-drawn, antique-style maps of national parks and travel destinations that would make lasting and meaningful connections between people and place worldwide.

But Chris and Greg Robitaille were looking for more. They wanted to form partnerships with organizations dedicated to the conservation and preservation of our public lands and give back to the places they love. The brothers regularly donate a percentage of map sales to ongoing efforts to protect these lands.

In 2011, after completing his degree as a certified high school Social Studies and English teacher and spending 24 years as a tennis professional, younger brother, Greg, rolled the dice, took the proverbial plunge and seized the opportunity to seriously begin turning the dream into reality.

Artist and co-founder Chris Robitaille began creating similar antique-style maps in the late 1990s while living in Kenya. Over the past 15 years, Chris and his brother, Greg (Xplorer Maps president and co-founder) have continually refined their vision of using these incredible “story maps” with the opportunity to help local communities raise awareness for conservation and wildlife around the world.

The brothers wanted to share their vision about the importance of bringing together art, history, culture, education and conservation.

It is through these beautifully illustrated story maps that Xplorer Maps hopes to provide people with unique memories of wherever their journeys have taken them and help raise awareness for the special places in which we all live or visit.

The result is a rewarding partnership combining original artwork, unique story-telling and philanthropy. These entirely custom and original maps are truly one-of-a-kind keepsakes to share with friends and family for years to come. There are simply no other maps that can compare anywhere!

Chris Robitaille was born in Toronto, Canada, and graduated from the Ontario College of Art where upon graduation, he was awarded the Will Davies Award for Excellence in Illustration. His work in Toronto as a story-board artist gave him a strong understanding of the importance of competent drawing and sound composition, elements that have been an integral part of his work over the years.

Chris moved to Kenya in the early 1990s, turning his attention to landscape painting where he enjoyed an increased level of productivity due in no small part to the beauty he saw around him. He has had dozens of solo exhibitions and his work hangs in numerous corporate and private collections worldwide.

Since 2007, Chris, his wife Vanessa and their children Max and Becca have lived in Suzhou, China; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; and most recently Bangkok, Thailand following the professional career of Ness in international education. The Xplorer Maps business and family adventures continue with regular visits back home to Toronto and Montana.

Xplorer Maps creates the world’s finest hand-drawn and hand-lettered illustrations of national parks and other significant historical sites and destinations throughout the world. Every line, letter and icon is unique, custom and original to each new map we render. Originally designed by to pay homage to the early cartographers, these high quality and exceptionally detailed custom maps are rendered by Chris Robitaille (Xplorer Maps artist and co-owner) using an antique, old-world style. When creating these maps Chris uses very minimal art supplies. These maps are made using technical pen, ink, pencil, watercolor and brushes. There is no photoshopping or computer rendering on any of the Xplorer Maps.

Having lived in Canada, Kenya, China, United Arab Emirates and Thailand over the past 25 years, Chris has gained a deep understanding and appreciation for other cultures and their environments. During the same time period living in Montana, Greg has developed a passion for geography, history, cultural education and America’s public lands. Both brothers were intent upon strengthening family relationships over long distances and shaping mutual passions into a viable business opportunity.

Click here to watch Chris Robitaille create these one of a kind maps

To date Chris Robitaille has created 40 plus maps under the Xplorer Maps branding. These maps are of National Parks, States and the beautiful places we all call home. As such Xplorer maps has collaboratively partnered with dozes of conservancies, associations and societies that all share the mission of protecting national parks and public lands Some of these maps are done on a commission basis and the others come from the Robitaille brothers and their desire to share their vision of the beautiful places around us..

These fine-art illustrations have been approved by National Park Service specialists and their respective non-profit partners on the basis of educational merit, interpretive value, cultural relevance, and historical and geographic accuracy. There are simply no other maps that can compare anywhere!

Visit Xplorer maps website to see all the fantastic map products they have available. Great gifts for friends and family!

Visit our gallery to purchase one of these unique maps. We have Montana Xplorer Maps framed and ready for a memorable gift for your loved one, or to hang on your wall.

Visit Frame of Mind frame online or in store to purchase one of our DIY Xplorer map kits to take home and create your own piece of art to hang on your wall and enjoy for years to come.

These kits come with all the materials you will need. Metal frame, matting, glass, hardware and a smile!

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