Lake Art

Lake Art Custom Wood Maps Are Amazing

With a Lake Art maps, transport yourself back to the tree-lined oasis you splashed in every summer. 3-D lake contour maps can grace your walls and bring back thoughts of precious days on the lake. Or by the river next to grandma's house or at your uncle's beach house. 

Memories. Refreshing morning swims or drifting along during a warm afternoon. Or the fresh, cool air lulling you to sleep at night. Skinny dipping in that cool mountain stream. Preserve the joy of lake life with a custom lake map depicting your favorite lake. Bring to mind gentle coastal waves lapping beneath the dock.

Lake Art’s maps make it easy to remember a favorite spot on a beautiful lake or coastal area. You can request your 3-D watery heaven on anything from clocks to journals to framed wall hangings.

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Lake Topography Art

Lake Art Inc. is the original maker of 3D lake contour maps. The studio began in Ft Wayne, Indiana in the early 2000s. Their laser-carved lake maps take shape in the town of Harbor Springs, Michigan at present.  All of their custom lake map art is made to order, from scratch! Family-owned, operated. And proud to be 100% Made in America. With over 6,000 coastal river and maps available. And custom orders encouraged!

Why choose this unique product?

The maps are laser cut from Michigan Maple and assembled by hand. Laser machines are a small part of the process. Each map of stream, river, lake or ocean is made to order. 

This company pioneered the first 3D maps and has been family owned and operated since early 2000. They employ a staff of graphic designers, laser operators, and wood specialists.  They work to create every map with care. They produces everything from framed art to practical gifts for home, cabin, or cottage.  Full time, year-round employment for local people with no outsourcing of jobs. Unlike other wood charts made in China, these guys source everything from the USA. 

The Layers of these Lake Maps...

Maps can have up to 8 levels of relief. The number of levels or layers will depend on the shape of the lake or body of water. Narrow lakes will have less space for layers than round ponds. Detailed and realistic with water depths, land contours and beautiful blue water. Three level choices are available for your personalized map. The single level has one level each for water and land. Water depth contours etched only. Multi level products have up to three levels of relief with additional lake contours etched.  And if you choose a 3D map you'll have a striking rendition of your water choice. Towns, road names, state parks, islands, and bays are optional.

Personalize with stars marking any location.

Carved Lake Maps - The Process 

3-D carved maps begin with one of nature's exquisite bodies of water. The studio possesses thousands of images.  And welcomes customizing your special lake, river or coastal area. Created for a "bird's eye view" of land contours, each 3-D map recreates water depth as well. Information from studies of the Earth's surface provides the info. The image is laser engraved on wood panels. Several panels stack on top of each other for every map image.

Sanding and buffing of each layer proceed with the addition of beautiful watery blue paint. In a labor-intensive step, glue is applied to the outlines of each lake. Or river or sea coast border. Next, comes assembling and sealing the multiple layers. Framing, in a variety of wood, provides the finishing touch. Framing options include natural cherry, honey oak, and dark espresso oak.  Rich maple burl and black framing are available as well. One of the most popular is rustic "barn wood". To protect this custom product, the studio builds custom boxes to support each piece.

There are Many Types of Lake Art 

These custom maps display surrounding roads, towns, and landmarks. So let the sweet summer memories flow. You’ll recognize the spot where you and your buddies ate hot dogs and that great pie shop. The fruit and veggie stand or the most amazing ice cream place. Special family holidays, summer gatherings, or summer camp. Or a wedding or honeymoon lakeside. All treasured memories.

1. Coastal and Lake Art Serving Trays for Dinner Parties

A serving tray is a welcome housewarming, wedding, or a memorable hostess gift. In this one-of-a-kind tray, the contours recess one level below the maple wood "land". Light brown lines trace familiar roads, towns, and state lines nearby. It is available with up to 3 levels of relief; the water-stained Turquoise blue. Beautiful and useful, the art is under glass, with sealed edges, so it's easy to clean. Crafted of sturdy, handsome cherry wood with ample handles, for ease in serving. Cape Cod, Nantucket Island, or the San Juan Islands make stunning 3D map images. Outstanding for a cottage owning friend; while you are at it, buy one for yourself! Sure to bring back happy days by the water.

2. Custom lake cribbage board are fun and look amazing

These cribbage boards make great personalized gifts. The 2-person boards are laser etched with area roads and water details. While playing, you'll move the markers around the edges of the lake or bay. The sturdy cherry board has a cork-lined section to hold the bronze and aluminum pegs. Pegs included with the carved board. Keep your gang content while waiting out a rainy day. Or until the last person arrives to take that boat ride. Personalized maps work well as groomsmen present as well. Use them to remember your groups' crazy parties down on the shore! Topographical maps can celebrate a wedding date. Request a star marking the ceremony location. The honeymoon cottage. Our first family vacation home. A fun summer camp stay.

3d Lake wall art brings the outdoors inside.  Lake depth art and custom-made maps allow you to share a special body of water. 

3. Wood Lake Maps Make a Memorable Gift 

Beautiful to look at, educational, and memory-evoking, these maps stand alone. Enjoy the memories they bring.

Lakes, connect to several neighboring states. The Finger Lakes stretch long “fingers” down the landscape. A small pristine lake in the Adirondacks stands alone in its solitude. San Francisco Bay. All evoke the warm charm of waterside living. Put a star on the cottage location that’s special to you and your family. Or one on the beach house by the shore.

Over 4,000 lakes and coastal regions are available. Choose from hundreds of countries including; Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Cuba, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Finland, France, The United States...well, you get the idea!

Display it with pride and pass it along as a treasured keepsake. Wall maps are laser cut, hand-assembled, and framed in shadow frames. Wood frame choices include honey oak, cherry, dark espresso, or "rustic". 

Looking for a Lake Clock? 

Your favorite lakeside getaway appears in detailed, painted birch wood as a three-D map or lake clock. Custom lake clocks look great in your lake cottage or at home. Displaying up to eight water levels of water depth on terraced sheets of wood. Bathymetry is the study of the water depth of the ocean or lake floors. This information supplies your map with noted depth readings. It may be interesting to find out that that old lake is deeper than you thought! 

You will see how vast lake systems, like the Great Lakes, flow and connect to neighboring states. Lake Michigan's topography art is a good example of laser-carved lake maps. A Lake Art Michigan map remains popular as the state has over 11,00 small and large lakes!