Paula Scher is as well known for her map paintings as her graphic & environmental design. In this video, Scher explains that she painted her first map as a way to make an expense-free cover for an AIGA annual in order to keep the allotted $1,000 budget for herself.
I love that A) Scher's practical and totally non-artistic goal to pocket some money led to her discovering a satisfying creative outlet, and B) that she's willing to admit as much. A good balance to all the highfalutin talk of muses and obscure inspirations so often spouted by Les Artistes.
The video is the second of a two-part series made by Nicolas Heller (son of Steven). In Part 1 Scher discusses how NYC influences her graphic design work.
More of Scher's map paintings here: http://www.paulascher.com