I am excited to document a project that I have been working on for a lovely couple living in New Zealand! Click to watch the teaser video I sent them when everything was printed and ready to be shipped. (My favourite part is how all the circles line up at the end!)
Early this year I embarked on the task of creating a reusable motif for the wedding, one that I could modify slightly each time the purpose/product changed, while keeping the essential look and feel. I wanted to conceptualise something natural and rustic, in line with New Zealand's reputation for the great outdoors. I also knew the bride-to-be as an elegant and ethereal individual (she would have been a perfect LOTR elf had she not missed the auditions) and so I started with illustrating laurels and various fauna. I also knew she grew up in a peach-growing town, so I experimented with these elements.
After a few rounds of discussion, when I proposed the drawing of golden wheat with a watery underlay, Honor loved it!
I tweaked the final concept by illustrating tussock grass instead of wheat, a plant native to the area where the wedding was to be held.
This is what I love about custom illustration and design, especially in weddings! You get to be part of someone else's experience, helping to shape the atmosphere around the event and create beautiful memories. You are given the privilege of making someone feel special when the design is tailored and personal to them.
After Honor selected one of the three tussock grass designs, the 'Save the Date' was sent out in May.
Next came the main invites. As I was playing around with the Save The Date design we had agreed on, I realised that it would be a bit of a waste to only use one of the illustrations (if you look closely, I have three up there!) So I decided to incorporate the other two into the main invite. I quite liked the idea of two halves of a whole (lol), using the symbolism of spheres, so I kept the circle concept we had started with . Next, between a portrait and landscape orientation, we decided that more balance was found in a landscape orientation. I enjoyed the creative possibilities of warping text along the circles, but went for a traditional line across the bottom in the end to preserve some formality. (You can see how the design evolved as I played around with the different elements of the invite.)
Sometimes as a freelance artist I have difficulty sourcing for materials. If the local art and craft store doesn't have it and I have a short timeframe to complete the project (so I can't order it off the the internet.. ) then I find myself extremely limited. Fortunately, I found a shade of sage for the envelopes, which worked with the colours perfectly! After cutting out some 90 envelope liners from 14 stunning sheets of Italian wrapping paper (while using up 6 glue sticks), I was ready to package and ship everything off to New Zealand!
Dace Brakmane is some kind of sculpting genius. This show-stopping mask is made from paper and glue- down to the nose and teeth! How does she do this, you ask? Create such dimensionality and structure in a paper mask?
Dace actually sculpts the shape of her desired mask in plasticine before making covering it in silicon to make moulds. This one is of a deer mask she has planned, and the finished product is here in etsy!
Here is Dace showing me how she's set plaster over the silicon and put the paper and glue mix into the mould. When it's dry she removes the paper and hand paints each mask with her signature dotted strokes, creating the depth and illusion of fur.
Pretty amazing work, Dace. I can't wait to photograph your Panda Mask and get a few more from you someday. I'm thinking of a forest-themed masquerade and I know no other masks would make me happy.
It was a gorgeous Friday afternoon in Sydney. The sun reigned supreme, unhindered by clouds, browning the bodies of all who dared to walk under it unbathed in sunblock. Rong had wanted to meet Jeremyville since she had discovered his work in LA, and as the fates would have it- he was living right in Bondi! So armed with their sketchbooks, nectarines and cake, Rachel and Rong set off to meet the wizard.
After an hour and a half journey, their trek was rewarded with coconut juice and a lovely afternoon of art and conversation! They had never been so impressed by how humble an accomplished man can be!
To forever immortalize the afternoon, the trio decided to combine all their powers. First, Rong and Jeremyville did a Bondi-Inspired Collaboration. Rong filled in the inside of the ears and the paws of the Jeremyville citizen with floral doodles, placing behind him a puff of galaxy dust.
Next, Rachel and Jeremyville added mushrooms and magic to a floral sphere that Rong drew. The outcomes of combing different styles were pretty awesome.
Thank you Jeremyville for being an awesome host and gracious artist! You're the best- a toast to new friends!
It was my pleasure and privilege to help one of my childhood best friends with wedding invites for her up-coming nuptials in October. She gave me free rein over the concept but I knew where I was headed from the start- something unique, quirky and fun- just like her.
I thought I would document the process for myself. The first photo shows the sketches of the initial idea, and the second one is the first complete draft. (Signo 0.28 on Water Colour Paper)
After getting the go-ahead from the happy couple on the layout and theme, I decided to improve the animal drawings and give them a little character. I played with the shape of the dinosaur head and legs, giving him a little formal bib (black tie event, of course) and the hippo, a little bow on the ear to look a little more feminine and adorable.
After finalising the characters, I started on the font and wording on the card. I decided to handwrite all the text as it was necessary to have a more organic feel to the card- a font would have been too rigid. I photographed each set of letters and photoshopped them as layers into the final product.
The completed PDF was sent to The Gentlemen's Press for letterpress printing (I have an unhealthy obsession with letterpress- I wrote about a class I took here!) and here's Alex holding the final product!
I was so glad that the couple liked my design and everything was done and settled in a speedy 2 weeks! If you were wondering why a hippo and a t-rex, there's story behind that- Candy loves hippos. Specifically purple ones. And Alex, L-ex ,T-rex... All quite a natural progression, really.
Congratulations again Candy baby xx Sending all my love- glad I was able to be a little part of your special celebration!
Dino's farewell present- a collage of random tiny hand-painted dinosaurs, vintage succulent illustrations, polaroids and post-its filled with heart murmurs. Goodbyes are rather rancid things, but they do make you ever grateful for having your paths cross with such amazing individuals. Here's to the hope they cross again, at some point. Hug.
All drawings, posts, pictures, sketches and photos ar intellectual property of Rong Xin Choy. Please contact me if you would like to use any of my work.
On November 1, new Cafe @Cornell Tech General Manager Chris Lewis reported achieving an A Grade from the NYC Health Department. According to Mr. Lewis:
The NYC Department of Health inspected The Café yesterday and I am very pleased to announce that it earned an “A” grade.
We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while our team implemented corrective actions to receive this grade. .... The framed “C” was removed by the inspector yesterday and the “A” is slated to be posted this Monday upon its arrival. The only grade acceptable to Constellation and the Cornell Tech community is an “A,” and I ensure you that we will continuously maintain best practices for food service moving forward.
As the new General Manager for Constellation Culinary @ Cornell Tech I look forward to providing the best food service and to working with all of you. Please feel free to contact me or stop by The Café to discuss all things food.
That's good news. The Cafe has become a favorite spot for many Roosevelt Island residents and visitors since it opened last year.
The Cafe @Cornell Tech will be closed Thanksgiving Day, November 22 thru Sunday November 25 and reopen for regular schedule Monday November 26.
During the October 25 meeting of Roosevelt Island Cornell Tech Community Construction Task Force, Cornell Tech Director of Facilities Operations Dan Cooke spoke about garbage pick up, recycling, sustainability and the Cafe operations.
More info about the Cafe @ Cornell Tech, operated by the Constellation Culinary Group, available at their web site including daily menus.
Roosevelt Island's Four Freedoms Park reports on the winning entrants of their Sketching Contest. According to Four Freedoms Park Conservancy:
Four Freedoms Park Conservancy is thrilled to announce the winners of our second annual sketching contest, Sketch 4 Freedom, which invited artists of all skills to visit FDR Four Freedoms State Park and create artwork inspired by the of theme celebrating public space. Participants were encouraged to explore the meaning of public space and the various ways people use public space to enrich their lives.
We are thrilled to announce the winner of our annual #Sketch 4 Freedom Contest: Richard Clements and his "Serene Space." Richard wins a variety of prizes including a gift certificate to @getsketchbox. pic.twitter.com/LZiAUk0jta
in second Hugo Barros Costa (@yolahugo) and in third place and in third Robert Miller! Congratulations to all of these talented artists and their depictions of the way public space enhances and enriches our lives. pic.twitter.com/V8mlYQzZUp
October 1 - March 31, Four Freedoms Park is open daily, 9am to 5pm; closed Tuesdays. The Park is closed on December 25.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) has started a new communication feature for residents, - Ask Hey Susan - in which RIOC President Susan Rosenthal
HEY SUSAN! A bi-weekly column of questions to and answers from RIOC President and CEO Susan Rosenthal
I recently learned that you don't live on Roosevelt Island. Do you think that your investment in the community is at all compromised if you don't reside within it, or do you think that this is not the case? It baffles me that the President of the RIOC would be allowed to live off the Island. Thank you for explaining why this shouldn't matter.
SUSAN: Thanks for your question. I don’t think it matters that I live off Island. I believe that in any job, one is as invested as one wants to be. As President, I learn about Roosevelt Island by spending the time and effort to investigate, with my own eyes and ears, the community’s hopes, desires, and complaints.
My door is always open, and residents come in constantly, with A picture containing person, man Description generated with very high confidence or without appointments, to meet with our executive team and me.
I regularly attend events - it helps that I live minutes away - where I take the opportunity to observe and engage with Island residents. (Wasn’t the Halloween Extravaganza fun? And, I thought our Veterans Celebration was both moving and respectful).
The healthy and harmonious functioning of Roosevelt Island is what I’ve chosen to devote my waking hours to; I don’t need to sleep here to orchestrate RIOC Operations and make sure that essential services are provided - snow removal, the Red Buses and the Tram, garbage pick-up, landscaping, road repair, public safety, the Sportspark, maintenance of playgrounds and fields, the Youth Center and its sports programs, in addition to a list of renovations, remediations, and new projects.
One of the amazing things I’ve learned in the past few years is that so many RIOC employees LOVE the Island and take pride in how beautiful it is. That makes my job a lot easier!
Finally, our elected officials don’t live here while representing Roosevelt Island, but they come here and communicate with me and our residents often. We’ve worked together and will continue to work together to serve our Island.
So, I guess, that if a President cares about the Island, learns about it, spends time here with its residents and wants to do a good job (and has the skills to do so), I don’t think he/she has to live here.
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) is holding a special meeting of the Board of Directors tomorrow. According to RIOC:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. at the Manhattan Park Theater Club at 8 River Road, Roosevelt Island, New York.
1. Authorization to Enter Into a Ground Lease for Southtown for Building #8 in Accordance with the Fifth Amendment to the Development Agreement (Board Action Required – Materials to Follow)
... Under the proposed Building 8 Ground Lease, a 21-story building comprised of approximately 240,000 square feet of floor area and 341 rental units, will be constructed. Building 8 will be financed under the Department of Housing Preservation and Development of the City of New York and the New York City Housing Development Corporation’s M2 Mixed Middle Income Program. RIOC seeks to preserve affordable housing, consistent with its mission and statutory purpose.
Under the Building 8 Ground Lease (i) 3% of the 341 units will be reserved as Homeless Units, (ii) 3% of the units will be reserved for very low-income families with household incomes of 40% of AMI, (iii) 14% of the units will be reserved for families with household incomes of 50% of AMI, (iv) 10% of the units will be reserved for families with household incomes of 80% of AMI, (v) 20% of the units will be reserved for families with household incomes of 100% of AMI, and (vi) 50% of the units will be reserved for families with household incomes of 130% of AMI. This breakdown provides an even greater degree of affordability than was set forth in the Fifth Amendment.
To the extent permitted under the financing programs, current Roosevelt Island residents will be given preference in any affordable housing lottery with respect to Building 8....
During the November 7 RIOC Real Estate Advisory Committee meeting, Hudson Related's David Kramer described plans for the Riverwalk 8 Roosevelt Island affordable housing building including potential for Roosevelt Island residents to obtain preferences for apartment in the buidling . Here's the discussion.
The most recent Ask Susan feature from RIOC President Susan Rosenthal includes a question from a resident about Roosevelt Island affordable housing, or the lack thereof.
I was very happy to see the email below from RIOC and hope that you will be able to assist me. I have a daughter who is bipolar and schizophrenic and as a divorced mother with six years to retirement, I am the only caregiver financially and otherwise as my daughter cannot work.
After residing on Roosevelt Island for six years in a one-bedroom at Manhattan Park Apartments, I now find that I am in uurgent need of an affordable apartment on the island or I will have no choice but to leave when my lease expires in May 2019.
I did not understand that the rent for a one-bedroom apartment would move drastically from the US $2,000 range to the current amount of US $2,732. Based on the fact that last year’s lease agreement increased my rent by US $266, I am afraid that I will not be able to continue living on Roosevelt Island beyond May 2019.
Susan, I really hope you will be able to inform me of any affordable two-bedroom apartment which is available on the island. Looking forward to your reply and guidance. Thank you in advance.
SUSAN: Thank you for your question and please accept my admiration of your dedication to your daughter.
As the governing agency for the Island, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation negotiates lease agreements with the various building owners and developers that include provisions for affordable housing based on federally-accepted income guidelines based on the Area Median Income (AMI) of the New York City region. These income guidelines are calculated annually, vary by family size and therefore subject to change on a yearly basis. I encourage you to contact several of the Island building managers to inquire about the availability of any designated affordable units in their developments.
Also, note that Hudson-Related is close to beginning construction on a new housing complex in Southtown that will wholly consist of affordable units based on the AMI. However, it is not expected to open until the summer of 2020.
Does anyone know the total number of Roosevelt Island affordable housing units in each building complex? How many affordable housing units in Southtown, Manhattan Park, Octagon, Wire buildings etc?
approved the ground lease for Riverwalk Building 8 last evening. The 3 resident Board members voted in favor of the ground lease and 2 NY State officials abstained. Acting RIOC Board Chair Alex Valella abstained because his agency approved a subsidy for the project. Also, the other NY State representative (don't have her name) abstained, saying that she did not have sufficient information to cast a vote.
Prior to the vote, the RIOC Board entered into Executive Session to discuss unresolved terms of the Ground Lease Agreement. The public, including Hudson Related representatives, were asked to leave the meeting room and were not allowed to observe issues being discussed by the RIOC Board. We waited in the adjoining foyer.
After approximately 30 minutes the Hudson Related representatives were called back into the room. After another 20 minutes, the Hudson Related representatives returned to the foyer, not looking very happy.
Shortly thereafter, we were all called back into the meeting room and the RIOC Board resumed it's public meeting.
Prior to the vote, RIOC General Counsel Jaci Flug announced that an additional provision would be added to Ground Lease Agreement resolution. Hudson Related would build a Comfort Station at Firefighters Field and make modifications to the field at a cost not to exceed $1 Million.
Also, prior to the vote, RIOC Board member Michael Shinozaki asked Hudson Related's David Kramer to respond to questions about the project including the mix and configuration of the 341 apartment units. Mr Kramer's colleague from Related Companies reported that:
RIOC Board Director Michael Shinozaki joined the other 2 resident Board Members voting in favor of the Ground Lease but noted prior to his vote:
During the RIOC Board Public Session, prior to the start of the Board meeting, Roosevelt Island resident Frank Farance asked the Board to defer voting on the Ground Lease Agreement until the plan on apartment layout is in compliance with the Roosevelt Island General Development Plan.
Once a year, the RRIA members meet for a General Assembly Meeting. Once in three years, a new board is elected there. At least 4 board members are elected by the General Assembly; currently there are 7.
One additional board member is elected directly by the Community Council (the council of the young artists in the ROOTS & ROUTES network) for a duration of one year. This Community Council Representative also has a replacement, the Vice Community Council Representative.
The RRIA board meets about three times per year and works on the development of the ROOTS & ROUTES network and activities.