Happy Menocal is a New York based painter and designer. She is known for her spirited illustration style and use of color.
In 2009, Happy was asked by a friend to design her wedding stationery.
Happy had the idea to create a coat of arms for the couple: to take an ancient, aristocratic tradition and breathe new life into it. She kept the key medieval principles– fine detail, symbolism, and symmetry– but brought an easy wit and irreverence that better suits our moment.
The pieces we design today — be it wedding stationery, identity work for a retail brand, or a mural for a private home — are a form of portraiture, and require an intimate personal connection with their subject. Like the medieval artists before us, we develop long-lasting relationships with our patrons, and make work that evolves as individuals and families grow, so that it may endure for generations.
Lucy Cuneo for the photos of our wedding stationery, Colin Sussingham for the photo of the dollhouse, Emma Ressell for the photos of our studio, Ali Landorf for her help designing the dollhouse, and SDCO for bringing this website to life.