What Mother’s Day means to Happy Menocal and her mom, Katharine Barnwell
Is artistic ability genetic? Considering artists Katharine Barnwell and Happy Menocal, it certainly seems that way! The mother-daughter duo, based in Bedford, New York, both have a way with a paintbrush. And though their styles are notably different—Happy crafts gestural, expressive watercolor illustrations, while Katharine’s work tends toward colorful, natural realism—there’s no denying the talent shared by this twosome.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, Happy—a beloved and longtime Paperless Post design partner—and her mom Katharine have joined forces to create a beautiful capsule collection of Mother’s Day cards. Inspired by ornate picture frames, each unique card is the perfect way to show love and gratitude to a mom or mother figure in your life and reminisce about a favorite memory you’ve shared together.
We caught up with Happy and Katharine about their new joint endeavor and what Mother’s Day means to them. (Send one of Happy Menocal Studio’s new Mother’s Day cards here!)
What inspired this new collection of greeting cards that you designed together?
“Our styles are pretty different, but we both prize color and warmth. We thought the frames were a nice metaphor for our mother-daughter working relationship, sort of like nesting dolls—art inside of art. And it gave Katharine a chance to do some of her fine gilded detail work alongside Happy’s looser patterning.”
What is it like to work creatively with your mother or daughter?
Happy: “We butt heads sometimes, but mostly have a lot of laughs.”
Katharine: “She teaches me something new every day.”
During the design process, how did your collaboration styles differ?
“Katharine is more of a perfectionist, while Happy is more of a done-is-better-than-perfect type.”
What does Mother’s Day mean to each of you?
Happy: “My mom, my kids and I have never really made a big production of Mother’s Day—the prospect of a long mimosa brunch is a nightmare to all of us—but I do have a happy association with the day. It’s high spring! Everyone is sharing photos of their mothers as gorgeous young babes! It’s corny, but I appreciate any prompt to express gratitude.”
Katharine: “It’s a day to show gratitude to all mothers you know.”
What’s your ideal way to spend Mother’s Day?
Happy: “Gardening! We planted around 300 daffodil bulbs in the fall of 2020, and they are popping now. I also cultivate geraniums and give them as presents. My mom is good about pruning and deadheading them; I leave them alone and let them grow too leggy.”
What’s one word of advice you have for moms and children ahead of Mother’s Day?
“Love!”
Thank you, Happy and Katharine! Send the moms you love a Happy Menocal Studio Mother’s Day card now—and check out the rest of our Mother’s Day card collection, too.
