Decade Diary is an illustrated diary chronicling past, present interests and future perspectives of a decade lived in New York City, by Illustrator Bernadette Pascua. The second I discovered her site, I knew I had to feature her on the blog. She has a wonderful creative eye, and is a very talented illustrator and collage artist. Her creations convey not only a sophisticated style but a unique take on fashion and the world around her as viewed through New York eyes.
Bernadette was kind enough to create this amazing New York themed collage just for us! Read on to learn more about her and see more of her lovely work.
Collage by Bernadette Pascua for Free People
City lights photo and all watercolor by Decade Diary.
Film still from Andy Warhol’s “Empire”
Press photo of the Neue Galerie
Patti Smith on the Bowery, photograph by Godlis
Press photo of Saturdays Coffee Shop
Press photo of Diner in Brooklyn
Where in New York do you live?
I live in Brooklyn, in the Southside of Williamsburg, right along side the bridge. It’s such a great location – the city is just a ride across the bridge and most of the buildings on our street are turn of the century cast iron, dating back to the 1800’s. The street is quiet but with a little liveliness that comes from having a row of favorite restaurants like Diner and Marlow and Sons (plus their amazing grocery store Marlow and Daughters).
What do you love most about New York?
I love the constant flux that the city is in. It keeps a great balance of feeling like you are in your own world yet it brings people together in the most odd ways. There’s something magical about the way New York serendipitously brings people into your life. I love those moments of camaraderie New Yorkers can have, all of those chance encounters. Everyday is a big surprise.
Describe a typical day in NYC:
Each day is never the same for me, but I think the most typical day in NYC has to be the Sunday Brunch Day! It’s like an unspoken holiday of sorts that every New Yorker celebrates on the weekend. Waking up later, reading the paper and then going to a brunch with your boyfriend or friends. Then taking a walk around wherever you find yourself going.
What is your favorite coffee shop in the city?
Right now my favorite coffee shop is Saturdays Surf in Soho. It’s on the way to my subway station going back into Brooklyn. It’s a surf shop that has a small counter in the front where coffee can be ordered, there is usually only one attractive guy working the coffee who spends a really long time making your drink, so it always turns out good. They have a casual backyard with simple benches for hanging out which is great in the summer. In the winter looking at all the Surf memorabilia sort of keeps your hopes up for some sun.
Describe New York City fashion in three words:
Of the moment.
Where do you go in New York to get away from the crowds?
I love going to a museum or a gallery for some quiet time. The rows of galleries around 9th Avenue in Chelsea are along some very calm streets. My most favorite museum ever is the Neue Galerie by Central Park. It’s a small and uncrowded museum devoted to early twentieth-century German and Austrian art and design, housed in a beautiful townhouse. So it feels like you are looking at art in someones home. Downstairs it has a Café inspired by turn of the century Vienna, its like being transported out of New York for an afternoon.
How long have you been doing Decade Diary, and how did it come about?
Wow I’ve been doing Decade Diary now since 2009, so four years now! It seems like a really long time but I’ve actually been doing projects similar to Decade since my teenage years. In High School I used to make a lot of xerox copied zines with my Illustrations and stories, and would send or trade them via snail mail. So blogging only seemed like the natural thing to do!
Thank you so much Bernadette! xx
