The Village Voice’s “Five Boroughs, No Waiting”

Illustration
2017

First published in The Village Voice, 2017

Hand-Drawn Maps for the Cover Story “New York by New Yorkers: A Locals' Guide to the City's Neighborhoods from Art & Activism to Bodegas & Biryani.”

I was approached by the art directors at The Village Voice to create a series of five illustrated maps for one of their upcoming issues. They reached out with my specific artwork style already in mind: black ink, plus one spot color, hand-drawn illustrated maps. Each map would spotlight a different New York City neighborhood – a true locals' guide to places that are off-the-beaten path.

The half-page, editorial illustrations ran throughout the feature article of the issue. Each neighborhood map was designed with a different spot color that was carried through in the editorial layout design surrounding the map.

Issue: March 22- March 28, 2017, Vol. LXII | No. 12
Cover Illustration (below) by Eric Drooker

Person holding a newspaper in front of their face outdoors, with green foliage in the background.
A person holding a magazine or brochure with sketches and descriptions of various Staten Island locations and attractions, outdoors with greenery in the background.
Hand-drawn map featuring a pizza place named Bodega Pizza, a Buddha Beer Bar, and a location at 191 Street Subway 1. The map highlights Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance and an area full of graffiti at 181st Street. Illustrations include a pizza with a paintbrush, a happy Buddha figure, and a tall glass of beer.
A sketch map of New York City featuring the Staten Island Ferry, St. George Theatre, Staten Island Yankees Stadium, and the Staten Island Ferry terminal, with waterways and steps illustrated.
A colorful sketch featuring various elements such as a sign for Maria's Bistro Mexicano, a bowling ball and pins labeled Melody Lanes, a drawing of Sunset Park restaurant, tarot cards with a sun and dog, and a teapot and cup, all associated with a nostalgic and lively atmosphere.

Five Illustrated Neighborhoods:

  • Jamaica

  • Melrose

  • Saint George

  • Sunset Park

  • Washington Heights

A printed guide or map of the Bronx, New York City, showing landmarks such as the Bronx General Post Office, Bronx Documentary Center, Old Bronx Borough Courthouse, and Kid's Art Program Dreamyard, with illustrated drawings of a mailbox, a horse, a watering can, and other icons on a newspaper or magazine page.
Hand-drawn map of area around Smile of the Beyond vegetarian restaurant, featuring landmarks such as King Manor Museum, Amaura concert hall, Black Spectrum Theatre, and associated streets and streetscapes in Brooklyn, New York.
A hand-drawn map of Brooklyn, New York, featuring landmarks and places like Melodoy Lanes bowling center, Bush Terminal Piers Park, Sunset Park Diner and Donuts, Maria's Bistro Mexicano, Sunnshine Heros, and Chelsea Kenen. The map includes illustrations of a bowling ball, a penguin, a soccer ball, and trees, with streets and labels indicating the locations.
Person holding a city map with landmarks and illustrations outdoors.
Person holding a map or brochure outdoors with green trees in the background.
Hand-drawn map of Malecon, Dominican food, with illustrations of bridges, buildings, a police station, a bookstore, and a graffiti art scene, accompanying section of a magazine.
A top-down view of a white plate with a scone and fresh blueberries, placed on a table next to a magazine showing a sketch of New York City landmarks.
A person holding a newspaper open to a feature about Bodega, a restaurant and community space, with a hand-drawn map of the neighborhood highlighting locations such as Bodega Pizza, the United Palace, and graffiti art in an underground subway tunnel, along with photographs of the interior of Bodega restaurant with people dining.

Credits

Commissioned by The Village Voice.
First published in March 2017.

Neighborhood Maps Illustrator, Designer
Russell Shaw

Deputy Art Director
Ashley Smestad Vélez

Contributing Art Director
Sandie Burke

Cover Illustration
Eric Drooker