415 Day Article - El Tecolote

Photo via @FriscoLens

Man, so good to read this article about the principles of #415Day which just passed here in the Bay. Its a special day where Black and Brown folks from San Francisco (Born and Raised) get together to celebrate pride in the city and the fact that they're still there! Fighting to survive in a city that has welcomed the world and pushed out the people who made it the city so many want to visit.

If you know anyone who's recently moved to the Bay Area or are new to SF please share this article with them written with the organizers and published by SF's own Tecolote newspaper.

ARTICLE LINK

Heads up, we have a 510 Day in Oakland too.

Stuff I've been listening to 15 - (Jazz)

Mary Lou Williams (Piano)  Lorez Alexandra (Vocals)
 
India Arie remake of a classic(Guitar/Vocals) 
Milt Jackson (Vibes) - Enchanted Lady  Dorothy Ashby (Harp/vocals)
 
Keyon Harris(trumpet/vocals) feat Georgia Anne Muldrow
 
Christian Scott! (Trumpet) 
Kev Choice (Piano) -Oakland Baby!!
Terrace Martin (Keys, Vocals)
Moses Boyd (Drums)

This is a very short mix of a bunch of old and younger jazz musicians. Please check out the previous post of music I've been listening to HERE

10 Ways to support Black Owned Businesses

Via Morgan DeBaun:

10 WAYS TO SUPPORT A BLACK SMALL BUSINESS. Why? Let me give you some stats and outline how COVID-19 will impact minority business owners:⠀ ⠀ 💰Historically large banks only approve about 60% of loans from white small businesses owners, 50% for Hispanics and 29% of loans sought by Black small business owners. ⠀ ⠀ 💰there are 2.6M black owned businesses and 2.5M have no employees. Many are solopreneurs with not a lot of cushion. ⠀ ⠀ 💰COVID-19 loans prioritize small businesses with employees. Or businesses with pre-existing relationships with banks. That literally takes out 80%+ of black small biz owners. ⠀ ⠀ 💰 The median white family has 10x the amount of wealth as the median Black family. We have less savings to lean on collectively.⠀ I challenge each of you reading this to pick 1 thing today you can do to support a small black business. Comment below on your commitment. hashtag#smallbusiness hashtag#supportblackbiz

Video - Chamuco of Amor Eterno

I've had the pleasure of meeting this man and his partner Amy who run "Amor Eterno" in East Oakland. The vibe of their shop is super chill and creative. My crew "Trust Your Struggle" did a show inside their tattoo shop/gallery and it was amazing. Please watch!

Shop Tiny -SF Etsy

I'm excited to share a live QVC style event that I'll be participating in next weekend along with 50 other Bay Area makers. It's the "Shop Tiny" or online SF Etsy craft show which will run videos and features of different makers on the SF Etsy Blog. Why? We makers make our living from our art. There are lots of folks who have day jobs, but many who make their living from their art. And with the world shut down we still gotta hustle even if we can't meet people face to face. So, tune in for the live show. Tell a friend anywhere in the world to tune in as this will be virtual. You'll see DIY Kits, Self-Care Products, Cards, Stickers & Stationary,Clothing & Tees, Jewelry & Accessories, Home Decor, and Art & Illustration. I'll also share my book and some new prints.

There will be giveaways of art and handmade products, live art projects and demonstrations, tips for home manicures, tips for making the perfect cocktail and a lot more!

Friday April 24, 2020 4pm - 6pm
Saturday April 25, 2020 10am - 2pm
Sunday April 26, 2020 10am - 2pm

TUNE IN! LINK

Evite link Facebook

Eventbrite Link

If you're not following SFEtsy on social media here are some links:
Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Here are some photos from last year's holiday event

READ Print 3

For this this print I imagined a South East Asian Girl. This is the third in a new series of prints with a simple concept, encourage reading and illustrate an array of young people reading, focusing on children of color. If you'd like to get a print of this one

PURCHASE here.

Did you see the last print? Here it is.

Video - Furqan's First in English/ Spanish

Peace, this is for the folks who've been asking. Feel free to share this with your child, student, or relatives during this social distancing, distanced learning, pandemic times. Below is the Spanish reading of the book.

Tia Carla did a reading of the book in Spanish already so I figured I'd share that for families to watch as its done quite well! Please check out her other videos of books in English and Spanish.

It's a Compton Thang Vs Juicy Fruit

Remember this?

This is a good example of the young artists CMW sampling what their parents or uncles and aunties were listening to. "Juicy Fruit" by Mtume

School Visit at Cesar Chavez Elementary- Davis CA

 I wish I could go back to reading at schools! Hopefully again in the future. I was invited by author and friend Justine Villanueva (Jack & Agyu) to come read at this school. I read to six classes and as always it was lots of fun. I handed out book plates to all the students and then they asked me for my signature. They had lots of funny questions.  

Dig this? Check out this reading at Woodland Elementary in Oakland

Inspiring Artist - Shinji Kimura

Shinji Kimura is one of my most favorite artists. I started following his work after seeing the film TekkenKinkreet based on a Taiyo Matsumoto manga. His background drawings and paintings for that film blew me away. He is the art director and lead set designer for Studio 4c (Japanese Anime studio) and he also directs and does book illustration. The dude is  in his 60s I believe and worked on the original Akira film. Check out some of his work.

Deathtic 4 film

Deathtic 4 film

Hipira book

Tekkenkinkreet artbook

Tekkenkinkreet artbook

Tekkenkinkreet artbook

Tekkenkinkreet artbook

More links to his work at Anima News and Imdb

Seen the last Inspiring Artist? Paul Davey (Mattahan)

On IG Live w/ Unique Markets

If you're on Instagram, tune in tomorrow at n11 am. I'll be on IG Live with Unique Markets founder Sonja Rasula talking about what I do. Follow their Instagram and see more artists, tips, shows, and more.

Character Collage 2019-2020

What up everyone. It has been awhile since I uploaded a character collage; like since 2018. But you know what, my wife and I had a daughter in 2018 so I did not have the time to do as many character drawings. In fact the majority of what you're seeing above I started to draw back in November of last year (we got childcare). This set of drawings is all done in dark blue colored pencil because I felt like switching it up from my normal style and using one color. This helped make it faster and helped me make work that's suitable for middle grade and picture books. Alright, please check these out out!

Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Ride 2. Fix it or Trash it 3. Photo 4. Jet Boil 5. Rollercoaster 6. Jump 7. Bandsaw 8. Protest 9. Haenyeo 10. Donny & Jalil 11. How's it sound? 12. Pack your bag 13. Argue

You can see the previous collages here too: 

2017-2018

2016-2017

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2009-2012

If you are interested in more information about any of the characters, want to work with me, or interested in a print just email me at info@robdontstop.com

Character 156 - Jump

Here's a new character design based on the short story "Flight". 

Here is the previous character 155- Fix it vs Trash it

Inspiration board 35

Here is my latest inspiration board (a collage of inspiring people, places, books, films, artists, musicians, and movements). I've been posting these since 2009 and I try to post 2-3 of these per year as I revisit things from the past and find new inspiration. Feed your creativity.

From left to right, top to bottom: 

1. Berna Anat-financial analysis/hype woman 2. Barbara Dziadosz-Illustrator 3. Diary of a Future President-Disney TV show 4. Risograph art (Sara Hagstrom) 5. Ana Tijoux- Cacerolazo 6. Vel The Wonder- Ice Cream 7. Metal & Enamel Pins! 8. Kaytranada -Bubba LP 9. Cey Adams-OG Graf writer/designer 10. Film Courage-Storytelling 11. Seba Kaapstad- Afro German band 12. 45 record covers 13. Moms 4 Housing - Oakland 14. Safia Elhillo - Sudanese American Poet 15. The Joy of Swimming by Lisa Congdon- Art book 16. Paul Davey/Mattahan-Illustrator

Thats it, click on some of the links embedded above and check these things out. And as always please check out the previous board:

Inspiration board 34

What's this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life's trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I've been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments.

Who am I? My name is Rob and I'm an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube.

You can purchase my book "Art of Rob" here