Care Package for Black Boys

Just made this care package for you to send to a Black Boy anywhere. You can send this as a gift to a child, family, etc to encourage them to keep reading even in amidst the quarantine times we're living in. 

In this care package you will get:

-An 11" x 14" Read print

-A copy of Furqan's First Flat Top (Bilingual/hardbound ) a picture book about Black hair, imagination, and a father & son written and illustrated by Me!

-A copy of 13 Ways of Looking at a Black Boy (hardbound) written by Tony Medina, illustrated by 13 illustrators, including me.

-Two Bookmarks

-One Bookplate sticker

-One postcard

Purchase this care package HERE

Blasian Sticker!

Yo! Super excited to make and share this with you. This is a term I've heard used for at least 10 years to describe an esthetic, couples, children, and people. "BLASIAN" or "Black" and "Asian" to me represents families and people who share both Asian and Black heritage. They could be specifically North American, but I believe the term could apply internationally to these mixed kids. Being a mixed kid myself (Black, Korean, Mexican, Apache) I identify with this term and hope you can share it with others you feel would love it.

If you'd like to get one COP IT HERE.

Stay tuned for more and please check out my Self Care stickers if you missed em.

Just Us Video Interviews

Pat Cummings has been super encouraging to me and so many other book creators. Check her out.
This was a great interview about their work and historical knowledge about the Tom Feelings , Pat Cummings, Black creators for children, and so much more. This series is interesting because they interview some OGs in the children books world.

Old Art 3 - Big Daddy Kane

I painted this in 2001. I had just started using watercolors and it was part of an art portfolio. This man right here is one of the sharpest lyricists to ever rock the mic and is a pioneer. Check out "Young Gifted & Black".

Here's Old Art 2 - Overalls

RAD (1986) - Movies I love

LOVE this movie. Always have. I didn't see it in theaters because I was probably too little (1986) but I watched the vhs of this over and over and over again. Its is one of my all time favorite films ever. Still holds up. And you can now own it digitally which is dope. Cop it on digital platforms.

This is a great film about skill, talent, practice, love of your craft (in this case-riding bmx), redemption, and being an underdog. This film made me want to ride, and I did. For hours and hours, days and days. I felt freedom on my bike and always feel super inspired when watching this. The cult fandom of this flick is super deep and loyal too! And the soundtrack is dope-an eclectic mix of 80s synth rock from the US and the UK.

 

Here's an indy film I worked on: Transfinite  

What is this? This is a part of my blog where I share my favorites films. I enjoy them for their pacing, action, comedy, drama, lighting, acting, score, so many things. I grew up as a lover of cinema going with my parents, friends, and by myself. I'm no scholar but I bet I could find a movie we both love to talk about. Stay tuned for more.....

Kickstarter- 13 Ways of Looking at a Black Boy

Hey, please check out this kickstarter to help publisher Penny Candy Books reprint this wonderful book written by Afro Latinx poet Tony Medina from NYC and illustrated by 13 Black illustrators from all over the country including yours truly.

If this campaign is successful this book will go into its 5th printing. That means hella people have loved it and purchased it. But, there are plenty of kids who have never seen it. Check out the video, campaign, and throw down if you got a few bucks. Kickstarter LINK

Thanks in advance!

VIDEO: Wexner Center for the Arts (Portraits)

Here is the third video in a series where I talk about how I draw something for the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus Ohio. This one in particular is about portraits or faces. Check it out and share with the young ones in your life.

You can see the previous videos here:
Lettering
Characters

Inspiring Artist - Jamel Shabazz

This is Jamel Shabazz, one of the illest photographers to hold a camera. He's a former corrections officer and a portrait photographer who captured so many aspects of NYC, hip hop, and Black and Brown culture in the 80s. And he's still shooting today. I've known about him since I saw his books

Doesn't matter what genre you work in, check out Jamel's work. Check out his books for free from your local library, unplug, and get into it. Peep some more below.

Here's a recent interview he did w/ OG Black Thought.

Did you see the last inspiring artist I shared here? Peep Afu Chan

Afros - Coffee Table Photo book

This is a dope book by photographer Michael July self published around 2014 I believe. 

There are many shots of incredibly beautiful people in this book from all over the world who just happened to be on the planet Brooklyn for awhile.It was a humid and rainy day in Brooklyn. I was painting murals on plywood with my crew "Trust Your Struggle" at Afro Punk Festival. I think it was 2008 because it was before our US Mural tour. Michael came up to me and asked if he could shoot me adding that he was working on a book about "Afro's". It's so great to look back at this time, living in Brooklyn was a beautiful experience. This festival was like none I'd ever experienced.

I encourage you to get the book, check out the photos, read the intro by scholar Li Sumpter, and the quotes about the beauty and pride in our hair.

Here are a few more shots:

Blue Nefertitti

Cody Chesnut

Li Sumpter

Terence Nance

Toure

Did you see my post about Jamel Shabazz or Roy DeCarava?

Protection and preservation of Artwork/Murals -Oakland

If you're an artist who painted a mural or wall in downtown Oakland or the Fruitvale district and want to help facilitate yours and others being preserved please read this flyer and contact the "Black Cultural Zone" at info@blackculturalzone.org 

There have been multiple groups of folks working behind the scene to help preserve these works of art but the BCZ is bringing folks together. Please share with friends if you know of someone who painted something as well.

Articles about the artwork:
KQED-Artists honor victims of police brutality even as Police take their paint
KQED-Oaklands Black Lives Matter Murals Call for Justice

1619-2020 W/ Nikole Hannah Jones

Loved Nikole's reporting before I even knew who she was. When I discovered the link between her reporting and her I was in awe. Still am. If you haven't read "The 1619 Project" I recommend it.

This talk is about that, but more it is about providing actual concrete things white people can do to reach racial equity and so much of that has to do with acknowledging America's past, teaching it, and owning it.

One of the most poignant points she makes here is about tech companies and corporations trying to seize the current moment, not by committing to large shifts in their hiring practices but to saying "Black Lives Matter" in a tweet or giving laptops to students. I wish I could say more, but take a listen.

Never Have I ever

Highly recommend this show and I'm only half way through the first season! And it got green lit for a 2nd season already. Go Mindy Kaling! WATCH! Hella funny.

VIDEO: Wexner Center for the Arts (Lettering)

Here's the second video I created for the Wexner Center for the Arts. This is a quick tutorial in calligraphy or hand lettering. There are so many different styles and fonts to choose from but this is just an introduction. Since I was a child I spent thousands of hours practicing my letters. Please share with any young artists in your life.

Did you see the last one I did about characters? Peep it HERE!

"13 Ways of Looking at a Black Boy" feat in NY Times

Just wanted to share some news about "13 Ways of Looking at a Black Boy" that I illustrated for author Tony Medina/ Penny Candy Books along with 12 other illustrators. It was included in the NY Times magazine "Wirecutter's" list of Anit-racist books for children. 

Check it out HERE

Here's a synopsis of the book in case you missed it:

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Boy by Tony Medina offers a fresh perspective of young men of color by depicting thirteen views of everyday life: young boys dressed in their Sunday best, running to catch a bus, and growing up to be teachers, and much more. Each of Tony Medina’s tanka is matched with a different artist—including recent Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Award recipients.

If you'd like a copy you can purchase it from me now HERE.

Here is a list the book was included on as well: Cincinnati Library

Ethnic Studies Pack

Whats up fam? You can cop this pack of stickers and prints for your classroom, home, or office! I originally made the pack to help fundraise for this network of Ethnic Studies educators in Cali-follow them here on IG. But now that I was able to raise a bit of $ I'm going to continue to sell this pack.

Ethnic Studies for those who don't know is an organized curriculum of books, films, lectures, music, and culture that explore all that US and American history left out about African Americans, Latin@S, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. It now includes curriculum about Middle Eastern Americans, and sometimes LGBTQ studies as well. I'm a product of ethnic studies and i'm very proud to support ethnic studies curriculum all over the US in EVERY SCHOOL. You want a print or a sticker?

BUY ONE HERE

Did you see the show I made the "Ethnic studies painting" for?

Reading w/ Tia Chucha- July 9th

Excited to announce that I will be reading online for Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural y Bookstore in 

the San Fernando Valley (North of LA) on July 9th at 12pm. I've been a fan of writer Luis J. Rodriguez's work since I read "The Republic of East LA" which I read in the early 2000's. Luis is a poet and writer who started Tia Chucha's because there was no bookstore in this area. Tia Chucha's is also a press so it's great to be reading in their "Lil Readers" program which you can catch live on their facebook or Instagram pg.