Black Art: In the Absence of Light- Trailer

 

Hey, this doc inspired me today to draw like I haven't in a long time. If you haven't seen it, check it out!!

trailer link

Te gusto? Check out my last inspiration board 

Adi Oasis - Mystic Lover

 

LOVE this song! Just discovering Adi Oasis or Adeline and man can she play and sing!!! Check her out

If you dig this check out some of the other stuff I'm listening to

Pinocchio behind the scenes - Drops Dec 9th!

 

Yoo, I'm so excited to see this new Guillermo Del Toro film. Not only because he made it and I dig his work, but because I LOVE STOP MOTION ANIMATION! Check out some of these behind the scenes peaks.

And watch the film when it debuts on Netflix next month.

Dig this? Check out the trailer for Wendell & Wild (Henry Selick/Jordan Peele)

Power Struggle (MC) Documentary

Yo, brother Nomi aka "Power Struggle" (Beatrock, Odd Jobs, Kill the Vultures). Bro is an educator, musician, and organizer who not only writes about the struggles of working class people and does it with incredible hip hop songs. Nomi is from Minneapolis but he's been in the Bay for nearly 20 years and a comrade in this work to make art from the heart and simultaneously speak about the struggle for liberation whether it be specifically about Pinays, People of color, the Filipino diaspora, or young men of color. 

Listen to his new LP! Out on Beatrock music!

If you're in the Bay tomorrow you can catch him performing and listen to his new LP in Frisco!

And if you don't know him check out this short documentary about him by Eric Tandoc

Dig this? Check out this remix of Dead Prez's "Hip hop" by Pele Durian Funk

Shannan E Johnson - Screenwriter coach

 

I stumbled upon this channel that interviews filmmakers and people who work in the film industry. One of the people who immediately stuck out to me was Shannan E. Johnson for her to the point descriptions of story structure, outlining of story, and tips like this one about activity in a story. 

If you havent seen her Youtube channel or Instagram page please go check it out. I think her tips on story are helpful for comics, kids books, and any story really because they force you to think! She also teaches and consults with people. Check out her site:

The Professional Pen

Video: Slim Pickins Outfitters

 

Slim Pickins from Wondercamp on Vimeo. The first Black owned outdoors store in the US!

This is really exciting, reminds me of Rue Mapp!

Inspiring Artist - Gabby Zapata

 

I love Gabby Zapata's character work. I can't remember when I came across her but she has an incredible style, sense of color, and attitude in her work. It sings with life. Check out a few of these!

Gabby works in animation, comics, and illustration. You might have seen some of her work in films like The Legend of Tembo, Tangled, Alebrijes, and she is now a lead designer at Disney. She is from LA and both Mexican and Colombian!

If you haven't seen this before, it's a series of posts where I share and or highlight inspiring artists in a variety of fields relating to art (photography, film, animation, illustration, fine art). Check out a few of the previous ones:

Bisa Butler

Elizabeth Catlett

Jason Wilson -Inspiring words!

 

This was a really inspiring interview to listen to. In it this brother talks about healing, fatherhood, being a son, hurting, opening up to his emotions, and teaching young men of color to be open to their feelings. I realized I'd seen videos of him and his students in a dojo as he teaches martial arts. But, I'd forgotten about the emotional healing he teaches as well. Def worth a listen!

Weathered - PBS

 

This series called weathered on PBS about extreme weather conditions is enlightening, frightening, and inspiring.

Everett Downing Interview w/Black Woman Animator

 

This is an inspiring interview with animator, story artist, and now director Everett Downing. You can see some examples of his work here. Everett is super inspiring and I contributed to his Indiegogo for "The Book of Mojo" a few years ago. So excited to hear about his journey and directorial debut. 

If you missed my last inspiration board check it out here.

Brian Paupaw - Motion Graphics

 

I met Brian Deka Paupaw at a party in Brooklyn over a decade ago. Real genuine dude who does work for the kids and has amazing motion graphics work. Hire him!! 

Inspiring Artist - Elizabeth Catlett (1915 - 2012)

 

I went to see a show of Ms Elizabeth Catlett's work several years ago at MOAD in San Francisco and I've been a fan ever since. I think I saw an image of hers in a book and was just intrigued by her style. She draw, painted, printed, and sculpted as far as I know. And my god she and is dope! She lived from 1915-2012 , born in Washington DC and passed away in Mexico. I love how some of her drawings are super realistic and others are quite exaggerated in style. Her work illustrated Black and indigenous folks in a pride stance. She also was an activist and organizer so you get to see some of her thoughts on race and class in her work. You can read more about her life and her work in this recently published website of her life and her work: https://www.elizabethcatlettart.com/

Yo, if you're new: This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Again go to her site and check her out. 

                                                       

The artist at work!

I still have this image up in my bedroom and love looking at Elizabeth Catlett's work. 

If you missed the previous artist who I think is inspiring please check out Olivia Fields. Still looking for more inspiration? Check out this board of people, places, and tings that inspire me here.

There was one on Mattahan/Paul Davey too.

DJ Premier production process

 

These videos of Premier talking about his music production are dope! There's three of them up already!

Here's an old drawing of Guru RIP.

Inspiring Artist - Olivia Fields

 

Olivia Fields aka Tncts is an incredible illustrator from Brooklyn NY. I can never remember the exact moment when an artist makes me go "wow" and don't remember the exact moment when I saw her work for the first time either but damn she's good. Her use of color, composition, portraits, realism, cartooning, and illustration is on point like a mug. I love the fact that her work spans editorial illustration, comics, and print. She is one of the artists I look to for inspiration when I'm feeling stuck and if the different styles are any indication, she's just getting started. 

Yo, if you're new: This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Do yourself a favor and check out her bio and website here, You can also support her creative growth via Patreon, or just follow on IG. Peep more of her work below.

See what I mean?

If you missed the last inspiring artist I posted, check out Helen Mingjue Chen! And if you're still looking for more inspiration peep inspiration board 37 I made because everybody gets stuck. 

PS:I think I saw her work first during #DrawingWhileBlack. I think. Anyways, carry on.

Sistah Sci Fi

 

Check this out, a new book club and store that specializes in Black Women who write sci fi!! pretty cool. Check out their site.

Film Study 2 - Creed (2015)

 

Here's a film about boxing that I love. Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan have a great rapport. They seem to get each other and I think they've worked on four films together now. Anyone, this addition to the Rocky saga is a super intelligent well made one. I haven't seen all the Rocky films but I've seen some and this fits right in. Michael B is the son of Apollo Creed in this flick. 

This is a new series for me (a visual artist) exploring the language of film and tv. I love the medium like s many people and I want to learn more about how the best do what they do. Part of that is learning who does what, re-examining film and tv I love, studying shot composition, lighting, and camera moves. Anyway, if you're curious follow along.

Here's the previous film study- Juice 1992 film

Inspiring Artist - Helen Mingjue Chen

 

Yo, Helen Mingjue Chen is one of my favorite artists. She's an illustrator and concept artist for animation. She's worked on Wreck it Ralph, Raya and the Last Dragon, Frankenweenie, Paperman, Big Hero 6, and so many other films. She also has worked on a bunch of comics for DC and Marvel. If you have not seen or heard of her work please go check out her site and get her art books here. I have one and its amazing! Helen if you're reading this, lets book trade!

Here's a video link to here explaining how she does film work.

Yo, if you're new: This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times. And I am definitely geeking out on Helen's work because her stuff is amazing. The line work, the action, the design elements of her sets, and the lighting. OMG, So good. 

                                                     

Thats it for now. Like I said go check out more of her stuff. The last artist I mentioned that really inspired me is Mira Nair, see that post here. 

You can also see my last inspiration board here if you're currently stumped, maybe it will help.

Butcher Brown Tiny Desk

 

Been a fan of Butcher Brown for a minute and they're still rockin! Take a listen.

Organizing-Video Inspiration

 

For over a year I got to work with Ntanya and a crew of great organizers and I still carry conversations like this one with me. Organizing, base building, etc A lot of people talk, but organizing is hard work.

Here is a bit of organizing I do: Social Justice Holiday Bk Fair 

Inspiration board 38

 

Peace fam, 

hope you're all hanging in there ok. If you're in a rut, or can't find creative inspiration, I hope this will help. 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. 

All people, items in the board top to bottom, left to right:

1. Action film: Old Guard w/ Charlize Theron and Kiki Layne 2. Music: The Workout 2 by Stic Man (Dead Prez) 3. Art: Illustration by Olivia Fields (Tncts) 4. Music: Soul artist Sebastian Mikael 5. Music: MC Gavlyn 6. Books: Umber magazine POC focused 7. Art: Marcel Moshki character designs 8. Music: Untitled (Rise) album by Sault 9. Music: MC Nayana IZ 10. Art: Plein Air ptg by Angela Sung 11. Books: The Will to Change by Bell Hooks 12. Film: Inner Workings by Leo Matsuda 13. Books: Waxpoetics Magazine Music focused 14. Activism: APTP-Anti Police Terror Project (support for people in crisis vs police) 15. Radio: Right Nowish podcast by Pendarvis Harshaw 16. Art: Illustration by Radhia Rahman

Please check out and support the folks mentioned in them. Hopefully some of them will inspire you too. Scroll down below to see the previous board. Feel free to share.

Inspiration board 37 (Jan 2021)

Inspiration board 36 (Aug 2020)

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