Family Portraits 1-Moniz Family

Yo, Happy New Year to all of you making another rotation around the planet. I just had the chance to paint my first family portrait. My man Tomas from Rad Dad Zine just hit me up to do a piece of his kids, who are mostly grown now. It is an honor and a blessing to paint this man's family as they are beautiful and he's a great father with nuff advice for young cats like myself trying to figure out how to do a better job. How to fall down, dust yourself and get back up.

So for these kids, they are a mixed bunch as far as their ethnicities. And their interest ranges from the eldest daughter (left) Geometric shapes, the youngest daughter likes music (middle left), Tomas (middle right) likes words, and the son (right) likes Graffiti. For this piece I wanted to put a lot of detail in their facial expressions, and to keep their bodies and interests real sketchy and rough. Thank goodness Papa Moniz dug it. Hopefully the kids will feel it too.

If you want a portrait of your family painted, holler!
2014, here's to more art, more inspiration, and more love!
-Rob

Children's portrait 20 & 21- Angelina and Daniela

These two are sisters , probably around 11 and 9 I think. They are Mexican, Salvadoreña, and Irish. Check out the patterns in their shirts. Their favorite colors were blue and red so I played around with that as skin tone again. Big shout out to their auntie, one of my best friends, an incredibly creative and down ass person.

Character 64- Short Round (Indiana Jones)

Short Round from "The Temple of Doom" . Yes, I've got some issues with this film when I watch it as an adult, but Short Round isn't one of them. 

Children's portrait 19-Untitled (soccer/dragon)

This little dude was painted real quick, under the gun of Christmas. I was told he liked dragons and soccer so this is what I painted. His family is from northern Europe and his dad asked that his name not be mentioned, so just enjoy the painting.

Characters 62 & 63- Olivia Pope and Olivia Pope

From one gladiator to another. Yes, I am a proud fan of the show. I drew this after seeing the first season and did not follow it past the 2nd. But at the time i really dug the movement and drive of the main characters. This is a character from the Shonda Rhimes show "Scandal".

Dig this? Check out this illustration of characters from The Last Dragon

Character 61-Jaime Escalante

I love the film Stand and Deliver. These are two good quotes from Kimo are: "Ganas means determination, discipline, hard work" "Don't count the times you are on the floor, you count how many times you get up".

Dig this? Check out these other characters from Stand and Deliver

Doin it in the Park-Documentary inspiration

I dont know, some how I totally spaced on seeing this while it was in theaters. The music and the vibe is GREAT.

Yuyi, LeUyen, Jerry, and Kadir-Inspiration

A few of my favorite illustrator/authors in children's books

Selling art at East Side today

If you're around East Side Arts, come through today as I will be selling art and taking orders for children's portraits!

Character 60- Usagi Yojimbo

Usagi loves ramen! Gonna send this one to an auction for Stan Sakai's family. Hope they dig it. You can submit too.

Jazz Collage: Portraits & Typography (2010-2013)

Here is a collage of most of the portraits and type I did over the past two or three years related to Jazz Musicians of the past and present. I cannot remember how I started this but I do remember wanting to try out some things whether they failed or worked. Weird styles, different color patterns, some of my favorites, etc, etc. Anyways, like many I found jazz through hip hop and for that I am truly grateful. It not only opened my mind to a different musical patterns, but different religions, philosophies, and world views.

Portraits: Lto R : Cassandra Wilson, Madlib, Etta James, Roy Ayers, Meshell Ndegeocello, Oliver Nelson, Amel Larrieux, John Coltrane, Dorothy Ashby, Nujabes, Freestyle Fellowship, Patrice Rushen, Bobbi Humphrey, Headnodic, Esperanza Spalding, Pharoah Sanders, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jose James, Abbey Lincoln, Dizzy Gillespie, Muhsinah, Mulatu Astatke, Eligayehu "Gigi" Shibabaw, Jneiro Jarel, Celia Cruz

Type: L to R: A-Amel Larrieux, B-Bebel Gilberto, C-Coltrane, D-Digable Planets, E-Esperanza Spalding, F-Freddie Joachim, G-Guru, H-Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, I-Invisible Skratch Piklz, J-Jneiro Jarel, K-Kat 010, L-Linda Oh, M-Miles Davis, N-Nina Simone, O-Oliver Nelson, P-Pancho Sanchez, Q-Quadron, R-Robert Glasper, S-Stuyvesants, T-Thelonius monk, U-Ulysses Owens Jr, V-Vinia Mojica, W-Wayne Shorter, X- nadie, Y-Yesterdays New Quintet, Z-Zelia Barbosa

 Some of my favorite songs from over the many Jazz posts are: and disclaimer, you might not think of some of these cuts as Jazz, but they are to me. Look out for more Jazz artwork and Posters soon.

John Coltrane-Aisha
Patrice Rushen-Before the dawn
Mulatu Astatke-Tezeta
Meshell Ndegeocello-Aquarium
Madlib-Dear God and Stepping into Tomorrow
Dorothy Ashby-Drink
Oliver Nelson-Stolen Moments
Zelia Barbosa-Pedro Dina
Amel Larrieux-We can be new
Roy Ayers-Aint got time
Bobbi Humphrey-My little girl
Headnodic-Something feat Rashaan Ahmad
Donald Byrd-Places and spaces
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble-Sankofa
Vinia Mojica-Sands of time
Digable Planets-Pacifics (NY is red hot)
Robert Glasper-FTB

If you would like to see who else I drew or painted click the tags "Jazz" "typography" and/or "Jazz Portraits"

Flashback-Book covers

When i was on my YA novel book cover hype. It's always nice when people trust you enough to say "do what you do"! some more oldies

Children's portrait 17 & 18-Kamau and Kai

This was a really fun one to paint. These two guys are very beautiful little boys. Their momma allowed me to paint a piece of them juxtaposing two separate photos together. The prints are meant to represent their African heritage and I'm not exactly sure how old they are. I'm guessing 7 and 5 though. Hope they like it. You want one of your child or your friend's child?

Sometimes it gets shelved #4- A little girl

Another in a series of works that never really saw the light of day. This was shaping up to be quite nice, but sometimes it gets shelved. Would you like to have seen where this girl was going? Their loss I guess.

Switch plates for November 2

Another set of hand painted switch plates for your Spaceship, Mosque, Boat, or dorm room. To purchase, go HERE

FLY-Positive Affirmation

Everybody needs to feel like they can do it sometimes, and it's a good reminder to do it even when you feel like you can barely walk. FLY

at the store

Character 58+59 Kuro and Shiro of Tekkonkinkreet (revisited)

I revisited these guys again. Black (Kuro) and White (Shiro) from the original story of  Taiyō Matsumoto

Switch plates for November

Here are some new switch plates for November, hand painted, made for adding a bit of color, mood, or decoration to a room. Purchase HERE

RISE- Positive Affirmation

RISE, A positive affirmation to have around. Purchase HERE

Justice for Renisha McBride-Collab with Dignidad Rebelde

Download poster here: http://bit.ly/HTXdE3

Reposted from Melanie Cervantes: PLEASE SHARE
Seeking help after being in a car accident, Renisha McBride,a 19-year-old young Black woman, knocked on the door of a home in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn Heights last Sunday. Instead of assisting her, the White homeowner Ted Wafe (54 years old) opened the door and shot McBride in the face with a single shotgun blast and killed her. She had knocked on several doors seeking help after the accident. #blacklivesmatter #justice4renisha #blackwomenmatter

My thoughts on this? It's hard to even verbalize how angry it makes me that black folk are being taken away from their families and robbed of life because of a nation's fear and or hatred of Black or Brown women and men. I wont go on, I'll just say that they cant take us away unless we let them. Shout out to Melanie Cervantes of Dignidad Rebelde for letting me get down on this beautifully colored/designed poster. Please share it and print it out if you are protesting. Shout out to Alicia for making the connection and call to artistic arms!

Clean out studio=Art Sale

I'm trying to get rid of some stuff in my room and my studio that would probably look better in your home, office, classroom, or place of work. From now until November 30th you may use this code (GREAT22) to obtain a 50% discount off art in my store. STORE link

The man who was afraid of falling down-Inspiration

Making The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling from Joseph Wallace on Vimeo.

The Man Who Was Afraid of Falling from Joseph Wallace on Vimeo.

Great short film by Joseph Wallace, Emma Rose Dade, and a slew of other folks.

Children's Portrait 16-Riley Nico

Here is a new portrait of a very cute little girl. She is 3 years old and she is Filipina, Latina, and Irish. I don't know if these are her favorite colors, but I tried to incorporate some of her culture in there. Hopefully her and family dig it. If you are just tuning in and are unaware of these pieces, these are childrens portraits I do for family, friends, and friends of friends. Please contact me if interested and check out the portraits I've done since I started a year ago. Happy holidays.

Inktober 7-Oddisee

Can't really remember the first song I heard from this dude, probably from Diamond District. I think it was around 09 that I started hearing about them though. Anyways, here are some greats from the homie Oddisee, go support: Along the river, that real, man I used to be. And the latest video.."Own Appeal"

Character 56 + 57 (Lion and Violin)

Inktober 6- Sui Zhen

first it was Gratitude, then Fox and Sui, then Midriffs

Muphoric Sounds 36- Mad_Lines

Young MC MADlines got an ep out, listen on Muphoric 

LINK

San Francisco Bay Guardian "Best of the Bay" illustrations

This project is almost unreal in a sense because I have been reading this newspaper in the Bay ever since I was a teenager. Im dating myself here but that was more than 15 years ago. Around that time I started to search for concerts, shows, etc. I mean this newspaper was how you found out about what was happening-no internet! I used to collect issues with articles about graffiti or turntablists so to be featured as an artist is amazing. Not only that, but my work is out now on the most circulated and shared issues of the year, the "Best of the Bay" issue where dance troupes, restaurants, musicians, politicians, activists, taco trucks, book stores, etc get voted the best. For a lot of Bay transplants this is literally one of the ways to get to know the city of SF and the greater Bay Area. So, here we go. One cover and four sections. It all started more than two months ago with this teaser image that was posted on the front page a month ago. The main theme was "sounds of the city" so the art director wanted to have a lot of instruments
.

Next up, the "Arts and Entertainment" section

Food and Dining

Shopping

City life

And the cover lawd, I thought "no problem" at first. But the more I drew , the more I struggled with what to do. I know some of you artists get that sometimes right? Im sure a 100 artists could do an ill cover, but hey this is mine and I had fun doing it. Especially after I changed and moved stuff around 10 times!

On the imagery, For this I wanted to show "Children". SF has one of the lower rates of kids due to the super over priced housing, but yo there are still hella kids there. My mother and all my aunts and uncles went from k-12 there. I wanted to show some cats protesting and playing music because i think SF comes from a very diverse array of people who all bring their own flavor. I want to give a shout out to my art director Brooke Robertson for backing up my ideas even if some were way off what she had in mind. And for giving good feedback to improve them. 

READ The SFBG issue ONLINE: You'll get a sense of why this newspaper has been and will continue to throw some rocks here in the Bay. Here's a couple of screen shots, will post real paper when I actually get one.