May 31, 2017

One of a kind, like me 6 - Boston Public + Teachers for Change



"One of a kind, like me" the book I illustrated for author Laurin Mayeno was featured in the Boston Public Library's "2017 We are Pride" booklist for children's literature. Check it out and look at some of the other books on the lists.


The book was also featured on "Teaching for Social Change" list of books for activism. Check it out here We got featured alongside Zetta Elliott, Innosanto Nagara, Laura Atkins, Stan Yogi, Yutaka Haulette, Miriam Klein Stahl & Kate Schatz, John Jennings, and more!


If you still haven't gotten the book, you can purchase it here.

May 26, 2017

Website update


Please go check it out LINK

Inspiration board 27


Inspiration board! Here are some recent people, places, things, that inspire me. Top to bottom, left to right: Ymtk (musician)-Undivided, Cake walk illustration-Jose Luis Agreda, Motown book-history of Motown, Get Out-incredible film( horror/race), Roaring Softly-Tyler Feder print, Blasian Narratives-incredible docu-theater performance, Siaira Shawn(musician)-Lost, Hawk House-UK hip hop group, Demae Chioma Wodu- (musician) 1/3 of Hawk House, How to Find a Fox-Nilah Magruder, Bros N' Books-Book club, Sharon Sordo-illustration, Pref ID-Graf, Art Street-art show in Sacramento by M5Arts, Spike Trotman- indy publisher of Iron Spike, and this book about the Chicago Defender.

Here is the previous board 26

May 24, 2017

Kindred Journey 25 - Yuji Ichioka

Yuji is a pioneer in the field of ethnic studies. We both graduated from Berkeley High School and I was one of the students who benefitted from taking ethnic studies classes about both African American and Raza studies departments. Yuji was born in 1936 in San Francisco California. He and his family were imprisoned during WW2. Yuji joined the army and studied at Columbia University and UC Berkeley. He is the first person to use the term "Asian American" and was involved in the late 60's in the third world strike protests at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State where there would later be the first college with an ethnic studies program. He was also instrumental in founding the Asian American studies center at UCLA which he co-founded withVicci Wong. He authored books (A Buried Past) , volunteered in his community, and helped to push forward and found the modern conversation on ethnic studies which is basically reviving stories about people of color that have been lost, looked over, omitted, and or erased. One of the most powerful things about an Asian American department or term besides educating other people who don't know, is uniting Asians from different countries and backgrounds and that unity is why I titled this series "Kindred Journey". Yuji passed away in 2002.

Sources: SF Gate, LA Times, Asian American Activism Tumblr

You can purchase this original illustration $40 (includes shipping within the U.S.) by emailing me at info@robdontstop.com (a portion will be donated to the Yuji Ichioka Endowed Chair in Social Justice Studies, c/o UCLA Asian American Studies Center)

Kindred Journey 24 - Troop 12


Troop 12 is the first Japanese and Asian American boy scout troop founded in the United States. It is also one of the oldest. It was founded in 1915 through the work of Masunobu Morisuye. The troop was comprised of American born Japanese or Nisei. The group practiced wilderness and outdoor activities such as swimming, camping, etc. They also learned first aid and volunteered in the Japanese community in San Francisco where they were founded. The group was founded because they could not become a part of existing Boy Scout troops or were not welcomed into white troops. They completed all the requirements to become recognized and became a troop anyway though. The group recently celebrated their 100th year anniversary which has seen struggle during the imprisonment of Japanese during World War 2, finding sponsors to keep the group going, and maintaining a club for kids to learn for over 100 years. In addition to all of the outdoor activities and volunteer work the club scouts are often given the chance to travel to other states and the troop has even been to Japan to learn more about their culture. And the hat the trooper wears is in reaction to a member being teased by another troop. When Troop 12 heard about this, they all bought white hats and wore them together in solidarity.

Sources: History of Boy Scout Troop 12 (youtube), Japanese Immigration hearings

You can purchase this original illustration $40 (includes shipping within the U.S.) email info@robdontstop.com

May 22, 2017

Kindred Journey 23 - Margaret Cho


Born in San Francisco in 1968, Margaret Cho is one of the greatest comedians to do it. She has written books, starred in plays, shows, and films, recorded music, and done some amazing comedic performances. One of the things I admire about her is her ability to merge political and hilarious. Margaret started performing as a teen. She went on to be one of the first if not the first Asian American lead in an Asian American specific Tv show called "All American Girl". She had a broadway show called "I am the one I want". She has toured all over the world performing stand up, and she has been nominated for many awards like the Grammy's, Emmy's, and she has won awards from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). Beyond doing comedy Margaret has been an advocate for LGbtq rights, she has stood up against bullying, and has lead commentary to political issues. She is still performing and inspiring today.

Sources: MargaretCho.com, The Rubin Report, Broadly

You can purchase this original piece $40 (includes shipping) email info@robdontstop.com

Kindred Journey 22 - Mountain Brothers


Mountain Brothers are a hip hop group from Philadelphia with members Styles, Peril-L, and Chops. Besides Key Kool & Rhetmattic, Mountain Brothers were some of the only Asian American cats rhyming and putting out records. Coming from the Bay you see lots of writers, B-boys, and DJs, but very few MCs. That all changed when I saw this trio from Philly. Their first album "Self: Volume 1" came out in 1999, and their second and last album came out in 2003. They also had an EP titled Microphone Phenomenal. MB were pioneers for Asian Americans in hop hop and although Peril-L and Styles are pursuing medicine and science Chops still continues to make music. In fact the group united for a song on a Chops record in 2013 along with cats like Dumbfounded, Bambu, Rocky Rivera, Geo of Blue Scholars, Neil Armstrong, DJ Roli Rohl, and more. The guys are Chinese Taiwanese and simply by making great music and being themselves they have made history and given young Asian American artists role models. Galaxies!!!

Sources: Wikipedia, TaiwaneseAmerican.org,

Did you catch the one of Mndsgn ?

You can purchase this original piece $40 (includes shipping) , email info@robdontstop.com

May 19, 2017

Kindred Journey 21 - Mary "Butchie" Tom


Mary was born in Phoenix Arizona from Chinese immigrant parents. She came from a family who worked in and owned grocery stores in Arizona as many immigrants owned and worked in stores. Frustrated with the racism she experienced in Phoenix and her choices for work she took a bus to China Town in San Francisco. She first started working as a housekeeper cleaning when she got there and around 1940 she heard about a job opportunity to be a dancer in a Chinese owned nightclub to be opened called "Forbidden City" (the first Chinese owned nightclub) after the city of the same name in Beijing. She started out learning to dance using choreography and became one of many prominent dancers in the Chinese nightlife scene which was visited by all types of people during the start of World War 2. Mary married and moved back to Arizona where she continued to dance; square dancing!

Sources: Oral history-Chinese history of Arizona, Classic ladies of color

Dig this? Check out this post about Raveena (Aapi) or Rosie Perez (Boricua)



May 10, 2017

Kindred Journey 20 Vicki Manalo Draves


Vicki Manalo Draves was born in 1924 in San Francisco California to a Filipino father and English mother who met in the city. She grew up in the south of market area now known as Soma. She began diving at the age of 16. She tired to begin training at SF's Fairmont hotel and wanted to compete but was discriminated against because of her Filipino heritage. She had to change her name to her mothers maiden name in order to to enter competitions. It was said by her friends and teammates that the discrimination she faced lit a fire under her and when she made it to the olympic games in 1948, she was the first American woman to win two gold medals in platform and springboard diving. Vicki continued to swim for many years, got married and had several children. Today there is a park in San Francisco named after her and when she passed away there were many news publications that honored her. She even has a biopic film in the works about her life's story.

Sources: Kickstarter (Save our Story), NBC, Wikipedia, Olympics

Purchase: You can buy this original painting $40 (includes shipping). Email me at info@robdontstop.com

Zombi Kid campaign


Support this dope project, el Zombi Kid!!! 

Who: 656 Comics! 

Where: Ciudad Juarez, Mexico > The world 

What: An incredible new graphic novel (in spanish) about loss of loved ones, bringing them back from the after life, etc by an experienced crew of illustrators, writers, and designers who’ve brought over 10 comics to life and continue to be a creative force in their city on the border of Mexico and the U.S. Middle grade

Why: Because we need to read more incredible spanish sci-fi/fantasy/horror/funny comics. 

When: Their campaign ends in 56 days (posted May 10th, 2017) 

How: Sharing, sharing and more sharing


If you'll recall I visited 656 Comics a few years back to talk about art making and have worked with them in the past as a contributor to one of many comics they've produced. Check out this old video where they talk about who they make comics for.



May 8, 2017

Kindred Journey 19 - Tyrus Wong


Tyrus Wong was born in 1910 in Taishan China. He migrated to United States, specifically Angel Island in the Bay Area between San Francisco and the East Bay. He endured interrogation and detention because of the US policy called the Chinese exclusion act.  After his release and reuniting with his father he moved to Los Angeles. He loved to draw and paint as a child and attended Otis college as a fine artist. From the 1930s until the 1960s Tyrus worked in animation at Disney Animation studios and later at Warner Brothers. While working as in in between animator at Disney his incredible landscape paintings where discovered by Walt Disney and his painting style laid the foundation for the landmark film Bambi. Because of racism his work was not lauded or celebrated by the studios however, and Tyrus did not get his just due until he was in his 70's and 80s. Through his artistic career he not only painted beautiful landscapes. But he also painted Chinese calligraphy, greeting cards, ceramics, and built kites. Tyrus passed away in December of last year. He is survived by three daughters and two grand children.

Sources: NY Times, CAAM, CBS Sunday Morning

Dig this? Check out this ptg of AAPI animated characters

May 5, 2017

Freelance Chronicles 3 - Tech I Use

(Photo: Me by Joy Liu-Trujillo)

When I first started out as an illustrator I was using tech but didn't quite understand how I was using it. Even a brush that you buy in a store was high technology at one point. Now, I use tech everyday as an illustrator to make my business run efficiently. Here are some of the things I use. Some are free, some cost, but all are worth it in my opinion. These are mostly about the business side of things. If you're an artist, what do you use to make your business run? Leave a comment and share if this helped you out in any way.


(Scene from Dead Presidents)

Getting paid:



Cash board: 
I just started using this company's invoicing service and I have my wife to thank for the referral. It is great! I was using Microsoft Word for the past 6-7 years and I love the features on Cash board. For those unaware, when you are selling a product like a book (large quantity) or your services as an artist you need to put it in writing. That writing is an invoice! The invoice states what you're doing, for whom, when it will begin and end, how much you will be paid, and when they need to pay you. You also want to put down your policy on revisions, rush fees, delivery of artwork, etc. This app is helpful because it allows me to do all of that and to keep track of who I've invoiced, if they've opened it, and it send them a reminder to pay me weekly until they pay. You can also keep a running list of clients to plug in when making a new invoice and you can duplicate previous invoices for a similar job or client. You can also plug in a discount, send people an estimate. its awesome.


Credit Union:
I use a credit union for my personal account because I'm tired of the huge banks using their money to poison folks. I still have some other accounts with the blood suckers, but the majority of my everyday business is run through a credit union. The feature that I love most about many credit unions (and banks) is that I can take a picture of a check from a client and deposit it without having to go to the bank!


Square:
Square is a great way to get paid and I carry a square reader with me everywhere I go. People always say at festivals, book events, or on the street that they would love to buy a piece of art or a book but don't have cash. And after missing enough opportunities I got one (reader is free). Now, every time I see someone I can charge them at a restaurant, a game, a flea market, festival, wherever. Square takes a small cut, but the convenience and product interface is very easy to use.




(Steven Yeun)

Get the word out:
Ok, so most of you already are using social media. These are some of the ones I use.


Twitter: 
Twitter is like the pulse of the people, cultivating a community, making lists, and keeping up with the news, creatives, and thinkers. You can take a poll of a question or art piece, you can make a list of your favorite illustrators, perspective clients, donut shops, etc.


Facebook + Messenger:
I know some people hate Facebook and left years ago, and I know many use it everyday. For me, it is a tool to make small groups of people with a specific interest like animation, children's books, or DJing. The messenger app is what allows you to send messages to people on Facebook or chat without scrolling and getting lost.


Instagram:
IG is a ix of gallery and personal life for me. I use it to post some photos of my family and myself, but mostly I want to show my artwork there and what I'm working on. I now use the business function too which allows people t email me directly. If you're a visual artist, comedian, filmmaker, photographer, dancer, it is very helpful to just post examples of what you're best at. Some folks use it as a running blog of inspiration, meme's, or brands as well.

Linked In:
LinkedIn is helpful when I want to find out who someone is professionally, where they are based, and what if any experience they have. Say I want to know who an art director or agent is, I look them up here. Never have really gotten work from here, but it's nice to have an online resume and to be able to see others.

Tumblr:
Tumblr is a great place to keep your work and your inspiration. If you are one of those artists who don't have a website, you can make one there for free, it just takes a bit of research for the correct layout. You can post and reblog your favorite tidbits thereby filling your creative bank account.

Skype:
When I want to talk to a client in another city, state, or country this is the way to go. You can also talk  and chat with multiple people at once with Skype. Invaluable communication tool.


Keeping track of things:


Gmail + Google docs+ Calendar:
I use gmail. I like gmail, been a user since 2008 i believe. I had hotmail, yahoo, etc but gmail offered the cool features, chat with friends, and sleek design. I have my website email run through my gmail, as well as personal emails. But the best feature for me is Google Docs! So you could make a piece of art, an invoice, estimate, spreadsheet, write down book/project ideas, keep important personal documents in an online cloud that only you and who you invite can access. This takes away the file cabinet in a way, because you can create a document or scan one and never have to worry about where it is. I also use the google spread sheets to keep track of all the books i sell, all the money i spend throughout the year, and all the money I make. Also, the calendar is super helpful because you can keep track of assignments, meetings, or events on your computer and your phone.


Pinterest:
This is where I keep track of things that I like. I use this site to make boards of images. Before, i used to keep folders of images on my computer, but that takes up space. With Pinterest I can make a board for a specific client and keep all reference images for drawing there. I use it to make boards of inspiring stuff and to showcase my work a little bit.


Bit.ly:
I use bit.ly because it sucks having to type out every website or link for my work. And because I upload hundreds of things a year I need to shorten the links so I can post them on places like twitter where the amount you type is limited, and i can keep track of how many clicks the link gets and who clicks it, from where, which country, etc. These analytics help when marketing your work.

Hootsuite:
This helps me blast new pieces of art or important events to several social media at once.



(Photo: Flea market)

Selling work:

Etsy:
Great place to sell artwork for a tiny fee. I sell prints, books, stickers, paintings, and more through Etsy and it helps with shipping, keeping track of who buys what, and has mechanisms for messaging,  buy supplies, sub-contract, and is like running a retail store. There are others like Shopify, Square (which i also use), etc.


Youtube:
I use Youtube to debut my book "Furqan's First Flat Top". I'm not a youtuber but I am aware of the huge power Youtube has in showcasing products, advice, tutorials, music, animation, film, tv, and so much more. You can find just about anything on there.




Blogger:
Blogger I've used since 2007. I did not know what it was for when I started, but I quickly fell in love with the format. Much like myspace, the blogger site allows you to customize how your blog looks in so many ways. And I like it as a running showcase of personal and client work, inspiration, and more. In the past I've had links to favorite artists, or inspiring blogs. Now I just use it to showcase my work and to write about things that interest me or help others. One of the greatest things about Blogger is that you can keep track of the statistics of your posts, that way you know what people are responding to, and where they're finding it. This has been an invaluable tool and I have used it over the past 10 years to grow artistically and business wise.





( Photo: Me by Halline Overby)

Creating work:

Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator
I use Photoshop and illustrator to draw with. The majority of my illustration is done traditionally, but a huge step for my process is scanning art and cleaning it up. By cleaning I mean brightening art, or adjusting contrast. I also mean taking out dust speckles, or changing things. I use photoshop to draw with as well because it gets great colors, you can adjust the colors, and it saves steps for me to scan.


Ipad + Astro Pad:
So my wife got together with my family and bought me and Ipad pro and pencil, and now I use the "Astro Pad" app to draw directly onto the pad and photoshop the way you would on a Wacom tablet. Its great and saves me a lot of time when drawing thumbnails or comps for clients. I don't have to scan anything and I have gotten some great brushes for painting that I plan to practice more and more in.



Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher:
I like tolisten to new music and podcasts while i work. Soundcloud is for new music, Spotify for classics, and Stitcher or the podcast app on my iphone is for listening to podcasts on business, marketing, manufacturing, culture, illustration, etc.

Closing:
Other than that, the tools I use are an IPhone, Macbook (doesn't matter which computer or phone you use though imo) pencils, paint brushes, colored pencils, erasers, and paper. So i started as a freelance illustrator over a decade ago. I didn't know #$%^ back then and still feel like I'm just beginning in some ways. I've worked for newspapers, publishers, magazines, non profit organizations, small businesses, individuals, corporations, and some odd clients. But this is me just sharing some of what little I know. Please feel free to share it with students, folks making a career change, or people looking to run their business more smoothly. You can find me at Robdontstop.com or on Instagram and twitter.
-Robert Liu-Trujillo

Did you see my previous post about how I started in children's books? Click HERE to see it.

May 4, 2017

Kindred Journey 18 - Geena Rocero


Geena Rocero is a trans activist and model from the Philippines. She was born there and migrated to the Bay Area to join her mother as a teenager. She worked as a clerk in department stores and later went to NYC to pursue a career in modeling. Before coming to the US Geena was part of a very visible group of trans models or pageant competitors in the Philippines. When she got to NYC she did not immediately tell her full story as a trans woman. In fact, only her close friends knew. Recently she decided to come out by giving a well received TED talk. In addition to coming out and continuing to model, she also went on to found an organization called "Gender Proud" which produces media highlighting the stories and lives of trans folks.  In addition to this, she has spoken at the UN, and many other places fighting for the rights of trans folks who are often ostracized, bullied, discriminated against, or murdered. Her work inspires young people to be themselves and to fight for their right to exist, live, love, and work.

Sources: TED, Girl Boss Radio, Rappler.com


May 3, 2017

Kindred Journey 17 -Bobby Hundreds

If this is your first time seeing this, I started a series of paintings called "Kindred Journey" last year celebrating my Asian American Pacific Islander folks for the month of May ( Asian Amer history month). Just like last year I'll be dropping some paintings of folks from the past and present making their grand parents proud. 

This guy right here is Bobby Hundreds, the co-founder of the Street wear brand "The Hundreds". Bobby and Ben (then law students) started their company in 2003, decades after brands like Vans and Stussy, but not too long after Supreme and 10 Deep. They started with t-shirts that spoke directly to 80's and 90's kids using the iconic bomb, punk, hip hop, skater, pop culture, and California references. They then expanded to cut and sew products such as sweaters, pants, jackets, hats, and more. The brand Bobby helped build, design, market, and grow started with clothes and eventually opened flagship stores in LA (his hometown), SF, and NYC. Not only that they have created their own print magazine and a killer video presence that gives back to the next generation while inspiring new ones. If you have Asian parents or grand parents you know it is tough to get respect doing anything but law, medicine, or tech (now), but Bobby and his team have done it. Salute.

Sources: The Hundreds.com, Wikipedia, LA Times

Digging this? : Check out Kiwi of Native Guns