Lowrider Roll Models

Kay from the door-Japanese American Ms Flores, kindergarden teacher and lowrider Really inspired to see these stories, Right on Lowrider!

Daddy Thoughts 14 - Memes & Time Away

The first time I think I ever heard of a "meme" was in 2010 or 2011. My house mate Marc-a great Dad explained them to me because I wasn't familiar with them. I did not know how significant they would become either. Fast forward to 2017 and meme images are a ubiquitous part of social media so I see them all the time. I never post them myself but I do occasionally get a laugh out of them. My son however tells me "everything" is a meme. Corny songs from the 80's are memes. Sound effects are memes. Youtuber's or comedic actors are memes. And definitely photoshopped pictures with text using a popular image are memes. As an adult I sometimes forget how wide open the internet is, especially in social media formats. My son's favorite is Youtube now since Vine has died. There is nothing profound to say except that his since of humor reminds me to laugh. To take a second and just find something, anything funny, to be goofy, and to chill out. There are certainly some songs I wish had stayed in the past (cue Rick Ashley), but it can be really funny. I do start to wonder how much all the isms like class, race, and gender play into what a young mind thinks is worthy. Also, what is deemed funny and what is not. Also, who has the where with all to make memes and who just consumes them?

So my son's mother and I have a co-parenting deal where he spends school year with me right now, and holidays + summer's with her. It is tough. I won't go into all the details but I was thinking of how it is both difficult and helpful to have time away from your kid. On the one hand I get super sad when I walk past his room and don't see him. Or strangely, when I am not hearing him make loud noises or ask me whats for dinner fifty times I miss him. But then, when I get over this feeling I also enjoy quiet, solitude, the space to work, and time with my wife. It is tough and a blessing. How many of you co-parent in the same city? State? Or in different states? I think it is essential to being a good parent that I as a parent don't lose what made me an individual person before I became a parent. I think I can deeply love my child, miss them, and also enjoy time to myself. Thank god for grandparents and community. And....I think my kid enjoys time away from me too because he gets to spend it with his mother. And I'm thankful for that. If we don't have time to recharge it can be really stressful for the kid and the parent/guardian.

Urban Dads- Dad groups

This is a really touching video, so inspiring to see. Great to see groups like this, Fathers Incorporated (ATL), Black Men Smile(ATL), Fathers Corps (Bay Area), and others doing the work.

Haylow's photos

inspiring interview w/ the homie-artist, dj, photographer, and sports fan-Halline "Haylow" Overby. Hire him.

LINK

Baba's- Benefits of reading to your kids

Yooo, such a good article about the benefits of reading with your kids. It could be comics, zines, graphic novels, magazines, don't matter just read and peep this article LINK

Character Collage (6) 2016-2017

Here is my annual collage of character's I've either designed or reimagined both with traditional and digital means. My main goal with these when I started 8 years ago was to practice working on figures and faces. More specifically I wanted to create a body of work that could be applied to children's books, gaming, comics, animation, film, and more. I wanted to explore figures from the past, people of color, ethnic studies, activists, science fiction, and fantasy. Let me know what you think!

1. EZLN- Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacíon Nacional 2. Cyclops-Xmen 3. Kamala Khan-Marvel character 4. Bobby Hundreds-Fashion design 5. Side plank - Yoga Pose 6. Repeal the Jones Act-boricuas 7. Sara KhoshJamal Fekri- Martial artist 8. Mary "Butchie" Tom- Dancer 9.  Bgirl Terra 10. Trayvon Martin 11. Lumad Youth-Philippines 12. Memphis Minnie-Blues 13. Frosty Freeze-Bboy 14. Vicki Manalo-Draves -Diving 15. Edna Lewis -chef 16. Mena

You can see the previous years here too: 

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2009-2012

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

Character 130 - Cobra pose

The cobra pose and yoga for young people leads to transformation.

This is part of a short series of poc yoga art created in collaboration with Jill Guerra. To see the fruit of this in a book, check out this NEW Book!!!

This is a post about some of the first awards Jill made with some of my yoga illustrations.

Character 129 - Side Plank

This is the side plank pose in yoga.

This is part of a short series of poc yoga art created in collaboration with Jill Guerra. To see the fruit of this in a book, check out this NEW Book!!!

This is a post about some of the first awards Jill made with some of my yoga illustrations.

Character 128 - Warrior 2 yoga pose

Yoga pose- warrior 2

Rennell was proud of herself because she finally got the pose without falling over.

This is part of a short series of poc yoga art created in collaboration with Jill Guerra. To see the fruit of this in a book, check out this NEW Book!!!

Projects worth supporting: Comics, Food

Support the People's Kitchen-as they bring social justice and food together: LINK

Check out this new newspaper created by artist Ronald Wimberly LINK


Roye Okupe does it again with a new comic about Malka: LINK 


Mosaic Literary & Jamel Shabazz exhibition: LINK

Inktober 2017 drawings + past

Inktober is done! Didn't make it to 31, but def worked out the ink muscle. This year and last year I focused on indigenous folks from North and South America, and the Carribean. If you like, you can purchase the originals , each one for $60. Or if u prefer a print, lemme know $20. Free shipping. Peep the link in my bio for more originals. My email is info@robdontstop.com . Since some of the drawings touch on a person or group involved in social justice , I would gladly make a donation to a suggested organization or cause. Thx everyone for participating. 1 Love. 

You can also see all my previous inktober drawings from last year, and the year before HERE

Here are some of the tools I used to do my inktober this year.