Bakosō - NEW Film by Fantauzzi Bros

BAKOSO!

Yo, check this film out. Made by a Boricua about African roots in Cuba. This brother Eli has made films about music in countries all over the world and is a Bay Area representative! Its at 30 backers, can we get it to 50 by Friday?

LINK to support

Feel free to share

Daddy Thoughts 17 - Brand new daughter

"Fresh from god's eye" -Ursula Rucker

I've always loved that line. I'm not religious and do not subscribe to any faith. I'm not even sure if I believe in a god, but I have definitely called upon someone or something before....

 Well, in parenting news. In addition to being the father of a 14 year old boy I now have a brand new baby girl. She is smiley, glorious, beautiful, soft, cuddly, and a piece of my heart breathing. My wife gave birth to her in September and we have both been just adjusting to our daughter's every need. That means a lot less sleep of course and the slow down of the grind and hustle to really take time to smell her hands, hold them, and marvel at her presence. She indeed has a presence.

One question I have gotten a lot since she was born is if it is different from when my son was born. Of course it is. I mean, I feel the same and I feel very different. I was a baby when my son was born. My son's mother and I split up when he was 3 and some how managed to co-parent this child since then. Not without hiccups, disagreements, or challenges at all. But he's ok. My wife and I started our relationship over 6 years ago, got married 3 years ago, and now we have this beautiful little girl to be thankful for. We wished for her, wanted her, and prayed that she reach us safely. I feel so blessed that my wife and my daughter are safe and healthy. Baby girl is talking and cooing a lot. She is discovering things beyond a few feet in front of her and she is figuring out how to use her hands. She is amazing and it was extremely sweet to have her big brother meet and hold her (see photo).

A couple of thoughts with this one. Each child has a presence, and is so different. There are things I forgot about, and some things that are coming back to me very easily. One thing is for sure, I am so proud and happy to be her Daddy. I look forward to raising her with her Mama and introducing her to her family and community. I dislike the mountain of girls clothes with pink and having to have a bow or something pink for people to know she is a girl. Also, I wonder if that gender is what she will grow up to be. I can't wait to take her to the park and run around. Me and my son did that all the time and I loved it!

That's it for now.

Previous post: 8th grade feelings

Teymori EP - Inspiring music

This whole EP is crazy! Definitely feeling it.

Reading at RYSE -Richmond, Ca

If you are in the Richmond Area, come through. I'll be reading and chopping it up with families. 

RYSE CENTER -Richmond, CA

Sketches 2

Here is another dump of sketches from client, personal, and project work. Some of it seen before and some never published or used. I like the sketches because sometimes the under drawing is better than the painting. And it shows the thinking that goes into the final lines.

Angel from stand and deliver

Legendary DJ's 

Client piece around access to college

Client piece around access and youth of color

Client piece around access and youth of color

Drawing that was a cover concept for the picture bk I am Sausal Creek written by Melissa Reyes

Changing out a 1200 technics headshell

Drawing from the picture book "Furqan's First Flat Top"

Client piece around Families of color, access to a more equitable state

Arrest-unused art for a shelved project

Arrest-unused art for a shelved project

Erica Huggins of the Black Panther Party

Tarika Lewis of the Black Panther Party

MC Activist Bambu of Native Guns, The Bar, and Beatrock Music

Client work for a short about African American migration north

Drawing of Russell from Up

Drawing from the picture bk "I am Sausal Creek" written by Melissa Reyes

See the first sketch dump here

Dr Moses Powell (Musa Muhammad) - Inspiring Martial Artist

Super inspired by Moses Powell the minute I saw him moving and throwing people. It was not just his ability to manipulate the body that drew me in, it was the way he spoke and the fact that he looks like he could be one of my uncles. Watch! There should definitely be a film about his life story!

The Conscious Kid- 50 Books affirming Black Boys

Shout out to the "Conscious Kid" blog for mentioning so many amazing children's books featuring Black Boys from elementary to young adult, they have an extensive list for folks looking to build the pride of their young boys or to build the awareness of non Black folks. 

LINK

Also: Furqan's First Flat Top got a mention in here :) which is humbling because there are so many greats mentioned in the article!

2nd annual Social Justice Book Fair - Oakland

Folks, for the 2nd year in a row I have been able to help produce this amazing book fair with Social Justice minded kids bk creators, authors of color, queer and local authors. We started off in the mighty Chapter 510 space last year and have moved to Destiny Arts, still in Oakland. If you are around, we have many great book makers confirmed and the Grammy nominated group ALPHABET ROCKERS will be in the house performing alongside the kids and doing interactive tings. I will be there as well selling my book, reading, and signing books for families.

Saturday Dec 8th, 10am-2pm
Destiny Arts in Oakland
Social Justice and Diverse Books
Alphabet Rockers and various performers for kids
 Event link

Multicultural Children's Book Fair - DEC 9th Richmond, CA

If you are in the Bay Area and live near the Richmond area or are in Contra Costa County I invite you to bring your family to this event. Authors will be there reading their books, selling them, and signing them for folks who come. 

FACEBOOK Event Invite

The Bay Area Black Authors Network is a newly formed group aimed at sharing resources and information about publishing stories by Black authors, illustrators, editors, etc.  We meet regularly at Hilltop mall the last tuesday of each month.

The event is also supported by the West County Reads new Multicultural Children's Book Store at hilltop mall where you can find many children's books about Latinx, Black, Asian, Native American, and queer stories. The bookstore has been open just under a year and is thriving getting visits from teachers, librarians, parents, and kids

Write up in the Richmond Standard

Sausal Creek 8 - Photo of Me and Melissa reading

Here are two photos of me and author Melissa Reyes reading to some children in South Sacramento's "Meadow View Elementary" , photo by Nicole Martinez. 

To the date, we have read separately and together in many different settings and the book has reached a lot of people. 

Melissa Reyes is a former elementary teacher and decided to write the book when she could not find a picture book about a historic geological landmark in the Bay Area. The children had tons of questions and responses at this reading and it was a blast to visit Maestra Martinez' class! Check out the welcome sign they made!

You can purchase the book here "I Am Sausal Creek"

Character Collage (7) 2017-2018

Here is my 7th annual collage of character's, this time with some typography that I felt went with the feeling. For this year I wanted to go with a theme for once and might play with that again. The theme? Analog sound! I wanted to remember what it was like as a kid to listen to hip hop, soul, jazz, funk, etc. And I'm also thinking of young kids and parents trying to introduce their kids to music.

1. Digging- Young sis digging for 45's 2. Youth Sound-Sis wearing the headphones 3. Walkman-Turn up the bass boost 4. Boombox-Tapes & the box 5. Play that Beat - type! 6. Percussion-Drum & banner 7. Headphones - meditate w/ sound 8. Listening- next to the record player 9.  VINYL - Type 10. Dad's - who dig 11. Stereo-Remember this? 12. Turn it up!-Type 13. Lyrics - still matter 14. Speakers -Paying dues 

You can see the previous years here too: 

2016-2017

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2009-2012

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

Sketches 1

What follows is a sketch dump of client, personal, and unused work. I like the sketches because sometimes the under drawing is better than the painting. And it shows the thinking that goes into the final lines.

Client Sketch for a book cover

Client work for the ACLU around juvenile justice 

Client sketch for an album cover

Client sketch for a yoga project 

Can't remember who this was for, but it was concept type for a client

The man, Moses Powell who developed "Sanuces Ryu" - a form of jujitsu

Client type design

Sketch for Asian American Heritage month of comedian and activist Margaret Cho

Sara Khoshjamal-Fekri taekwondo champ

Client sketch for the Oakland Public Library

Client Sketch for juvenile justice

If you missed my sketchbook tour from a 2014 book, check it out here

link

SF Etsy reading nook

If you're going to the SF Etsy holiday Emporium bring your kids to hear stories from 12-1pm.

SCHEDULE I'll be reading there w/ Meena Patel!

One of a kind like me 12 - Me and Laurin reading

This is a shot and throwback to me and author Laurin Mayeno reading "One of a kind, like me" to a school audience in Oakland. I believe it was taken by Innosanto Nagara. If you still haven't gotten the book you can get it HERE.

And here is a recent review of the book by Neely's news

Alphabet Rockers - Walls

Walls by Alphabet Rockers https://youtu.be/WklALdTzCko for those parents wanting a song for kids that discusses walls and loving one another. AND its Bilignual!

Although AR are Grammy nominated and most love their message, they have been asked not to perform the song because some parents didn't agree w/ the message. Watch this and share w/ your kids.

2017 ACLU Annual report

Here are a few illustrations I did for the ACLU Annual report. You can see more of the report here.