READ print 5

 

Yes y'all. This is a new art print for my READ series! I really dig how this turned out and hope you will too. The helmet is a reminder to dream, soar, and fly. This is the first in a new series of 4. There will be 8 in total.

Get a print here

I've done 4 of these already. If you haven't seen them you can check the series out 

and purchase the previous set here.

SF Zine Fest Sept 4th

 

Hey fam, I will be tabling at this year's San Francisco Zine Fest. If you've never been, it is a large event with lots of folks making zines and mini comics on all types of topics from social justice, identity, life stories, police brutality, bicycle repair, art, to fictional stories, sexuality, and relationships. It's great for young artists to check out and awesome for librarians, teachers, and professionals who are looking to build a zine or mini comic collection in spaces where young people frequent. Come through! It's at the SF Metreon. Here is the facebook invite.

MORE INFO

Here's a video featuring a walkthrough the SF Zine Fest and interviews w/ creators.

Video link

I participated in a reading where I talked about my work and my first art book at Silver Sprockets book store in the Mission District. And it was dope meeting other creators. Here are some photos from that visit!

Dig this? Check out these photos from my trip to Columbus Ohio for SOL Con.

Rightnowish! - Podcast interview

 

Yooo,  I'm a guest on "Rightnowish" a podcast/ radio show with Pendarvis Harshaw on KQED!! Been listening since it came out in 2019 and have loved listening to interviews with mc/writer Rocky Rivera, MC/Historian Dregs One, Futbolista/Medicine woman Dania Cabello, Muralist Timothy B, Artist/Curator Ashara Ekundayo, Designer/publisher Mike Nicholls, Cartoonist Breena Nuñez,  muralist Josue Rojas and his Mama, and series pieces like this summer's "Searching for a Kiki" with Corey Antonio Rose who lovingly shares Queer Black history.

Rightnowish seeks out a broad array of folks in music, film, activism, organizing, performing and visual arts. He gets in depth with each guest and topic in a very short segment that is so sincere, clear, and inspiring. Not since "Home Turf" , "Distortion to Static", or "Hard Knock Radio" have I heard such a wealth of folks who are talented but underrated by mainstream media be highlighted. That's actually how I found Pen, through his doc on Mike "Dream" Francisco.

But, what's even better is that the team of host/journalist Pendarvis Harshaw with producer Marisol Medina Cadena and editor Jessica Placzeck make the process and final product PROFESSIONAL. When you listen you know who the episode is about. And you can hear it clear and concisely. Not all podcasts do that! And when I think about how they condensed our hour long convo to this short but meaningful piece; I'm awed. Subscribe to this show, share it, donate to KQED, and follow the team!

LISTEN TO MY EPISODE: HERE

If you'd like to hear another interview or see some press I've gotten please visit this page

Inspiring Artist - Claire Wendling (born 1967)

 

Claire Wendling is an incredible illustrator from France who was born in 1967. I believe I heard about her very recently through Schoolism or the "Trojan Horse" YouTube interview with Karla Ortiz. She's an OG who has worked in illustration, comics, and animation. I love her figures. How much she studies the human body, animals, and creates creatures, relationships between beings, and the care she puts into her drawings which are amazing.

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 Instagram. I couldn't find a website for her but you can watch this interview with her.

Video link

If you missed the last inspiring artist I posted, check out Ami Thompson or Zeke Peña's work! And if you're still looking for more inspiration peep inspiration board 41 I made because everybody gets stuck. If you dig Claire's work you can get her sketchbooks at Stuart Ng Books online.

Postcard Deal 2 revamp

 

Want some postcards to send to family and friends? Here are a few i've made over the past year or two waiting to be sent. I just revamped this set on my shop.

Cop  just 3, 6, or all 9 of them here.

Dig this? check out the first set of postcards here

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

Photos from Richmond's "Multicultural Bookstore"

 

Photo by Brianna Casanares

This past week I read at the Multicultural Children's Bookstore in Richmond California. I've said this before, but it bears repeating. This store has the most diverse selection of picture books in the Bay Area. There are many other stores that do a great job as well. 

Photo by Daniel Zarazua

They currently carry "Furqan's First Flat Top" and "Alejandria Fights Back". Please stop by their store though if youre in the North Bay as a destination for gifts, a place that can order books for you, or as a wealth of knowledge. The owner's name is Tamara Shiloh.

Photo by Brianna Casanares

One more of me rocking my Bridges Not Walls shirt by Kiwi :). I've been reading in classrooms and libraries for a decade now as a kids book author and illustrator!

If you dig these photos check out this reading at Bella Vista Elementary and this post w/ Melissa Reyes

Meet the Artist 2022

 

Hard to fit your entire being into an illustration. But I tried to put in a few things , today. Tomorrow might be different. But if you're not aware of it, this is an art challenge called "Meet the artist"! Check out "Art Vs Artist" which is another art challenge I did more than once. 

What I've seen in these "meet the artist" pieces is a self portrait, your likes and dislikes, name, age, height, background, and what are some of the things you carry with you. I added a few other things but followed that for the most part. Have you done this challenge? Comment below w/ a link of yours or tag me!

Dig this? Check out Art Vs Artist 2020, 2018

Recent interviews I've done:

Sticker Giant podcast 

Not Real Art podcast

Solo Nerd Bird podcast

Most recent book: Art of Rob

Inspiration board 41

 

Ok, here's some recently inspiring stuff. Left to right, top to bottom. I make this as much to share with you as I make as a reminder to myself:

1. The illustration of Maike Plenzke

2. Taking Children by Laura Briggs-non fiction book

3. Esperanza Spalding- Songrights Apothecary and her recent albums

4. Jerome Masi - Artist/Illustrator

5. Brown Ambition Podcast-Financial literacy

6. The Cot in the Living Room- Picture bk about community/mutual aid

7. Light & Magic- ILM documentary series (special FX)

8. Art of Ami Thompson

9.Wendell & Wild-upcoming stop motion film (Peele/ Selick)

10. Art of Derek Laufman

11. New Kid- Graphic novel by Jerry Craft

12. Stuart NG Bookstore- specializes in "Art books"

13. Art of Leo Espinosa-illustration

14. Danger Mouse x Black Thought- Because

15. Squid Game TV Series

16. Art of Chris Sickels/Red Nose Studios

Please check out the links and support these folks, things, etc.

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here are a few 

Inspiration board 40

Inspiration board 39 

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

Housing Video - Private LLCs buying up homes

 

In cities across the US there are organizations dedicated to housing rights and housing justice for this reason. People's homes are bought up, flipped in masse across the US and this should be fought by everyday working people. This is one of the real reasons we see homelessness on the rise and working people cannot afford to buy their own home. 

Article from Pro Publica- When private equity becomes your landlord

Podcasts about this