Sketchbook pg 4

 

Here's a page from my 2021 sketchbook. In between working for others and dreaming up my own books or projects I keep these sketchbooks to practice. Some of this page came out as a cool experiment and some was just play. 

Here's a video tour of this sketchbook. Enjoy. 

What's a sketchbook page? A sketchbook is a great place to play, experiment, and practice. Been keeping one with me in one form or another for over 25 years. Some books are just for letters, some are for landscapes, some for writing down ideas, some for client work, and sometimes I mix them all up. 

Dig this? Check out my Sketchbook Page 3

Video: Oakland Creates Interview

 

part 1

Here's the first and second part of an interview I did with Oakland Creates founder Avy Jetter. Check it out and come to the Oakland Creates Art, Comics, and Zine show in Oakland this weekend!

Facebook invite

Oakland Creates Art, Comics and Zine Fest began as a vision about bringing folks together through art and giving them an opportunity to present their best selves, learn how to make a living while both interacting and serving their community with positive action. A vision to help empower folks to learn about themselves and develop themselves in multiple areas of the lives whether it’s education, healing, leadership or fulfilling their own art vision.

part 2

Oakland Creates prioritizes women of color, Queer, Disabled, Black artists and or any underrepresented artists whether they be new or emerging artists just starting out or artists that just have not been given proper promotion or marketing. Oakland Creates holds space and gives opportunities to amazing creative folk who have something awesome to say to the world and our local community. Oakland Creates celebrates storytelling and positive engagement. Let’s keep the conversation going. Because if we don’t tell our own stories, then who will?


Time: 11:00am - 5:00pm
Where: OakStop 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA
Twitter:@Oakland_Creates

IG: @oaklandcreates

Dig this? Check out my episode of Rightnowish w/ Pendarvis Harshaw

Ethnic Studies in Every School 2- Purple

 

Just painted this new joint before the San Jose Made show and LOVE LOVE LOVE how it came out. I get in a rut sometimes and returning to this subject matter and composition really helped me do my thing and get loose. Check out some of the process art for this one below.

If you'd like a print of this bad boy, please visit my shop at THIS LINK

What is Ethnic Studies? Short version is that US history is Eurocentric and throughout time either mis-characterized, ignored, or completely barred stories and history from African American, Native American, Latinxs, and Asian Americans. I throw in Middle Eastern families as well. In the late 60s San Francisco State University (my 1st college) and then UC Berkeley were the first schools in the US to create college departments that housed teachers and courses dedicated to some of this knowledge. And to be frank, it is not just about a diverse we are the world photo. It's a bout understanding systems, power, challenging that, and changing the narrative. And that is why some are terrified of it.

Did you like this? Check out the previous "Ethnic Studies In Every School" painting I did (2019). Oh, and have you ever heard of Dolores Huerta? The Contract Buyers League? What about Marie Butchie Tom?

photo credit: My Momma!

Chapter 510-Sense of Belonging

 

This past fall I did some quick drawings for Oakland's "Chapter 510" who are always doing work around empowering young writers, readers, and thinkers. These are a few of the portraits of some young people for their collective poem called "A Sense of Belonging". More info about the project here.

Dig this? Check out this portrait I did of Leila for Chapter 510 and Oakland Public Library.

Or the illustrations for ACLU x Central Valley Report

My Dad the Bounty Hunter-Trailer

 

Nuff respect to Everett Downing who directed this upcoming animated series. Everett has been working in the biz as an animator, story artist, and director for over 25 years. See his experience here and watch the trailer for this upcoming show!

Dig this? Check out this interview he did w/ the Black Woman Animator or this painting of Brenda Banks

Latinx Owned Bookstores

 

There are over 40 Latinx owned bookstores within the United States and Puerto Rico on this list. Please check it out and support these stores if there's one near you. 

LINK TO Latinx Owned Bookstores

Dig this? Check out this bookstore called LibroMobile in Santa Ana or this drawing of Dolores Huerta

Libro Mobile - Video

 

Libro Mobile is one of very few Latinx owned bookstores I reached out to when "Furqan's First Flat Top" debuted and they graciously carried my book. As the only Latina owned bookstore in Orange County, they serve a crucial role in providing community and knowledge. Please watch the video, follow them on IG, and contribute to their campaign if you can

Campaign LINK

Dig this: Libro Mobile 2018,  The Latinx Comics Arts Festival in Modesto

Children's Portrait 73 - Malayah

 

Here's a portrait I painted recently of this cutie named Malayah, commissioned by her Papa for Mama. Funny story, i actually met this child at a kids book reading I was doing right before I painted her :)

What are these? These are children's portraits I paint custom for aunts, uncles, moms, dads, care givers, families and more. I've been painting them for nearly a decade. They're fun to paint and unique ways of giving someone a gift. Although the majority of these are of children and families, I paint young adults and adults too.

GO HERE TO PURCHASE A PORTRAIT

Wanna see some more portraits like these?

Children's Portrait 71- Cruz

Children's Portrait 70- Xinmei

Children's Portrait 66- Karen's nephews

Children's Portrait 63- Jabreel, Kubwa, & Jahlyl

Video-Oakland Creates interview (snippet)

 

Yo, heres a snippet of a longer interview I did with Oakland Creates founder Avy Jetter! Stay tuned for the whole ting soon and come to the Oakland Creates Art, Comics, and Zine fests happening Dec 4th in Oakland Ca.

Link for more INFO

Dig this? Check out this video describing the event

Adi Oasis - Mystic Lover

 

LOVE this song! Just discovering Adi Oasis or Adeline and man can she play and sing!!! Check her out

If you dig this check out some of the other stuff I'm listening to

Oakland Creates Art, Zine, Comics Fair

 

I'm excited to be one of many artists tabling at this year's Oakland Creates show. It will be my first time attending but I have been hearing about the show through its creator Avy Jetter for many years. Starting several years ago, this show gives artists, artisans, comics & zine makers a way to showcase their work with the people of Oakland. Most of the creators are Oakland based and I'm excited to be there. Check out the drawing I did for this year's merch. 

Oakland Creates Art, Comics and Zine Fest began as a vision about bringing folks together through art and giving them an opportunity to present their best selves, learn how to make a living while both interacting and serving their community with positive action. A vision to help empower folks to learn about themselves and develop themselves in multiple areas of the lives whether it’s education, healing, leadership or fulfilling their own art vision.

Oakland Creates prioritizes women of color, Queer, Disabled, Black artists and or any underrepresented artists whether they be new or emerging artists just starting out or artists that just have not been given proper promotion or marketing. Oakland Creates holds space and gives opportunities to amazing creative folk who have something awesome to say to the world and our local community. Oakland Creates celebrates storytelling and positive engagement. Let’s keep the conversation going. Because if we don’t tell our own stories, then who will?

Time: 11:00am - 5:00pm

Where: OakStop 1721 Broadway, Oakland, CA

Twitter:@Oakland_Creates

IG: @oaklandcreates

Check out this video of creators expressing their love for the show!

Here is the FACEBOOK invite

Here is a GoFund Me fundraising page to support the show

6th Annual "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair

 

Hey fam, it's that time of year! The 6th annual "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair" is upon us. As one of 5 organizers (Laura Atkins, Alejandra Domenzain, Peter Limata, Janine Macbeth, Innosanto Nagara, and me)  I'm excited to invite local kids book makers to share their latest and greatest books with local families, librarians, book sellers, teachers, organizers, and more. While some cringe at the title I know we're proud to bring together authors and illustrators who are progressive minded to one spot so the folks who actually search for their kind of books can find them all in one event. Board books, picture books, middle grade, YA, comics, and more. Check out the flyer I did :)

For this fair we encourage Bipoc, Queer, and Social justice minded kids book creators to table, sometimes read, or perform., and meet their community. This year it will be held again outside in Berkeley Ca. Please invite your folks to this event and check out these links for more info.

FACEBOOK Invite
EVENTBRITE Invite

Dig this? If you've never been check out some photos from previous years or the online fair we did during the pandemic w/ the help of Lydia and Peter of "Storytime w/ Mr Limata"!

Character 165 - Mama Peng

 

I was vibing to a Greentea Peng song and thought it would be cool to paint her as a mama and the performer she is. If you're not familiar with her, check out her music and her videos. She's a talented genre blending artist from the UK who I discovered through the Colors YouTube channel back in 2019. If you dig her music, whats your fav song? Mine is "used to" and "dingaling".

Dig this? Check out my Collage of Characters 2020-2022

and this painting of Rocky Rivera

Sketchbook tour 3

 

Here is my latest sketchbook tour with a book from 2021-2022. 

What are these? This is a video where I flip through my sketchbook and show some of my doodles, drawings, paintings, and ideas in between client and personal work. Watch and share.

    Dig this? Check out a page from this sketchbook or my YouTube channel.

Pinocchio behind the scenes - Drops Dec 9th!

 

Yoo, I'm so excited to see this new Guillermo Del Toro film. Not only because he made it and I dig his work, but because I LOVE STOP MOTION ANIMATION! Check out some of these behind the scenes peaks.

And watch the film when it debuts on Netflix next month.

Dig this? Check out the trailer for Wendell & Wild (Henry Selick/Jordan Peele)

Sketchbook pg 3

 

Here's a few pages from my last sketchbook for 2021-2022. Just finished this pad boy a month ago or so. 

What's a sketchbook page? A sketchbook is a great place to play, experiment, and practice. Been keeping one with me in one form or another for over 25 years. Some books are just for letters, some are for landscapes, some for writing down ideas, some for client work, and sometimes I mix them all up. 

This page is from my most recent sketchbook tour. Check it out here

Dig this? Check out sketchbook pg 2

Oakland Rising Voter Guide-Nov 8th

 

I got the chance to collaborate with an amazing young artist named Luna Yoo to create the artwork for this poster in the 2022 Oakland Rising Voter Guide.

If you're an Oakland resident check it out for recommendations on progressive local measures and mayor, city council, and school board candidates. For example I'm rooting for Greg Hodge, Sheng Thao, and Allyssa Villanueva as the new Oakland mayor.

VOTER GUIDE LINK

Here's some process artwork from this project. Shout out to Oakland Rising for doing hella work to connect every day Oaklanders with information and resources about their city. Respect!

I did the line work and Luna added the beautiful colors to the art. Awesome collaboration! 

Dig this? Check out some artwork I did for Mobilizing the Immigrant Vote

I'm a vendor at San Jose Made 2022

 

Hey, if you're in the South Bay, Central California, or the Bay Area please come to the 2022 San Jose Made Holiday Fair. This will be my third year either attending and/or vending at the event and I invite you to come shop, meet artists, eat, hang out, and play. There will be over 400 vendors selling clothing, art, household items, toys, pottery, sculpture, books, and more. They even had a photo booth and free gifts for the first 500 attendees each day. I'll be there at booth G20 selling kids books, art prints, stickers, and more. 

San Jose Made is a crew of artists and entrepreneurs who support small businesses and local artists through yearly fairs, markets, pop ups, and storefront events in the San Jose and Santa Clara area.  Please visit their website and follow them on Instagram.

Check out some photos from last year. My wifey helped me set up:)

Photos by me and the SJ Made team

Dig this? Check out my post last year

Storytime Friends

 

Hey yall, I’m happy to be a part of a new crew called STORYTIME FRIENDS w/ Peter Limata, Angela Dalton, Michael Genhart, Meera Sriram, and Alex Giardino, a community-centered project that brings the joy of picture books to children’s hospitals. STORYTIME FRIENDS features a video-recorded read-aloud series, related art activities, and book give-aways. For its inaugural year, the project has partnered with UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and more than forty authors and illustrators. The series host Mr. Peter Limata kicks everything off on November 4 with a video read-aloud of Dr. Rachel Remen’s The Birthday of the World, which will be aired at the hospital for the children. My book "Alejandria Fights Back" will be featured later in the series along with 40 author/illustrators across the Bay Area!! 

More info at storytimefriendsread.com OR you can follow their IG at @storytimefriendsseries

Stay tuned for more info!