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!

Art for OPL Summer reading

 

Hey, the Oakland Public Library just unveiled some of whats in store for this summer's reading program and I got to do some illustrations for it. Check out the website here to see it and some of the opportunities to win prizes for not only reading but watching films, and doing other cool stuff.

Shout out to Matt Berson and Thomas Downs for the great designs.

Did you catch the portraits I've done for Chapter 510 in conjunction w/ the library? See that here.

Here are some of the paintings again.

Dig this? Check out these illustrations for the ACLU + Central Valley Report

Never Have I ever

Highly recommend this show and I'm only half way through the first season! And it got green lit for a 2nd season already. Go Mindy Kaling! WATCH! Hella funny.

Ethnic Studies Pack

Whats up fam? You can cop this pack of stickers and prints for your classroom, home, or office! I originally made the pack to help fundraise for this network of Ethnic Studies educators in Cali-follow them here on IG. But now that I was able to raise a bit of $ I'm going to continue to sell this pack.

Ethnic Studies for those who don't know is an organized curriculum of books, films, lectures, music, and culture that explore all that US and American history left out about African Americans, Latin@S, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. It now includes curriculum about Middle Eastern Americans, and sometimes LGBTQ studies as well. I'm a product of ethnic studies and i'm very proud to support ethnic studies curriculum all over the US in EVERY SCHOOL. You want a print or a sticker?

BUY ONE HERE

Did you see the show I made the "Ethnic studies painting" for?

Bookmark Pack 2

Yo, just finished a new pack of bilingual bookmarks for the readers of all ages. This time with a focus on comics. This is a pack so you can get one of each, 3, 5, or more. Check out the close ups of the bookmarks and...

Buy a Pack HERE

Did you see the previous pack of bilingual bookmarks? Here it is LINK.

READ Print Pack

Started this set of new art prints back in March and here are all four prints. Whats the point of these art prints? To encourage reading and literacy and to provide a mirror for some kids to see themselves.  

You can purchase the pack of prints here.

READ Print 3

For this this print I imagined a South East Asian Girl. This is the third in a new series of prints with a simple concept, encourage reading and illustrate an array of young people reading, focusing on children of color. If you'd like to get a print of this one

PURCHASE here.

Did you see the last print? Here it is.

Character Collage 2019-2020

What up everyone. It has been awhile since I uploaded a character collage; like since 2018. But you know what, my wife and I had a daughter in 2018 so I did not have the time to do as many character drawings. In fact the majority of what you're seeing above I started to draw back in November of last year (we got childcare). This set of drawings is all done in dark blue colored pencil because I felt like switching it up from my normal style and using one color. This helped make it faster and helped me make work that's suitable for middle grade and picture books. Alright, please check these out out!

Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Ride 2. Fix it or Trash it 3. Photo 4. Jet Boil 5. Rollercoaster 6. Jump 7. Bandsaw 8. Protest 9. Haenyeo 10. Donny & Jalil 11. How's it sound? 12. Pack your bag 13. Argue

You can see the previous collages here too: 

2017-2018

2016-2017

2015-2016

2014-2015

2013-2014

2012-2013

2009-2012

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

Bookplates 1-4

Check these out. Have you ever wanted to bring a cool custom gift to a baby shower? Or surprise your friend who is a teacher with a gift that not only supports literacy but champions children of color? Get them a book plate or several so they can reinforce positive reading habits as early as possible. 

You can purchase these individually or in packs of 10 and 30. 

STORE LINK

Story time print 2

This is the second in what hopefully becomes a series of "Story time" prints. I made this and the first print as art prints that could be hung in homes, libraries, or classrooms. Anywhere that children are read to really. You can purchase this one on Etsy HERE.

Bookplate 2 - Sci Fi Girl

Yooo, just finished this Book plate. For those who don't know a book plate is a way for parents, librarians, teachers, etc to label who a book belongs to. It may be that you got a book gift from a baby shower or you want to put your classroom name on a class book. It is for any of those things. I just finished up my first personal online store so you can purchase the book plate from me there either individually, or in packs. 

LINK

Bookmark 1 - READ

Purchase 

This is an image I illustrated a long time ago that I am repurposing as a bookmark. It features a young black girl with a bunch of books as the subject. The title is simple, READ!

Character 135 - Camel Pose

This is the Camel Pose in Yoga, also called Ustrasana. 

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 133 - Tree Pose

This is Tree Pose or Vrksasana, part of a series of illustrations featuring young people and/or children of color. Who knows where its going but yogi Jill Guerra-Burger!

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!!!

Campaign worth supporting-They Call Me Mix (kids book)

Hey folks! Ok all my children's book lovers, authors, illustrators, librarians, bk sellers, advocates....come closer. This book is at 202 backers. We need to get it to 250. Doesn't matter if you donate $1 or $500. Let's get this book by a two POC authors made. Not only is it written and illustrated by them, it focuses on gender and what it means-especially for young students preschool to elementary school age. Put this on your networks and follow the page  and 

here is a link to the kickstarter

Author: Lourdes

Illustrator: Breena Nunez

Old characters

Children's portrait Collage 3

So here is the third collage of children's portraits. I started painting these about 5 years ago. My goal is to hit 100 portraits and I'm almost half way there. I took a short break while working on picture books, but some of these have been in my files that I wanted to share. If you can do me a favor and share this that would be great. Share with parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, or guardians that would be interested in commissioning a painting of a child.

Here is the FIRST collage

And the SECOND

This is the original video I made to talk about them.

You can email me directly about this at Info@robdontstop.com or visit my Etsy Store where photos of the portraits are.

Children's Portrait 45- Sekani

This little boy is Sekani! I believe he is 6 or 7. He is Haitian and African American, and although I've never met him I love seeing his smile. His eyes and smile are as bright as the sun! Shout out to his parents who commissioned this as part of the kickstarter campaign a few years back for Furqan's First. 

If you would like a portrait painted of your little one or someone else's hit me up at info@robdontstop.com or visit the store.

Want to see the previous Children's Portrait of Zulu? Click HERE.

Children's portrait 44 - Zulu

I don't know this young man personally but this was one of the portraits commissioned awhile ago for a kickstarte campaign I ran. This and a copy of my book was a gift for the contribution.  If I recall though, this little one is both Chicano (dad) and African American (mom). His name? I'm glad you asked! He was named after the Zulu Nation (Hip hop community started in the BX, now world wide) and the legendary Shaka Zulu.

If you or someone you know is interested in commissioning a portrait of a child, please tell them to email me at info@robdontstop.com or check out my Etsy page for rates.

Want to see the previous Children's Portrait of Lucy? Click HERE