Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 7- Book trailer

Here is the book trailer for Furqan's First Flat Top, enjoy!

Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 6- Book Release!

Peace everyone, this Robert Liu-Trujillo the author and illustrator of "Furqan's First Flat Top" a bilingual children's book about love between a father and son, reassurance, cultural pride, and imagination. On Sunday June 26th (11AM-2PM) at the East Side Arts Alliance I will be hosting a small book release party. Please join me in celebrating the release of this book that took many years to complete, a kickstarter campaign, and loads of support from family, friends, mentors, and comrades. 

Coffee + Tea will be available from "La Cultura Cura" Cafe. 

STORYTIME for the children!!! There will be several local Bay Area authors there reading their books and I will read mine. Some of the authors reading are: 
Katherine Cespedes-"He was as big as a house"
Aya De Leon- "Puffy"
Ann Berlak " Joelito's Big Decision"
Malia Connor- "Mixed Heritage"

BOOKS: I will have books for sale for those who haven't gotten one yet as well as prints and other goodies( I will sign them as well). Some of the authors mentioned above will sell books as well. If you purchased a book through kickstarter or online and have not received it yet you can also get it from me there. Come through with your children, or friends kids, come just to hang out and say hello, come to check out East Side's new Cafe. See you soon. If you have any questions or concerns please let me know.
-Robert Liu-Trujillo
info@robdontstop.com

If you cannot make it to the book release but want to purchase a copy for your child, office, library, or school please go to FurqansFirst.com

Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 5-Books are on the way

Peace! Thanks to all of the wonderful people who have supported me on my journey to becoming a self-published children's book illustrator/author! A few weeks ago I got the shipment of my books from the printer and I couldn't be happier to tell you that yours (if you haven't received it) is on the way! Take a look at some shots of me getting the books, opening the boxes, and preparing stickers, envelopes, and the books to ship out. If you supported the project and put down an address thats the one I'm sending it to. If your address changed please let me know because I'm still sending them out. Thank you for your patience. If you know someone who would like to purchase a book, they can do so at http://furqansfirst.com
-Rob

PS: Got a new blog review/interview on Culture Chest ( a subscription service for diverse books)

Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 4

Peace everyone, this is for folks who supported my kickstarter campaign for "Furqan's Furst Flat Top" back in the summer of 2014. If you check your kickstarter emails regularly you already know I got the proofs back from the printer, but if you have not received the messages here is a quick update. I just got the actual book (YES, the real book) in the mail and it looks incredible. The printer will let me know shortly when they arrive from Singapore to Oakland. I'm estimating 5 weeks but I will return with a definite date so you know when to expect yours in the mail. For now, thank you for your patience and support. This process has taken a lot longer than I thought it would and I can't wait to share the book with you and the little ones in your life.

To purchase a copy before the shipment arrives GO HERE

New website for 2015

Hey now, I have an updated portfolio site up with some help from my love Joy Liu over at Swash Design. Check it out and let me know what you think! If there s anyone you know who'd be interested in pre-ordering my first self published children's book Furqan's First Flat Top tell them they can get it there. And, well..check out some of the stuff I've been working on. A lot more to come that I can't show yet. Blessings and more fruitful beginnings for the year.

-Rob

Furqan's First Flattop UPDATE 3

Hey folks, for those who gave and supported the Furqan's First Flat Top book project, theres is a new update up on the Kickstarter site and should have been sent out to all you backers. Thank you for your continued patience and support. The paintings are done and you'll see three of them there. Peep a snippet from spread 3 here.. The artwork has been passed on to Swash Design studio for layout, stay tuned...

Little Black Books Give away-Young, Black, Nappy

Hey all, please check out YOUNG BLACK & NAPPY! I ran into these folks at the Oakland Indie Fest and was delighted to find out that they were a family of naturals (afros, locks, etc). We got to talking and realized Furqans First would be a great fit for a contest they are running to give away children's books featuring African American children. So please  go to their site and check them out. Even if you already got a copy coming through the kickstarter campaign, please check out the other books they'll be giving away.

LINK

Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 2

Hello, if you are one of the many backers of this project, please go to Kickstarter and read the quick update. Almost done with the paintings, Yeee!!

Furqan's First feature- Kickstarter blog

Although the book is still in production, its awesome to get a message saying the project has been featured on Kickstarter's blog.

Go check out the roster of great books.

Furqan's First Flat Top UPDATE 1

Hey young world! I'm about 90% finished with the all the sketches for "Furqan's First Flat Top". If you are a backer, please check your messages from Kickstarter as I sent out an UPDATE only for your eyes. Thanks for your patience. Happy New Year, Happy Holidays, blessings to you and yours. Struggle on...... http://bit.ly/FurqansFirst

Latin@s in Kid Lit Guest Feature- Furqan's First

Today a blog post I wrote a few weeks back was published on the wonderful blog Latin@s in Kid Lit. It's about the social media campaign for my first self-published children's book Furqan's First Flat Top! If you are not familiar with their blog, please check them out. Not only do they invite a cool series of authors, illustrators, and book lovers to do guest posts; but they also make some pretty awesome lists of books for kids. In particular I like their list of Picture Books , The road to publishing series , and Resources for Latin@/ diverse lit

Go follow their blog and share some of what we've all been missing, more diverse books and more of a variety of Latin@ voices in children's literature.

LINK

Collage of characters (3) 2013-2014

Been a year since I last updated a collage with characters from practice, study, finished paintings, and sketches. These characters are an effort to build my skill in storytelling by developing the look of the people I want to see in the type of stories I want to tell.

Check out the characters from 2012-2013 

Interview w/ Bevel Code

Cassidy and Tyler (from Bevel) came by and did a quick interview about "Furqan's First Flat Top". The company Bevel makes shaving products specifically for men of color and has spearheaded a blog to focus on creatives, barbershops, black hair, and style. Go check it out at BevelCode.com
I'm working on the book yall!

Utne Reader Illustration 10- Make your own children's book

Here is the latest Utne reader illustration for both the Artivism section and for me to contribute as an illustrator and a writer. I chose to talk about me doing my own book and they were gracious enough to let me say it. READ HERE

100 portraits-Furqan's First

I started painting children's portraits about two years ago. I was having a conversation with my friend Krea, a fellow parent and vocal activist. I was telling her about my story and she was very supportive saying that I should find a way to connect with more parents to tell them about it. She suggested doing portraits of kids. I'd never really thought of that before but I did one of my son as a test painting of my son and he and I both liked it.

I made a video about it and showed it to folks on the social networks, and immediately parents started asking me to paint their child! I never had an experience that was so fast to connect with parents.

Originally I thought I might do murals in children's rooms (which I still may do), but that proved to be more expensive and time consuming. Take a look at some of my recent portraits and check out this tag for more photos of the process of painting these. Each one is painted by hand from photo references with the child's favorite colors, ethnicity, or nationality in mind.

Thank you to Nikki for being my first parent and for spreading the word, and thank you to all my moms and dads who've helped me get closer to my goal of 100 portraits by commissioning one of your child. There are about 32 portraits now and about 11 people have pledged for new ones, so that leaves about 19 portraits left.

This may be my last or close to last post on the Furqan's First campaign (for now); please share this one with any folks who are looking for a children's portrait as a gift for a grandparent or new parent. They can get the book, a hand-painted portrait of a child, and a few other goodies.

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Lastly, I've begun the tedious but exciting work of contacting book stores here in the Bay Area and across the US like Marcus Bookstore or Blue Stockings (NYC). I've started with some African American, Latino, and left-leaning stores, and I could use your help with recommendations for your favorite book stores. Some stores I've spoken to actually purchase books through Kickstarter campaigns as well, so if you know of any cultural centers or book stores in your city (anywhere), please ask them to pledge. Let them know there are only 7 days left in the campaign. If they do not purchase books through crowd funding sites, please email me your favorites! I'll contact them shortly afterwards.

 

Thank you all again, and stay tuned.

- Rob ( info@robdontstop.com )

If you are reading this and have not heard, several weeks ago I launched my first children's book through kickstarter. We surpassed our initial goal and are pushing for several cool stretch goals. Visithttp://bit.ly/FurqansFirst to see and share it. Thank You!

Furqan's First-We made it!!

We did it! THANK YOU all so much for being a part of this journey!

It has been amazing to see all the support from family, old friends, and many new friends. I'm excited to share with you this story and to give you sneak peaks as the production progresses over the next few months.

If you know anyone else who would be excited by this project, I've created a few regular and odd "stretch goals". Since we have already reached our initial goal, I've come up with some additional goals, with cool rewards for new and existing backers:

1. Some really cool, colorful, die-cut stickers printed on clear vinyl. The stickers will come in a pack of three or more and will feature concept or final artwork from the book. Get your laptops, skateboards, and sketchbooks ready! If we meet $11,000, this reward will go out to all backers of $25 or more.

2. Get a zine of my short stories! What?! Yes, I'll compile all the short stories I've written and illustrated over the past three years into one zine, including sketches, process shots, journal entries, photography and more. This 7" x 7" book will be 52 pages long, and printed in full color. If we meet the goal of $12,500, this reward and the stickers, will go out to all backers of $25 or more.

3. I'LL GET A FLAT TOP! I've had an afro for about five or six years now. But, I'll go to the barber shop and get a flat top. Really? Yes! I have not had a flat top since 8th grade. That was a long time ago, folks. I'll have the trip filmed so all can see. This reward is for all backers if we meet the goal of $14,000!

Again, thank you all so much for your support, kind words, and encouragement. Please continue to share this with friends and family. Tweet to Oprah, facebook Edward James Olmos! Let's meet the stretch goals! Here is the link: http://bit.ly/FurqansFirst

-Rob Trujillo

PS: Shout out to Bad Girl Confidence for interviewing me. Thanks to UTNE Reader for the upcoming feature. And shout out to Oakland Terminal and Edman Vargas for helping us cross the finish line! 

Furqan's First-Mentors

This is a shot of me working on some concept art for Furqan's First Flat Top

Thank you to all the new folks, family, and friends who just donated. Thanks to Healthy Black Men for blogging the campaign. Stay tuned.... I had a goal of reaching 200 backers over the past week and thanks to you I surpassed it. Not only that, we are currently over 80% of the way there. This week I will be doing my best to create a final push for the campaign to reach 275 backers and get it fully funded ahead of time. If you know any book lovers or people with influence in media out there who might be interested in this project, now is the time to share it with them. Send them the link and let them know there are several posts here explaining my journey and how I came to create this book. 

But for now, please read about some of the mentors I've met on my path. 

http://bit.ly/1qGf4lb

Heres the kickstarter link: http://bit.ly/FurqansFirst

-Rob

I made short stories to get here- Furqan's First

I once heard Will Smith tell a story about rebuilding a wall his dad tore down. I remember him making a metaphor out of the wall. It was about gradual steps that build something much bigger. Instead of seeing the wall as a huge task he saw it in pieces. He learned to lay the bricks that form a wall and that simple focused act soon rebuilt the wall.

Four or five years ago I was doing my best to track down an editor/ director of a major bi-lingual publisher (shout out to Adriana!). I finally got a chance to meet with her in Manhattan and was so excited to “get published” that I was blind to a minor detail. I was not ready yet and neither was my work. I wanted her to give me a key to a door I was not yet ready to walk through. When she told me I needed to work on my stuff then and again later on I was crushed. I met with other artists in the field like Kadir Nelson who kind of said the same thing. And you know what? They were right. I wanted a short cut. I wanted it all without having done any work. I thought it was easy and that they should just give me a magic doorway to success. But it does not work that way. To really mentor someone or see the potential in a young artist, you have to see what they can do right?

After I picked my ego up off the floor I reassessed what I was trying to accomplish and what I was doing. I was trying too hard to please. I wanted to tell the story that others wanted to hear. I was looking for approval from other people to do my thing. And I was too much of an amateur at storytelling to communicate my ideas clearly. I needed to study. I decided that I would practice and post up my practice so that it would make me accountable to myself and others started to take notice. I began a series of very short blog posts on various drawing skills or subjects. One of them, and perhaps one of the most important outside of drawing characters was my series of short stories. Every month and a half I would sketch, draw, or paint one image or more as an example page from a children’s book. Some of them came out awful. Sometimes I didn’t know where I was going with them. And sometimes they were dope.

The first one I did was unintentional. It was a gift for my son. It was a portrait of him in a fantastical realm where Aztlan and Africa met. When creating these shorts I let myself have the freedom to use any medium I wanted to. I went with any topic I felt attracted to. I did it exactly the way I wanted to. I studied master artists in animation, film, concept art, comics, and children’s books. I began to try new techniques that I had either left in the past or had never tried before. And you know what happened? I started to build a portfolio of odd, weird, and sometimes magical illustration work that showed growth, dedication, fumbles, and sometimes even a bit of storytelling. This new series began to liberate me in a way that I had never felt before.

Furqan’s First Flat Top came from this place of searching and finding. I’m so glad that the editor, Kadir, and so many other mentors gave me encouraging but stern feedback. It toughened me, and made me more determined. I came up with many ideas on my own, which I want to turn into stories and Furqan is the first one. I have a long way to go and a lot to learn, but I feel more confident than ever about what I do. I’m happy to work with like-minded people who actually see and appreciate what I do. And I am quite comfortable doing it without any outside direction or advice; except that which I invite. And let me tell you, it feels pretty good. Folks don’t have to respond. They don’t have to say anything and often do not, but I love it when people get it. That is something I’m rather proud of. And that is why I bring you this short story turned full-fledged children’s book today. Thank you again for responding with support. Look for more stories from me. Stay tuned, more words to come.

Yo!! In case you've been meditating on a mountain somewhere and have not heard, I launched a campaign to fund my first children's book called "Furqan's First Flat Top". Please go check it out, support, and pass it on. W only have 20 more days to make it happen. 

Daddy Thoughts 6- Dad day again

Today while walking out of the movies on father’s day I held my son on my back; giving him a piggy back ride, walking next to his mom. Strangely I was brought back to a promise I made to him when he was just a itty bitty baby in his crib. I’m sure my parents and step father made the same to me at some point. The promise was to be there for him, to be his guardian angel with or without wings (watched Maleficent). To do my best, even though I might #$%& up, and I definitely do occasionally. I lose my temper sometimes when I have passed the point of asking nicely for him to clean up his toys. I have been late to pick him up from school before once. Maybe twice. I once fed my child some moldy rice (ewww, yuck) and didn’t realize what the funny smell was. Bad dad. But, through the bumps and scrapes, I’m still here and so is he. I occasionally screw up, trying my best to make due with a graphic novel here, a smoothie there, a lesson in cracking eggs, and a regular “I Love You”. Said and done with all of my heart. This father’s day I did not spend it with my father or my step father even though I would have liked to have them both in the same room (maybe when I get married?). But, I did have a pretty awesome Fathers day with my son, his mom, a card, small gifts, ice cream, a trip to the record store, deep dish pizza, and a movie. I am a co-parent. I raise my son with my son’s mother together, through ups and downs.

I want to give a shout out to all the fathers out there today who like me have made a commitment and who will live and transition fulfilling it.  I want to say a prayer of forgiveness to any who feel shame for making a mistake, let it go and step forward. I want to say a prayer for those who are in pain mental or physical who could use our wishes. And I want to give a special shout out to the Rad Dad Collective for giving me a new place to share my energy and thoughts on parenting, even if it is just by helping other dads share theirs. I feel quite hopeful this year for new lessons and new opportunities. Peace!

-Rob

And (shameless self promoting here) in case achem* you have been under a rock or taking a break from social media, I have launched the campaign to release my first children's book called “Furqan’s First Flat Top” funded by a crowd of fathers and mothers, and book lovers like you.  Take care dads.

Furqan's First- Dropped out of college, enrolled in life

Get an education! From a very early age my parents, family, and community drilled home the idea that I must “study hard” (Korean grandmother’s accent) and get an education. They gave me plenty in talks about thinking for myself, always questioning status quo etc. Education. To learn, improve one’s self, the struggle to gain knowledge was took to heart and I carry it with me everywhere I go. I’ve repeated it to every classroom I’ve taught in. I put it in my brush strokes and I tell my boy. Thank you to all of my many teachers.

The following happened almost all at the same time, but I couldn’t just make one huge paragraph, so there you go.

So then I dropped out of college. Ok, I went for a couple of years but I didn’t raise my hand. I didn’t get tutoring. I didn’t join Mecha or the Black student group. I went back to the town (Oakland) to kick it with my homies after class. Going through several years at a college taking courses was not teaching me. I had to leave school to learn and to understand what it was that I wanted to know. Ultimately I wanted to know myself and the following decade after I left school completely transform me. I enrolled in life.

When leaving school I joined a group of artists who would later become “Trust Your Struggle”. I love these folks and they are my brothers and sisters. In the beginning there were just 3 of us and later we grew to three times that. Having come from many backgrounds racially, geographically, and economically we took the ideologies we grew up with or were studying and blended them with our many styles of art. We taught each other, argued, we laughed, talked shit, and I grew exponentially as an artist and as a man. We said things that were not so popular 11 years ago, but we made our own gallery shows when others said no. We participated in organizing efforts to teach youth about the intersection of art, ethnic studies, and organizing at schools and conferences. We painted large murals across the country for schools, organizations, and actions. The crew formed mural tours where we met people who shaped our beliefs in the US and some of us went abroad.

My most amazing beautiful experience came when my son was born. A little boy who me and his mother named for his movement and his voice. I fell in love with his eyes and have held his hand tightly in mine ever since. Thousands of questions, a fierce spirit, a reminder of how precious life really is. I am forever grateful that he chose me to be his father. In him I rediscovered a love for stories reading to him at night. I decided that if he smiled while listening to them, I wanted to tell stories about where he came from, who he is, who I am, and who is community is. So much of both his and my identity is rendered invisible in stories that play out in real life. I feel that the simple act of telling a story is limitless in power. It satisfies my need to ask questions, to be creative, and to love.

At the same time, I taught. A lot. I have been working since my early teens but when I had to command the attention of a room of fertile minds I……. I was trying to think of something poetic to say here, but I’ll just say that $%^& was hard! Then, I had all these ideologies and concepts of what it meant to be radical in thinking or action until I met people who actually made political and social change. Not through a name or a big personality but by organizing at a ground, hand to hand, foot on the pavement level. I worked for a stint with non-profit organizations then back to teaching. I met children all over the Bay Area and later all over NYC. I made lesson plans, power analyses, I made curriculum. I snuck in revolutionary quotes in graffiti letters. I played songs like “You must learn” and “ Wear clean draws” next to “tell me when to go” and “candy shop”. Overall I think I learned more than I taught.

Then, I fell off on with my art a bit. I decided that I was going back to school to finish what I started. I started to practice again, between diaper changes and lesson plans. I start to make plans to leave my hometown. I decide with my son’s mom to leave the Bay Area and to travel to a whole new city. To Brooklyn, a whole other planet as Lyte one said. I teach there too. In Brooklyn, Manhattan, Harlem, Queens, etc. My crew has moved there too. I discover some kids literally have their school paid for while finishing my BFA. I realize I’m the oldest dude in my new classes and very often the only man of color. Folks come up to me speaking Spanish for the first time in El Alto. I hear Creole, Hindi, Spanish, and Patois when I walk. I meet people who challenge my point of view. I meet some artists of amazing caliber and incredible new friends with hearts as big as the city. I plan, I decide to commit to a new craft; absorbing as much as I can about how to tell stories. I read children’s books, comics, art books, watch more films like a mad man. I graduate. Pop my collar one time. Maybe twice.

I come back to planet Oakland after having met so many different people and having a really different world view than the one I left with. So much has changed when I return because I have changed. My pace slows for a minute. Then I start writing and drawing again like nuts and what happens next?. To be continued to the next post.

In case you missed it, I launched my first childrens book “Furqan’s First Flat Top” on kickstarter this past week. Check it out.