Video: Macla "Beyond the Diaspora" show

 

Yo, this is a video of the artwork up at the Macla gallery in San Jose California if you would like to see. The show was about highlighting Afro Latinxs of many types and the artists who participated are: DJ Leydis (Cuba), Los Rakas (Panama), Anna Lisa Escobedo, Breena Nuñez (Guatemala), Vanessa Wallace, Thomas Jones, Diamela Fernandez, and Patricia Encarnacion. 

If you would like to see a virtual panel discussion featuring some of the artists from the show tune in February 23rd at 6pm. Go to MACLA for more details.

My work was from several Inktober drawings I made of Latinx and AfroLatinx people (artists, activists, atheletes) and two spreads from "Alejandria Fights Back"!

This is the previous post I made about the show.

My Inktober favs 2013-2018

Yo! I started doing Inktober back in 2013 and i'm taking a break this year. But I wanted to do two things, share some of my favorites from the past and some artists who've been inspiring to me to watch during the month. Inktober really helped me stretch out with social justice, Latinx, and character design themes. And it has lead to me doing Black, Asian American, Women and Latinx history/heritage month drawings. And it is a reason to keep practicing. 

No matter how good or bad you think you are, you can improve. Often, I don't love 80% of the drawings and art that I do because I am self critical, but once I do put work out there I feel good about just making art. You can see all of the Inktober drawings I've ever posted here and some of my favorites are in this grid and listed below.

Ok top to bottom, left to right (click on each to learn more about them)

1. Fannie Lou Hamer 2014

2. Abstract being 2013

3. Ava DuVernay 2015

4. Black Hair 2015

5. Brown Berets 2018

6. Idalys Ortiz 2016

7. Walkman & Gi 2018

8. The Green Turtle 2015

9. 80 Days No Justice 2014

Here are some artists who've been inspiring to watch during the month of the years:

Melanie Cervantes

CreatureBox

Dani Diez

Weshoyot Alvitre

Marcus Williams

Avy jetter/Electric Storm

Sanford Greene

And of course Jake Parker the creator of this art challenge.

If you're interested in trying it out, here are the rules and a good realistic piece of advice.

Keep creating!

If you have questions for me about materials I used or subject matter let me know here or via email at info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 2018 - Dancer

Inktober 2018 - Berta Cáceres

Berta Cáceres was an activist, mother, and daughter from Honduras. She was an activist because she looked out for the rights of indigenous people (The Lenca) in Honduras, the land that indigenous people were born to, the environment, and queer peoples. Berta was an organizer and co-founded the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations which protected indigenous folks and the land in Honduras against corporations who sought to dam it, mine it, and cut it down for profit. Along with many activists and regular people she fought the Honduran military, Chinese and US based corporations/govt involvement in building dams and destabilizing the Honduran government. She received many death threats, then she was assassinated in 2016 in her home even though she appealed for protection. Before she was killed she received an award called the Goldman Prize, a prestigious award for environmental justice. 

I draw her to keep her memory alive as so many other artists have. Salute to her and the activists from the Dakota Access Pipeline to Honduras fighting to protect indigenous peoples and the earth. After all the oil, water, trees, minerals, and land has been used up-will we be able to eat money?

Sources: Democracy Now, Guardian UK, Wikipedia

Inktober 2018 - Walkman & Gi

Walkman & Gi

I drew this in 2018 as part of a series of drawings for the #inktober challenge. I imagined myself or a kid like me who loved music and martial arts. If you're old enough to remember, what tapes would you bring with you in your walkman? For me, probably a custom mix of Jazz & hip hop, Souls of Mischief, Raekwon the Chef, and a soundtrack like Poetic Justice, Juice, or something like that. 

Dig this? Check out 80 Days and NO justice

Inktober 2018 - Brown Berets

Founded in the 1960s, the Brown Berets are a community founded organization from California who organized around issues such as farmer workers rights with UFW, in solidarity w/ African Americans against police brutality, for access to education, retrieving stolen land, and to gain political power . Inspired by the Black Panther Party (Oakland) they formed a unit if mostly Mexican American high school and college students. They're part in the movement for Brown people's rights was in response to decades and hundreds of years of theft, murder, exploitation, and more by police, the US government, and by their local city officials who would of loved to sweep their righteous demands under the rug. The group still exists and were extremely powerful in organizing Brown people and for calling folks trying to deny their African and Indigenous blood (in order to look and be more white) to be proud of their heritage and identity. Their work moved beyond the voting ballot and they still work for the people today.

Sources: Chicano! Documentary, Wiki, Life, 

If you dig this check out: Berta Caceres  or 

My character collage for 2018-2017

Inktober 2018- Headphones

Drew this one using copic markers, micron pens to outline, and some colored pencils for accents. 

Dig this? Check out this drawing of the Brown Berets from the same year.

Inktober 1 -2018 LEE Quiniones

For those who don't recognize this guy. This is the one and only "LEE" or Lee Quinoines from NYC, one of my favorite artists of all time, a pioneer in Graf styles, and the subject of the 80s film Wild Style. 
Who remembers Lee? Who has not heard of him? Comment below

Inktober 2017 drawings + past

Inktober is done! Didn't make it to 31, but def worked out the ink muscle. This year and last year I focused on indigenous folks from North and South America, and the Carribean. If you like, you can purchase the originals , each one for $60. Or if u prefer a print, lemme know $20. Free shipping. Peep the link in my bio for more originals. My email is info@robdontstop.com . Since some of the drawings touch on a person or group involved in social justice , I would gladly make a donation to a suggested organization or cause. Thx everyone for participating. 1 Love. 

You can also see all my previous inktober drawings from last year, and the year before HERE

Here are some of the tools I used to do my inktober this year.

Inktober 19 - Dani Moonstar

I was inspired by illustrator Weshoyot Alvitre to do this one of superhero Dani Moonstar. This character not only has the power to shoot a bow and arrow but is known to use telepathy, and the ability to create illusions in the mind of her enemy. I don't know that much about her but dug her design. Oh and she was a part of the x force, xmen, and appears for the first time in the 80s in Marvel comics.

Sources: Indigenous Comic Con, Wikipedia

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  

Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 18 - Rosie Perez

Rosie Perez is a Nyorican (New Yorker + Boricua) from Brooklyn. She started her creative journey as a dancer in the clubs of NYC who was known for getting down to hip hop, house, etc. The first time I saw her was in the film Do The Right Thing, then followed her career as an actress. She has been an actress lending her voice and physical performance in over 60 films, documentaries, and TV shows. Because she is such an amazing dancer she also worked as one of the Soul Train dancers, and has done choreography for Heavy D, Bobby Brown, LL Cool J, Diana Ross, and Broadway. And now she's an author and a director who has written about her experience, mental health, and has been an advocate for Puerto Ricans. This is Rosie from the famous opening credits of.....you remember that movie?

Source: Sway in the morning, Various films, Wikipedia

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 17 - Guillermo Del Toro

The first Del Toro film I saw was La Espina del Diablo which was an incredible film mixing history, fantasy, and a bit of horror. Born in Guadalajara Mexico Del Toro got a fascination with film at an early age and has worked as a writer, director, and producer on well over 30 projects. Some of my favorites are Hellboy, The Hobbit, The Book of Life, and the first film I mentioned. As a child both my grandmother and my mom had a love for fantasy and horror. I then gravitated to these as well. Besides making films, I appreciate that Del Toro helps other filmmakers. Especially his hand in the making of "The Book of Life". You can see more of his work at www.deltorofilms.com

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 16 - Hugo Gonzalez

I couldn't find much on Hugo, but from the sources I did find they tell me that Hugo is one of those riders who was unafraid. And by that I mean attempting a jump or a trick that might come out awesome, or might break your collar bone if you land wrong. As a kid I loved bmx and freestlyle riding so much. But I didn't see any kids like me in media about the sport, so now I'm looking for them. Hugo is a rider from San Jose and was one of the members of the Norcal bmx riders (probably saying this wrong). Hugo (started at 15) was an influential rider from the Bay Area who turned Pro for Skyway and won many competitions worldwide. He was known for his jumps on ramps, his flatland tricks, and he still attends bmx reunions such as Steve Swope's Old School reunion. If any riders have more info on Hugo, feel free to comment. Much respect to Hugo! Here is a cool video of him.

Sources: KNTV-San Jose, freestylebmxtales43 blog, Ride bmx 

Want more bike art? Check out the L&M Tourers 2022

BMX Rider-Mariana Pajon

Inktober 15 - Harmony Santana

I saw Harmony for the first time like most in Gun Hill Road. I believe she did an incredible job in this film showing us the audience what it is like for a boy to transition into a girl. She showed us what it is like to have allies who support trans kids, and what it is like to live without it. For this image I imagined harmony in a post apocalyptic film/story. I imagine her playing a young woman as simply one of the survivors, who kicked a lot of ass to continue living. And although it would be great to have the film acknowledge trans poc, it does not have to be about that. Harmony was born in the late 90s and came to NYC as a homeless youth. She landed a role in Gun Hill and has since worked on projects such as Eating Out and You're dead to me. In addition to being a great actress, she is also an advocate for trans people of color in film, for the queer community, and for homeless youth. I look forward to seeing more from her in front of and behind the camera.

Sources: Gun Hill Road, Wikipedia, Indiewire

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 14 - Lydia Cacho

Lydia Cacho is a journalist, writer, and activist born in Mexico in 1963. She became a journalist as a young woman and growing up she had parents who I believe encouraged her question things and to champion the rights of women. She began reporting on individual cases of violence against women.  Sexual assault, rape, and murder. This lead to discovering a much larger problem at hand and beginning to expose individuals and those in power who either condoned it, ignored it, or were complicit. Because of her reporting she herself was sexually assaulted. But kept going and helped found a center in Mexico for women who were the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

She kept investigating in her own country and later internationally. She was the first woman in Mexico's history to take a case implicating mayors, district attorney's, and other powerful people to trial. This charged that these folks were protecting this the sex trade, sexual tourism, child pornography, and violence against young women. And many were connected to trafficking in other parts of the world. She wrote about this in articles and eventually in books such as Slavery Inc-the untold story of international sex trafficking, Los Demonios de Eden, and many others.

Having been spent time all over the world investigating these instances of abuse, being attacked, threatened, jailed, and awarded several international journalism awards she has become a shining example of how journalists can uncover the truth. But they must be protected. Journalists who get too close or speak truth to power are being threatened and murdered constantly in Mexico and worldwide. Follow her work!

Sources: LydiaCacho.net, Gesprek Op 2,

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 13 - Adam Beach

The first time I saw Adam was in Smoke Signals. An amazing film by Sherman Alexie. Although I have only seen a few of Adam's films (Wind Talkers, Suicide Squad, Four Brothers) Adam has acted in over 80 TV shows and films. In fact his career began almost a decade before Smoke Signals came out and he's still acting today. That is nearly 30 years. He's been nominated for and has won several acting awards. And In addition to acting Adam has been vocal about many issues affecting people of color in the film industry and some time ago founded a film institute to bring in native and aboriginal youth. Through this institute young folks can learn about how to make films and hopefully get them distributed.

Sources: Imdb, Wikipedia, ABFI

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 12 - Aurora Guerrero

 Aurora Guerrero is a Xicana filmmaker from San Francisco who started working in film in the mid 2000's. She went to school at UC berkeley and began assisting or working as a PA while she made short films. She then developed her first narrative feature film, the groundbreaking film Mosquita y Mari which explored a romance, attraction, and friendship between two young women who were Multilingual, multicultural and Xicana as well. Since the success of this film she's gone on to direct for TV shows such as Fly and Queen Sugar. On a personal note, I got to meet some of the crew who worked on #mosquitaymari and they beamed w/admiration for Aurora and her film. Once I saw it I understood why. We need more women of color directing films and tv! Can't wait to see what story she develops next. 

Sources: Remezcla,IMDb, IndieWire 

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com

Inktober 11 - Sandra Equihua

Sandra Equihua is a Mexican American artist/illustrator who works in animation. She has been an artist for a long time, but officially started in animation with the animated short El Macho in 2001. Since then Sandra has created concept art and character design for films such as The Book of Life, The Guardians of Oz, El Tigre, Mucha Lucha, and now she is working on designs for the films Kung Fu Space Punch and Son of Jaguar. In addition to her studio work for Mexopolis which she co-founded with her husband Jorge Gutierrez, she has exhibited her fine art in galleries. 

From Tijuana, Mexico, Sandra came from a family of doctors and academics but decided to pursue art. She is a shining example of artistry and style, and a role model for young women of color interested in pursuing a career in animation.

Sources: Mexopolis, Lynda.com, Imdb

Dig this? Check out this drawing of Yolanda Lopez (RIP)

Inktober 10 - Ezln

The Zapatistas (named after the Mexican revolutionary Emilio Zapata) were founded in 1994 in Chiapas Mexico when the NAFTA ( North American Free Trade Agreement) began. This agreement would be created under the guise of opening trade routes for money, trade, and goods to flow through the US, Canada, and Mexico. But really this a bunch of bs decided between people in power in North American governments. For too long in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries in Central or South America Indigenous, peoples have been disrespected, kicked off their land, exploited and murdered. Not only that, but their political autonomy has been disrupted and sabotaged by outside (mainly US corporations) seeking to get profit. So, the Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación Nacional banded together to fight the corrupt in the Mexican government and those who it employs. They wore masks to hide their identity and defended their land in the southern region of Chiapas Mexico. I heard many accounts from college students who went to assist them by getting their narrative out. In the beginning it was only small news sources, now even bigger companies like Vice have gone to get "content".  Commandante Marcos, & Ramona (commanders in the people's army) are gone so what is happening now? They've traveled to Mexico City to rally for their rights. There have been members killed.... If you know, leave an update in the comments. Respect to Ezln for their righteous fight for land and dignity. They are one of many indigenous peoples all over the world fighting back.

Sources: Guerilla News Network, Personal accounts, IndyMedia, Kpfa, 

Dig this? check out this drawing of Iguala (Ayotzinapa)

Inktober 9 - Lady Pink

Any kid who picked up a mag or saw one of the old flicks back in the day saw this woman's name and face. Sandra "Pink" Fabara is a writer born in Ecuador and raised in NYC. She started writing in 79 and was one of few women on the scene tearing things up. Still an artist today she has been painting for nearly 40 years on trains, walls, canvas, and digitally. To this day she paints and has exhibited her work world wide while also collaborating with the younger generation. 

Sources: Subway Art, LadyPinkNYC.com, Wild Style

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
Got an idea for an org to donate 30% cost to? Email me info@robdontstop.com