Akonadi statement on Affirmative Action

 

This is a very short yet powerful statement on the latest ruling striking down affirmative action in the United States by the Supreme Court. Akonadi is an organization founded on philanthropy and racial justice. 

ARTICLE LINK

In 2013 I illustrated a poster for racial justice and still believe that if the majority of working people do not know the true history of how racism (white supremacy) has affected every single aspect of American society including law, food, healhcare, transportation, housing, and yes public and higher education. This latest ruling acts as if hundreds of years of exclusion in higher education has been made equal by a few decades of partial inclusion. This is not true. 

Dig this? Check out this poster I illustrated for the Akonadi Foundation in 2013

Sierra Health Foundation - Theory of Change

Finished this illustration for the "Sierra Health Foundation" as a joint collaboration with Design Action who did the layout and design. Each round of the artwork involved feedback from Design Action and the client.

Here's some process:

Thumbnail

Rough sketch

Rough sketch 2

Color version

Final version before text was added

That's all she wrote. If you know of any young students trying to get started in illustration share this pdf with them.

Dig this? Check out this illustration for "In Dance Magazine"

Inspiration board 43

 

Hey fam, I hope you're well. It has been a rough one for me lately but trying to hold on to it. Check out some of these things that have been dope to me recently. Keep going.

Starting from top to bottom, left to right:

1. Major Taylor Iron Riders -video by The Pro's Closet (Cycling/Fitness)

2. Odessa- Middle grade graphic novel by Jonathan Hill (book)

3. Giant Robot- Doc about an AAPI magazine/store (film)

4. Monica Martin- Vocalist, songwriter from the midwest (music)

5. El Michel's Affair x Black Thought- I'm still somehow (music)

6. 1000% Me- Doc about being mixed by W. Kamau Bell (film)

7. Art of Cam Kendell from Fart Quest (art)

8. Hidari- Stop motion animated samurai (stop mo animation)

9. The Nakba- Educational video about the Nakba in Palestine (history)

10. Chang Can Dunk- Narrative film about personal goals (film)

11. Cymone Wilder- is an incredible lettering artist (lettering)

12. This Was Our Pact- All ages graphic novel by Ryan Andrews (book)

13.  Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur- Animated show based on comic (tv)

14. Endea Owens - Where the Nubians Grow (music)

15. Turning Red- Animated film by Pixar (animation)

16. The Last of Us- Post apocalyptic tv show based on video game (tv)

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more 

Inspiration board 42

Inspiration board 41

Inspiration board 40

 

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 Liu-Trujillo 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 also cop my first art book here.

Sometimes it gets shelved 6- Worker's union

Sup fam, been a while since I shared one of these. Its a shelved illustration for a west coast teacher's union. For some reason this didn't quite make the cut but we got almost to the end so I thought I'd share. Check out some of the process. 

roughs

Linework

Color sketches

What is this? There are projects I work on as a freelance artist that never see the light of day. I mean , its possible that they get used but I think more often than not the organization or company is trying to do their best and sometimes it doesn't work. 

Final

Dig this? Check out this piece about Migration from a few years back

Art vs Artist 2023

 

Been awhile since I did one of these. I tried to quickly pick some recent drawings , projects, or paintings that I like. Some of these are client work, but some are personal.  Top to bottom, left to right.

1. Read Poster 5

2. Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria by Rise Home Stories Project/ Leticia Hernandez-Linares

3. Fairy Big Sister

4. Character from We Are Yoga/Somos Yoga by Jill Guerra

5. Me

6. Illustration for In Dance Magazine

7. Ethnic Studies In Every School 2

8. Cover of my book Fresh Juice/Jugo Fresco

9. Dr Muriel Petioni-Blk history month

Dig this? Check these out:

Meet The Artist

Art Vs Artist 2020

Collage of Character 2020-2022

Art Vs Artist 2018

Illustration for "In Dance" Magazine

 

This is a fun project. Nkeiruka Oruche is the guest editor for this issue of "In Dance Magazine" and she invited me to write and illustrate a short personal experience relating to dance. When she asked me to participate my first thought was that I'm not a dancer but she wanted a mix of folks. Those whose creative practice it is to dance and those who've danced at some point in life, which I think is most of us.  Anyway, check out my illustration from the piece.

Read the whole magazine HERE

Here's my sketch, painting of dancers, and added background and text.

I had fun doing this and I'm thankful to writer, dancer, editor, multi-disciplinary artist Nkei for inviting me:). The magazine features a variety of folks from the Bay and nationally, regular folks and dancers of course with some interesting stories about family, tradition, culture, institutions, and lots of opportunities to move your body. Check it out!!!!!

Dig this? Check out 

-ACLU's "Realizing the Dream" 

-Drawings for Oakland's Chapter 510.

-Illustrations for ACLU X Central Valley Report

-My PDF tips to become a freelance illustrator

Inspiring Artist- Victoria Ying

 

Victoria Ying is an incredible artist and author from the LA area who I came across when she was working at Disney many years ago. I remember seeing a project she lead called "Extra Curricular Activities". Then I saw her in the "Lovely" book with women working in animation. I have been a big fan ever since and I loved her books "City of Secrets" and "Meow". Check out some of her beautiful paintings and drawings.

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 Victoria's site here. There you can catch some of the amazing books she's created such as "City of Secrets" and hear some interviews such as this one where she talks about her process for creating her graphic novel.

If you missed the last inspiring artist I posted, check out Ami Thompson or Elizabeth Catlett's work! And if you're still looking for more inspiration peep inspiration board 41 I made because everybody gets stuck. 

PS: Victoria teaches!! You can take a class she teaches on visual development here :)

Character 166 - Picture me cruisin

 

Here's a new self portrait for the new year. I pictured myself cruisin in a futuristic go-kart! One that hovers. Happy new year to you and yours. Trying to keep rollin with the changes. Every few years I do a new one to keep my website, blog, etc fresh. You'll see this new image on all the tings.

Dig this? Here's a previous self portrait I did in 2019 . Here's another one from 2015.

A few close ups...

The previous character before this was Mama Peng

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

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.

NEW!- Art of Rob is in the shop

 

Fam, the book is finally in the shop and the majority of the books have gone out to the backers. If you missed the kickstarter campaign now you can cop a book. 

Here's the link: ART of ROB

In case you missed it, this is the kickstarter campaign from 2021!

Video link