A BIG Thank you is in order. My YouTube just hit 700+ subscribers. This is tiny 4 some but its big for me. Thx if u watched, shared, or subscribed. To put this in perspective, before the pandemic I had a bout 60-70 subscribers. If u have any Qs you’d like to see me explore feel free to comment on my videos or message me.
Dig this? Check out my series of tips for freelancers
Whenever kids ask me how I got started making art I tell them: defacing public and private property. Here’s someone I saw “up” a lot as a kid-KR. Didnt know he was from NYC but I saw him a lot! I remember the drippy tags and I remember when KRINK became a brand.
Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board
This was cool. I’ve never ever done a school visit in Union City. I met an educator named Roxanne Ramirez at the San Jose Made last year who has been a teacher for over 20 years. Not only that but shes an ethnic studies educator. Anyways, she invited me to her school in the Southern part of the Bay Area and I spoke to a whole bunch of students from 1st grade up to 5th.
They kids were super sweet, curious, and inquisitive so I had fun chopping it up with them, asking them questions, and being silly.
Some of the things we talked about or did on the first day were:
Some of the things we talked about on the second day were more focused on:
I really had a blast drawing with them and talking with these young minds, meeting their teachers, their principal, and many of the staff members. And I hope to make it back to this school again in the future.
School and Library Visits: I’ve been visiting students as a storyteller since 2012 yall. I started as an illustrator first and then I became an author. I visit many schools every single year. I’ve been all over the Bay Area and Ive read to students in California, Texas, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Ohio. At this point I’ve visited over 100 libraries and schools. Recently I put out the call to visit more cities in Northern and Central California. If you’d like to invite me to visit your school or library in the Bay or outside of it, I’m open to travel! Shoot me an email at info@robdontstop.com
Dig this? I did a picture book workshop for CCA college students in the comics MFA program.
These are the educators who spend countless hours prepping, reading, researching, and teaching our babies. They were kind enough to take a picture with me. Photos by Victor Guzman Benitez and Roxanne Ramirez. Shout out to the Social Justice Academy and the Ethnic Studies educators there. Hella appreciate y’all!
Emergency Quarters by Carlos Matias and Gracey Zhang is a really dope new picture book that I read with my daughter recently. Check out this video where I explain a bit about the book!
This is a dope story about responsibility, bravery, and trust as this kid is maturing enough that he can walk to school by himself. When he goes his Mama gives him quarters to call her in case of an emergency. On his travels we see his community and all kinds of temptation haha. Matias and Zhang did an incredible job with this one. Hats off to the editor, art director, publisher, and agencies involved
Review it on The Story Graph! Request it at your local library or independent bookstore.
What’s this? Whew, I’ve read over 500 picture books y’all! An author who I admire and respect “Adrianna Cuevas” was sharing her favorite books and it inspired me to share some of mine with you. I’ve read ok books, garbage ones, and some that I think are incredible examples of the picture book format. Here and on the socials I’ll be recommending some of my favs. Please support your community and the creators by requesting them at your library or local independent bookstore. Peace. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I am the author and illustrator of Fresh Juice.
Dig this? Check out these reviews of my book Fresh Juice
This past week I got the chance to visit a school out in Daly City CA called Garden Village for #ReadAcrossAmerica week. Ive been to a few San Francisco schools but never to Daly City to read so this is new territory. I spoke to a class of Kindergarten students and 4th graders. Its was lots of fun and the kids had great energy and questions. I hope to make it out there again soon.
School and Library Visits: I’ve been visiting students as a storyteller since 2012 yall. I started as an illustrator first and then I became an author. I visit many schools every single year. I’ve been all over the Bay Area and Ive read to students in California, Texas, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Ohio. At this point I’ve visited over 100 libraries and schools. Recently I put out the call to visit more cities in Northern and Central California. If you’d like to invite me to visit your school or library in the Bay or outside of it, I’m open to travel! Shoot me an email at info@robdontstop.com
Dig this? Check out this visit these photos from my visit to a school during the Texas Book Festival or my visit to Berkeley Public Library.
Peace #kidlitartpostcard day!
My name is Rob and I’m an illustrator/author from Oakland. I’m looking for middle grade, early reader, and picture book illustration work. Check out my work at Robdontstop.com
#KidlitArt #ChildrensBookIllustration #ArtOfRobertLiuTrujillo
Dig this? Check out the original Short Story called Spooky Ride.
Hey I painted this poster for Emerson Elementary in Oakland California. They are fundraising for the “African American Male Achievment” program there right now. They’re making prints for their families and they’re selling the original painting. If you’d like to get a bid in on it please
Dig this? Check out these portraits for Chapter 510/ Oakland Public Library
Skip to 7 min mark to hear the story.
This is a book about an Afro Latina elementary student who’s facing eviction. Her mom doesnt want them to rock the boat, her abuela meanwhile wants to fight. Alejandria has to decide. I illustrated this book during the pandemic and wanted to share it again today because it reminds me that whether some parents want to hear it or not, children like Alejandria exist and are either houseless or facing housing insecurity!
Synopsis: For nine-year-old Alejandria, home isn’t just the apartment she shares with Mami and her abuela, Tita, but rather the whole neighborhood. Home is the bakery where Ms. Beatrice makes yummy picos; the sidewalk where Ms. Alicia sells flowers with her little dog, Duende; and the corner store with friendly Mr. Amir.
But lately the city has been changing, and rent prices are going up. Many people in el barrio are leaving because they can no longer afford their homes, and “For Sale” signs are popping up everywhere. Then the worst thing happens: Mami receives a letter saying they’ll have to move out too.
Alejandria knows it isn’t fair, but she’s not about to give up and leave. Join Alejandria as she brings her community together to fight and save their neighborhood!
Publisher link cop it or request it at your local library.
Dig this? A bit of process for the cover for this book.
I came across Maurice Cherry almost a decade ago. Maybe even more. Maurice is a talented designer and podcaster. He created the “Revision Path” podcast which get this-interviewed and featured over 500 (yes 500) Black artists, designers, and makers from all over North America. I’m talking about illustrators, web designers, graphic designers, UI/UX designers, and more. So many people from freelance, corporate, and other realms-all doing design in one form or other.
Maurice was kind enough to commission me for two projects in the past using illustration called Recognize (Recognize 1 and Recognize 2 ) which highlighted indigenous and POC voices in design. I dont think it took off the way he wanted it to but I wanted to paint Maurice and just recognize the tremendous amount of research, interviewing, editing, and promoting he did to document Black creatives and the amazing work hes done as a graphic designer. Maurice is someone more colleges should be talking to about his skills and knowledge.
Dig this? Check out this Self Portrait I did in Gouache recently.
This is pretty damn cool, I get to be an instructor alongside Michaela Ellis w/ young storytellers at thee FAIRYLAND! Isnt that cool, no? I have been going to Fairyland since the 80s yall. First as a child, then as a young parent in the mid 2000’s, and now as a writer/illustrator for the past 4-5 years and as a parent to mydaughter. This workshop is a way to get young storytellers some practice and community. We’ll be working on writing AND drawing our stories in this series so tell a friend. More info: https://fairyland.org/youthwriters
Dig this? Check out that time I was invited to lead a picture book workshop for MFA Comics students at CCA.