I did two versions of this and scrapped the first one in favor of this. Its hand writing. instead of painting and I like how it came out. Its a gentle reminder to warm up before you get to business creatively. Maybe you’re a singer, a sculptor, designers, dancer, athlete, coder, organizer, painter, photographer, whatever. It helps to warm up or practice first.
Dig this? Check out this “Stay Principled & Curious” sticker
I just took a Loish class online which was inspired by Eliza Ivanova and a few others and tried out what they do using pencil and smudging or shading and it came out dope. Using her reference I made this and thought of sister opening a portal.
Dig this? Check out my collage of characters 2022-2024
Yo, I’ve been going to SJ Made since 2019 as a visitor and I’ve been a vendor off and on since 2021. This is one of the most professional craft fairs in the Bay Area. Period. I plan to start posting more about shows I’ve done and sharing my set up and realized I had this one in the chamber still.
Ok, when I pull up, they have a taped off section for vendors and they’ve already sent a message containing the info about when to set up, support such as tables, portable walls, etc and where I will be. This is how I pull up with my rolling cart and a few boxes. The first boxes usually contain my kids books, stickers, postcards, bookmarks, and prints.
It takes several trips to bring all the gear from my car to my spot or number.
Next I start to pull up with the pieces I need for my display. I usually start with putting up my foldable table first which will hold my books and smaller items.
When I started out I used to have my art prints sitting flat but through experimentation, research, and advice I started displaying them larger, higher up, and at eye level so passerbys will see them. If they can’t see it, they’re not going to buy it. I built these displays by hand with wood, glue, screws, and picture frame magnets from a hardware store. Each is meant to display four 11″ x 14″ art prints.
Next up are the kids books and the displays. I have written and or illustrated over 10 kids books that are out. Mostly picture books for ages 4-8, but I’ve done some middle grade for ages 8-12 as well. At this stage I usually place the display for stickers or postcards in the middle for symmetry. I then put two levels of books. One directly on the table and one a little bit higher up. Recently I’ve experimented with having a cardboard display with a darker contrasting color behind the books.
After I’m done with that I start to put up my art prints, usually in sets of four that can be purchased for a discount as a set. The prints were a game changer in terms of revenue I make at a show. Before it was just young people who’d buy one sticker. Or a parent or auntie who’d buy 1-2 books. But once I started to display my prints more prominently they sold. I come with display copies and I bring a box of prints that have a plastic sleeve, a note about the artwork with a link to my work, and a cardboard backing to keep it from getting damaged.
Next up after prints and books is my wooden display where I put vinyl stickers, sticker packs, sticker sheets, postcards, bookmarks, and sometimes a mini comic. ALSO, i put out a form for my email newsletter. Its great to guide folks to your social media, website, and store. But having a Substack, email newsletter, or something like it is a great way to reach your supporters and future customers directly!
After that, I put up my “Art of Rob” sign, get my tea, snack, a paper to write notes about the event, cash, square reader, and I’m ready to go. One day I’ll do a post on how to talk to folks. But this is how I set up my table. Photo by Rachel Kenney aka REK inc.
Dig this? Check out this 2019 post I wrote about how to improve your merch table. How I got to 1000 sales on Etsy, or Why I still use Business cards today!
Pretty cool to have my book “Fresh Juice” added to the California Dept of Education’s recommended list! Check it out from your local public library or request it at your local independent bookstore. Via Lee & Low Books.
Dig this? Check out this reading of the book by Storyline Online feat Da’Vine Joy Randolph
Ey, heres an OG picture book I used to read to my son. Gathering the sun written by Alma Flor Ada and illustrated by Simón Silva. Check out the video and share with anyone who’d be interested. You can request this book at your local library or cop it from here.
Dig this? Check out “A New Kind of Wild” by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
Thanks to the organizing and kindness of Aspire Education in Oakland who provide tutoring, mentoring, and support to public school students in the Bay Area I was able to read to Lincoln Elementary. All photos by Beau Tindle.
Lincoln is smack dab in the middle of Oakland’s Chinatown and has a predominantly AAPI student body, but a lot of families from different backgrounds are mixed in there.
Staff from Community Reading Buddies and Aspire provided information and resources for the family, pizza, salad, cookies, and snacks, and free books!
As families started to pour in and get ready for me to read I began getting my daughter and my presentation set up.
I began reading “Fresh juice” published by Lee & Low Books to the little kids, tweens, and parents and found everyone super engaged, responsive, and curious.
There were several copies of the book given away that evening and many folks followed along with me as I read the story. I’ve read a hundred times but its still fun to engage the audience with details from their life experience like taking public transportation, going to farmer’s markets, or the kinds of fruits and veggies we eat at home or school.
After I read the book I got to share a little bit of the art process as I often do. I walked around showing my sketchbook as well. While it is nice to get ooh’s and ahhh’s from young people seeing your drawings, I don’t remember ever meeting an author or illustrator in school as a shorty. The work organizations like Aspire Education do is vital, for inspiration and academic success. So, I hope that some of them will be inspired to draw or write for books.
If you haven’t read “Fresh Juice” you can watch and listen to a reading HERE by actor Da’Vine Joy Randolph courtesy of Storyline Online and SAG Aftra Foundation.
One of the coolest things about my job by far is meeting young people who are not just artists, writers, change makers, etc but literally the future. This one was super fun too. If you’d like to invite me to come visit your school or library, check my contact page and hit me up.
Dig this? Check out these other school or library visits:
This was a great show from Amanda Seales (Journalist, Comedian, former emcee). What critics of her don’t get is that she is not falling for the bullshit and if half of them really supported icons like Fannie Lou Hamer, Baldwin, Malcolm, etc they would be listening instead of trying to get click bate.
Anyways, I loive how she not only does her own research and analysis for us but she invites others own with knowledge to game us up as well. Case in point, today she had on two Korean American organizers on from Nodutdol an organization whos purpose is:
“We are diasporic Koreans and comrades based in occupied Indigenous lands known as the United States and Canada. We organize for a world free of imperialism, and for Korea’s re/unification and national liberation.“
Nodutdol organizers Jamie and Heath talk about the history of US imperialism in Korea, how South Korea is still occupied by the US, how North Korea is propagandized, and how this relates to Gaza, Guam, India, Puerto Rico and so much untold history. I learned a lot as someone with a parent born in Korea! Starting at the 2:12:00 mark, listen to this interview and get you some game.
Dig this? Check out this short story about Haenyeo or this illustration of a Jeju diver .
Red Nation is a new podcast I started listening to last year. This episode offers a great perspective from the host (a Native American professor/author) on manifest destiny and how it relates to colonialism globally and at home. The words and the images are not by accident and I feel this episode gives some great historical points from the past that relate to Native folks in the US of course but also to people in the global south.
Dig this? Check out this video about the legacy of Native children stolen (colonization) or this illustration I did in solidarity with Standing Rock.
I made this sticker back in October of 2024 but somehow forgot to post it on my blog. So here it is again.
Stay Principled & Curious means to me. Stick to your guns but be willing to learn. So many jobs and careers in the arts ask us to not speak about issues or to remain quiet about injustice and I say fuck that. If you know something to be true, share it, stand by it, and let folks know. If you make a mistake, correct it. If you learn new information, share that too. But don’t remain silent. That is how injustice is allowed to continue because those with wealth, tech, and power bank on those who cannot speak and those who know something but remain silent staying silent. Nope.
Wanna send one to a friend?
LaRussell & Tope (Vallejo, Ca) – Free The World 2023
I’ve been following LaRussell since 2022 after a homie suggested one of his songs. Been to the backyard, and was so grateful he spoke on this and has faced backlash because of it. Bay Area.
What is this? This series is called “Stuff I’ve been listening to” and this is my place to share music that I listen to while I work, process, decompress, and live life. Some of it is new, some old. But I’m always listening. I share in the hopes that you will find something that inspires you. Please share with a fellow music lover. My name is Rob and I’m an artist and author from the Bay Area.
Rebel Diaz (Bronx, NY) – 1-800 Genocide 2023
I came across Rebel Diaz originally from Chicago back in the late 2000’s. They have always spoken on social justice, politics, and revolutionary ideals and organized with real people on the ground. Mad love for them.
The Neighborhood Kids (San Diego, CA) – Biddi Bomb 2025
Belly (Ottawa, Canada) – Patience vs Patients 2024
I came to Belly very late. He’s been putting out music for a long time and the first time I heard him was through Nipsey Hussle. He’s Palestinian Canadian and his flow and critique is sharp. Listen.
MC Abdul (Palestine) – Shouting at the wall 2021
MC Abdul is one of the first emcee’s from Palestine that I heard spit in English in the literal thick of the genocide and he’s been putting out music for awhile even though he’s young!
Invincible (Israel/ Detroit) – The Emperor’s Clothes 2009
I came across Invincible through the battle rap scene and thought they were ILL which is wild because thats the name they go by. They are Jewish and spit this rhyme 16 years ago!!!!!! I discovered this song from the film “Road to Apartheid” which compares Israeli occupation to South African apartheid.
Macklemore (Seattle, WA) – Hinds Hall 2024
This song blew up last year and went viral on social media. I was aware of Macklemore because he was an underground cat from Seattle, then I heard some of his more popular radio cuts. Did not see this coming from him last year but it is an extremely powerful statement.
If you’ve heard some hip hop about or from Sudan or Congo, drop it in the comments! We need to hear about what is happening in Africa!
Eddy Mack ft Batata (Detroit, MI) – Sound of War 2023
I heard Eddy Mack (Jordanian American emcee) in 2023 like most folks because of this viral song that was a very militant stance against the attacks against Palestinian people.
Ana Tijoux (Chile/France) Feat Shadia Mansour (UK) – Somos Sur 2014
I came across Ana Tijoux in the early 2010s as part of hip hop royalty Makiza of Chile. I then met her around the same time when she dropped 1977. She is razor sharp lyrically and has a level of knowledge, critique, and creativity in global politics and hip hop that is unmatched. She’s also a really cool ass person.
Lowkey feat Frankie Boyle, Maverick Sabre, and Mai Kahlil (London, UK) – Long Live Palestine 2019
My bro Pele Durian Funk made an ILL mix of hip hop artists who’ve all made songs in support of a free Palestine back in October of 2023. On that mixtape he included a bunch of cats and Lowkey was one of them. I’d never heard of him but I soon discovered a super talented emcee and journalist who fights fiercely for the people of Palestine and working class people in Britain.
DJ Pele Durian Funk ( Bay Area) – Solidarity Forever 2023
My bro Pele (Trust Your Struggle Collective) made this mixtape of hip hop featuring pro Palestinian artists such as Native Guns, 47 Soul, and even Yo Yo Ma. Check it out.
DIG THE MUSIC? THERE’S MORE!
Ok thats it fam, if you dug this share it with a friend, comment with some musical suggestions, and if you want to support Palestinian or anti zionist organizing in the US check out:
Why Palestine? There’s been an occupation, apartheid, and genocide of Palestinian people there by Israeli government with the direct support of the US Govt and many others in the globe. Like India and Pakistan, the “middle east” or the countries of Africa being cut up by greedy people who see dollar signs its people deserve freedom, self determination, and it is a prime example of how the billionaire class is playing us all when they say they do not have enough for universal health care, affordable housing, free education, etc. We’re all being tricked and Palestine/Israel is a HUGE part of it. This goes for Congo, Sudan, and many other countries across the planet. The people (you and I) must expose the lies and get freedom for us and them together.