Ilustration

AFYA health clinic poster

Last spring a doctor (Kara Durand) who is also a parent at a school I’ve done some work at in Oakland reached out to commission me to do an illustrated poster for the Afya Center for Health Equity at Kaiser Permanente Oakland. Afya means health in Swahili.

The center was founded by Dr Nailah Thompson. Listen to her talk about why the clinic was founded and how they are aiming to care for and uplift the health of the East Bay’s Black commmuity.

Here are some photos from when the clinic opened taken by Dr Rita Ng.

And here’s a little bit of artwork to show how the piece was created. For this piece I wanted to illustrate a primary care physician having a conversation with a patient. Something simple but intimate and caring.

Link to watch video process

Dig this? Check out this illustrated poster to inform folks about how to fight back against ICE raids. We Are Sanctuary.

Photo of Nailah and Kara holding the original painting!

Mini Comic 6 – ICE out of Schools

Here’s a short comic about what has been happening to adults, families, and children in the United States who have been targeted by racist ICE agents who are seeking Brown and Black folks. There are a few words in it. Check it out.

Whats this? I’ve had fits and starts with comics since 2007. In 2016 I started working on an epic graphic novel and it was too much, I couldn’t finish. So I took a break and began doing mini comics in 2021 (shorter more manageable stories) so I could do the most important part; finish them. This is a continuation of that. My accountability partner is my cousin and artist; Zhanne Easter.

Dig this? Check out some of my other mini comics

Check out Art of Rob feat 130 pages of drawings, sketchbook pages, illustrations, etc.

Mini Comic 5 – Trumpet

This is a short comic about a young child seeing a trumpet , falling in love with it, and learning to play so well that she inspired a new generation. I drew this super fast without any words.

Whats this? I’ve had fits and starts with comics since 2007. In 2016 I started working on an epic graphic novel and it was too much, I couldn’t finish. So I took a break and began doing mini comics in 2021 (shorter more manageable stories) so I could do the most important part; finish them. This is a continuation of that. My accountability partner is my cousin and artist; Zhanne Easter.

Dig this? Check out some of my other comics

Mini comic 4-Space Graff

Space Graf is a short comic about a time when me and my homie went to the freight train yards to paint our names on trains decades ago. Just a colored pencil and an ink pen. I’m not trying to make the greatest illustration, just trying to finish a comics. Even if its 1 page long.

Whats this? I’ve had fits and starts with comics since 2007. In 2016 I started working on an epic graphic novel and it was too much, I couldn’t finish. So I took a break and began doing mini comics in 2021 (shorter more manageable stories) so I could do the most important part; finish them. This is a continuation of that. My accountability partner is my cousin and artist; Zhanne Easter.

Dig this? Check out some of my other comics

Mini Comic 3 – Screenprint

Here’s a short fictional comic about making progress, making mistakes and finally making one screen printed image. Its not my best drawing but the goal wasn’t to make the illest illustration, it is to finish.

Whats this? I’ve had fits and starts with comics since 2007. In 2016 I started working on an epic graphic novel and it was too much, I couldn’t finish. So I took a break and began doing mini comics in 2021 (shorter more manageable stories) so I could do the most important part; finish them. This is a continuation of that. My accountability partner is my cousin and artist; Zhanne Easter.ation of that.

Dig this? Check out some of my other comics

Short Story 36 – A lotta Summer

“This was a summer of alotta stuff. Mama Johnna and Mama Elise got sandwiches, water, masks, and our best walking shoes as we marched from High street and Mac all the way to Frank Ogawa Plaza. To protest again? Ugggh, I’m tired of going. But Mama said it was to protest police taking away our neighbors, our friends, and our family. It seemed like everybody from school was there, Mrs Galeano our librarian, uncle George, even Mr Jason my teacher. The whole city was out and it felt good to shout and smile. Together.”

Me and my family protested ICE this summer and we’ve protested for Palestine recently too. Just wanted to make a short showing a family out in the streets. Shout out to Gallt and Zacker for the nudge to make it.

What is this? This is a short story. They are a way for me to sharpen my skills, to play, and to stretch out by trying new ideas for stories. In 2010 they started off as a way to practice the format of picture books but I’m interested in other formats now too. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo and my most recent book is Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco published by Lee & Low Books.

Here’s some of my past short stories:

Dig this? Check out my first self published Art Book- 130 pages of sketches, paintings, characters, and more HERE

Sketch!!!

We Are Sanctuary poster collab

Art by Me, Lettering by Jules Cowan

Back in March, designer Jules Cowan, fellow illustrator Micah Bizant, myself, and the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant got together to collaborate on this poster illustrating information about immigrant rights when being stopped or approached by ICE. The EBSC has been supporting immigrant and migrant families for decades in the Bay Area. Nuff respect. The raids have happened in the past (under Obama and Trump) but they were just ramping up again to what we see now in LA, Chicago, Central California, and other cities.

Art by Me, Lettering by Jules Cowan

If you keep up with me you should know my position on this is FUCK ICE and FUCK Donald Trump. Actually, fuck any politician Democrat or Republican who continues to lie or hide when talking about the real reasons for these racist, xenophobic, coward ass attacks on Brown people. Mexicanos, Central Americans, Haitians, etc are not the reason White Americans are losing $ or jobs. The billionaire class are the reason and these politicians and mainstream media are being paid to confuse folks.

Art by Micah Bizant, design by Jules Cowan

Now, if you reader would like one of these posters or postcards in English or Spanish, please download them here:

DOWNLOAD LINK

Art by Micah Bizant, design by Jules Cowan

If you’d like a physical copy of a poster or postcard (English or Spanish) for your school, library, office, organization, etc please email me at info@robdontstop.com or art@somossantuario.org.

Thankfully, the folks at EBSC have already handed these out to folks on the ground protesting, but we need information like this up in more places so allies and immigrant families can access it and put it to work. No one is illegal on stolen land!

Dig this? Check out the work of designer Jules Cowan, illustrator Micah Bizant, and support the work of the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant!

Character 179 – TT (Set It Off)

This is Tisean or TT from the 1996 film “Set It Off” played by actor Kimberly Elise. I’ve been slacking on my characters and its nice to stretch out by doing this illustration of TT. In the film she was quiet, timid, a single mother, but a fierce ally and team member of the crew. In order to escape poverty, she and three of her friends pull off multiple bank heists. Stay tuned for more.

On the film: I saw Set It Off when it came out. I think it was shortly after F. Gary Gray did “Friday” with Ice Cube, Nia Long, and Chris Tucker. I loved it back then. You never got to see 4 Black women wreck shit in a heist film back then so I was excited. I loved all of their characters, how they struggled, cared for each other, and I think writer Takashi Bufford who wrote the screenplay did a great job. I know he’s mentioned there are things that he’d change if he could redo the film. But I think it still stands up today. Shout out to Jada, Latifah, Vivica, Kimberly, and all of the cast and crew.

About me: My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I’m an author/illustrator from the Bay Area and my most recent book is “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco”. Get it at your local public library or independent bookstore.

Dig this? Check out my throwback drawings of three characters from the 90’s film Mi Vida Loca