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Fridays for Falestin – Artists for Radical Imagination

The purpose of this image and the following images are to share a fundraising campaign for a family who fled Gaza. It is organized by a relative of the family based in the US who represents the Alborno family. Please see the link in my bio for the full story and like, comment, share, and contribute if you can.

 

Image Description:
A set of slides with hand drawn watercolor illustrations of Jamil and Maria, Pal es tinian children around 2 and 5. Both portraits are held within a circle with an earthy green background, reds and auburns in their hair, warm skin tones and purple shirts. Maria has her hair in pigtails, and is smiling softly, while Jamil has lightly tousled hair with smile open and wide. There is a cream hand drawn background with yellow hearts and purple bursts on each slide and the text below Gofundme Link.

 

Slide 1:
“Help Jamil Maria and Family
Fridays for Fal es tine
gofundme.com/f/support-ezzeddin-family”
Slide 2:
“Jamil, Maria, siblings, and parents fled Gah zah to Turkey and need help recovering
gofundme.com/f/support-ezzeddin-family
Can’t help right now? Please help spread the word, Like, comment, and share”
Slide 3:
“Join Artists for Radical Imagination every Friday as we share a verified fundraiser to directly support a family in Gah zah. Follow and use the hashtag: #FridaysForFalestin

Art by @robert_tres text by Rob + @vulpinicvestements repping #artistsforradicalimagination Fridays for Fal’ es tin

February 13, 2025
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We Are Yoga by Jill Guerra

This is one of my favorite illustrations from We Are Yoga / Somos Yoga, a book self-published by Jill Guerra in the spring of 2022. The book includes more than 13 illustrations in a vibrant, inviting color palette.

Synopsis:

We Are Yoga / Somos Yoga is a bilingual picture book (English/Spanish) and resource for teachers, parents, therapists, or anyone working with youth. Through yoga poses, affirmations, and reflections, we can build self-awareness and the tools to navigate this challenging and beautiful life.

July 13, 2006
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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, here’s the link to read the whole magazine.

July 21, 2002
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Story Time – Classroom Reader

This was fun to make. Like the very first “Storytime Print” I made, I really wanted to show a classroom or library setting where children are being read to. This is the 8th one in the series I really dig it. Remember to read to your kids 15 minutes a day if possible.

The story time series began in 2018 as a way for me to make art prints of children from a diverse array of background holding, carry, interacting with books, or being read to. As a child who did not see much of that growing up, one of the reasons I dove into becoming a kids book author and illustrator was to provide a mirror for future children.

If you’d like a print of this image you can get one here. Its is a part of a set.

February 16, 2000
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Watercolor portrait of young people at rally and the words "Pass the Mic" by Robert Liu-Trujillo.

Oakland Rising: Pass the Mic!

Here’s an illustration I did with a Bay Area organization called Oakland Rising. They requested a collaborative illustration that would feature themes that include democracy, liberation, electoral power, justice, Oakland, and/or people power. I focused on a multigenerational crowd surrounding a young person holding a microphone.  I created the sketch, line work, and type, while artist Luna Yoo added the color. This poster was used for the 2022 Oakland Rising Voter Guide.
February 15, 2000
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Short story- Spooky Ride

Short story 31

Text: “Patrice and Larry had been practicing and falling on the track all summer. The older more experienced kids dared them to try the jumps but they always bit it trying. Tonight though, on Halloween before anyone got home to divvy up their candy, Patrice finally did it. She went up the biggest jump on “Shell Track”, now the only thing left to do besides puting on her costume was to land safely.”

What is this? Short stories are a way for me to sharpen my skills, to play, to practice, 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 middle grade and comics now too. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo and my most recent book is “Fresh Juice” published by Lee & Low Books.

As a kid I LOVED bmx bikes so much and would spend hours riding around my neighborhood. I wanted to make a cool image of a girl riding a bmx bike on the night of halloween. The idea is for her to accomplish some big jump that is terrifying and gratifying at the same time. Then I just put a spooky tree, a costume on the friend in the background, and the moon with clouds.

February 15, 2000
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Social Justice Children’s Books Fair

Here is the illustration/design I did for the 7th annual Social Justice Children’s Book Fair, of which I am a cofounder of and one of several organizers. My intent with this image was to show a mixed kid, a tween showing up to the book fair and walking out with a stack of books!

You can read more about the mission, history, and team for this annual event in Oakland here 

But, I’ll just summarize here. This event was started in 2017 in Oakland by independent book publishers, writers, illustrators, etc to make a unique children’s book fair for the greater Bay Area. Our focus is on inviting our community to meet Bipoc, Queer, and Social Justice minded kid lit creators, and publishers under one roof. We also bring in and partner with community based organizations who champion literacy for kids, for example Chapter 510 was the first organization to host the event.

You can see photos from the event here and some press from Oaklandside too.

February 14, 2000
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The Rights of Every Child

Rights of Every Child is a project by author and activist Danielle Davis. Its a project that seeks to highlight the human rights of children all over the world through artwork.

Here’s a word from them:

The Rights of Every Child Initiative is here! It’s time. It’s time to spread the word. It’s time to speak out for children. It’s time to uphold their vital rights. We are inspired by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a document signed by all UN countries and ratified by all but one: the US. This document outlines fundamental rights around how we must protect children. In the coming days, weeks, months, and beyond we will share illustrations by talented, caring artists who are vocal about children’s rights that convey one of rights as only they can. The language is distilled and simplified for our purpose and so that the heart of it that’s close to the artist’s heart comes through. It’s time. Thank you for joining us as this movement grows, blooms into something we can only create and do together on behalf of children—every one.

Here’s what I wrote about the piece:

With this illustration I wanted to focus on the light, innocence, and power that can come from a child. If given the space to speak they can have some pretty powerful observations, ideas, and solutions. The problem is adults who have either forgotten what it means to truly listen and empathize with children; or the adults have lost their own humanity. I wanted the child to have warmth and light and I illustrated the adults holding the microphones more dull as they sometimes feel this way.

I chose this [right] because I do believe we don’t listen to young people enough.

I typically search for several reference pictures, collage them together using photoshop and then make a sketch. After the sketch is done, I redraw it on thicker paper and paint it using watercolor.

Find more information about the project here: Rights of Every Child

February 13, 2000
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