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art of Robert Liu-Trujillo Tag

Yoga award > Book

Ok, so I was just going through old work and found this illustration. I created some artwork for Yoga and mindfulness teacher Jill Guerra who teaches in Oakland schools. She was making an award for her students and then wrote a book which I was so honored to do illustrations for. You can order it for your school or local library or you can buy it directly from me. Check out this pose below.

Its amazing how things lead to others!

Dig this? Check out this interview Jill Guerra did about her work and her practice.

April 21, 2025
in General
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Sketchbook Pg 8- Fight Back!

My folks who’ve been down-u already know. For the folks who’ve never been involved in any resistance -paper, calls, emails, protest, direct action. I know, you’re in survival mode. Do what u can. For the folks who have some sort of privilege, get off your ass.

Whether you are old, young, white, Black, Brown, Queer, hetero, disabled, able bodied, red, blue, green, GET INVOLVED w/ organizing against the current gov’t attacks. Join an organization, support independent journalism, volunteer time, art, voice, $, resources, connections, whatever u can-folks have been sounding the alarm and if u haven’t done anything u gotta act-NOW!

Dig this? Share messages of upliftment and RESISTANCE.

April 18, 2025
in General
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Short story 35 – Spring Flowers

Nzingha didn’t like Richie when school started in September. In fact, they argued over pencils, erasers, foursquare, and school march slogans all winter. But, after he’d shared some of his lunch with her she gave him a slice of fruit, maybe two. Mr Newton asked them to call a truce so they did and. Nzingha started to pick Richie for her team when she was captain of the basketball team. He invited her to play soccer afterschool and in April they both decided to dress up like they’re grandparents for 70’s day and well….Richie made her smile on Friday. They’ve been best friends ever since.

This is a short story about two enemies turned best friends, the clothes they wear represent two historic youth lead activists groups. The Black Panther Party for Self Defense and The Brown Berets.

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

If you like the Panthers or the Berets check out some past illustrations of them Panther 2015 and Brown Berets 2018.

April 10, 2025
in General
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Children’s Portrait 80 – Dream

Fam, its been a minute since I shared a children’s portrait and this is number 80! This is a portrait of a young boy named Dream. His mom and family have been supporters of my creative work for over a decade from books to portraits. I painted her oldest child ZULU back in 2017! Dream is his younger bro 🙂

Check out this video timelapse of me painting him as well as some process shots below.

I haven’t done many of these time lapse videos but I’ve been getting more and more comfortable using my phone to document my work and doing a low lift like this is a step forward. I import short videos into I-Movie and cut them together in a way that was but it is no longer challenging. Link to watch.

Some shots of the painting process.

Here are some past children’s portraits:

Children’s Portrait 78 – Jidan and Bryant’s family

Children’s Portrait 77 – Stella

Collage of family portraits

Children’s portrait 63 – Jahbreel, Kubwa, & Jahlyl

Want a portrait If you’d like me to paint your child or family hit me up here

April 8, 2025
in General
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700 on Youtube!!!

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.

LINK TO MY channel

Dig this? Check out my series of tips for freelancers

March 21, 2025
in General
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I am a King poster-Illustration

UPDATE: This is the original art for an African American Male Achievement poster for Emerson Elementary. The original poster has been sold but I wanted to share the whole painting. You can see some process painting below…

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

GO HERE

Dig this? Check out these portraits for Chapter 510/ Oakland Public Library

March 3, 2025
in Ilustration
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Read Aloud of Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria

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.

March 3, 2025
in General, School or Library Visit
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Gouache portrait of Maurice Cherry

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.

March 1, 2025
in Art, Ilustration
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Youth Writers Workshop- Fairyland

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.

February 25, 2025
in Events
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