mobile logo

art of Robert Liu-Trujillo Tag

Political Research Associates -Public Eye COVER

Ok, so I was contacted to do the cover for the Political Research Associates quarterly magazine “The Public Eye” around the summer time of 2025. For those who don’t know this magazine has been around since the early 80’s and they cover issues like White Christian Nationalists, Antisemitism, Immigration, Misogyny, The Queer community, Environmental and Reproductive justice, etc. They do RESEARCH and Analysis!!! The magazine “The Public Eye” started in the mid 90s and has been going strong since then.

Here’s some process art for the cover. I ended up doing a mix and match of photo reference, even shooting me and my wife for this. Ok, so a lot of this issue was about the absolute onslaught of attacks on Brown people from this white supremacist and his team in the oval office. And if you want to know why so many boycotts and protests have targeted certain corporations its because many of them funded his second rise.

Here are some color directions.

Anyway, think about what you read on social media and traditional news media. Some of it is by actual journalists and journalists in training. Some is propaganda to confuse and disinform. This magazine is the antidote to that and this issue is about:

  • The Department of Home Land Security, tech, and surveillance
  • Afrikaner refugees and the White Nationalist Myth
  • Immigrant Justice and why “We Must Fight for Everyone”
  • Florida, deportations, Aligator Alcatraz

And here’s the thing about this, in the magazine there are sources so you can go and read, watch, and learn what they’re talking about if you want to go more in depth. You can read more about my thoughts on creating the cover here on their site.

And here’s the final painting done with watercolor, ink, and edited in photoshop. Want the digital or print version of this magazine? GET IT HERE.

Dig this? Check out some other editorial illustrations

December 19, 2025
in Ilustration
0
0
Read More

Mini Comic 7 – Librarian

This is a short comic about going to the library back in the day. When I was a kid my dad would send me to the library to get books because he thought knowing how to read was important. It totally is and i’m thankful for the lesson. But, when I was starting elementary school we’d moved from Oakland and Richmond to a small city called El Cerrito where the library was NOT inviting or reflective of who I was. I only found that through magazines, music, lowrider shows, graffiti, etc. So I imagined myself becoming a librarian to offer those things to a younger version of myself.

This is why the movement to diversify the publishing industry by empowering writers, illustrators, agents, publishers, etc is so important! And why its being attacked.

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.

December 14, 2025
in Comics, Ilustration
0
0
Read More

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!

December 10, 2025
in Ilustration
0
0
Read More

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.

December 8, 2025
in Comics
0
0
Read More

Shipping merch!

Every month I’m blessed that people support my shop. Some are friends or fam, but most are people I’ve never met in my life. I hella appreciate you all! You can get art prints, books, stickers, etc.

Dig this? Check out this post about my table set up at SJ Made (Art Fair/Market)

November 6, 2025
in Merch
0
0
Read More

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

November 1, 2025
in Comics
0
0
Read More

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

October 29, 2025
in Comics, General
0
0
Read More

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

October 10, 2025
in Comics
0
0
Read More

Warm up First – Vinyl sticker

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.

Get a sticker HERE

Dig this? Check out this “Stay Principled & Curious” sticker

August 28, 2025
in Merch
0
0
Read More
Load More