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!
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:
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?
“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!!!
In between fighting the power and working on my own stories that I write and illustrate doing fan art for 90s films I grew up watching is a balm. I get to play, practice, and reimagine. I painted these using watercolor, a black micron pen, and Arches 140 lb hot press paper. Click on each character to see a few words I wrote about each woman, and read below for my take on the film.
On the film: I saw Set It Off when it came out. I think it was shortly after F. Gary Gray did “Friday”. I loved it back then and I think it still holds up now. Back then and even now, it’s rare to see four Black women wreck shit in a heist film. It’s action that is centered in a different experience but one most working class people can identify with. 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 (Spoiler alert-he’s written a sequel in a fictionbook). But I think it still stands up today. Shout out to Jada, Latifah, Vivica, Kimberly, the director, the producer, stunt folks, casting director, stunt people, 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 picture book is “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco” published by Lee & Low. Get it at your local public library or independent bookstore.
Character 182 – Stoney
Character 181 – Frankie
Character 180 – Cleo
Character 179 – TT
Dig this? Check out my throwback drawings of three characters from the 80’s film The Last Dragon or the 90’s film “Mi Vida Loca”
This is Stoney played by Jada Pinkett Smith in the 90s film Set it Off. There are four main characters in the film which I’ve painted here : Frankie, Cleo, and TT. But, the film centers around four friends but the story is really Stoney’s as she was the heart of the film, her brother, relationship, etc. Jada did a phenomenal job in this classic film.
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
In the past 2 yrs since “Fresh Juice” debuted it’s sold over 10k copies, Put in 300+public libraries across 50 states, Over 500k watched Da’Vine Joy read it w/ Storyline. I’ve read it 2 hundreds of kids and I hope to read it 2 more.
Want a copy signed by me for a friend? Cop it HERE
Dig this? Check out some reviews for the book
This is Frankie, played by the incredible Vivica A. Fox. Frankie in the film Set it Off was brave, traumatized, enraged, strategic, and fierce. She had lead her team, with her own flaws, and a comradery for her girls that was inspiring to see. One of Vivica’s best performances. The captain, the ring leader, the one to set it off.
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