colored pencil Tag

Short Story 34 – Monster on Market

Short story 34 – It sounded the way Big momma described the big earthquake of 06′. Loud and out of nowhere. One minute we’re out at the theater watching War of The Worlds, the next we’re running for our lives. Shrieks and wind seem to hit you at every turn. Me, Loretta, Doris, and Addie weree the first to catch the trolly car. Earl? Well, we thought he was on with us but he wasnt.

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

ArtVsArtist 2025

Ok. These are fun to do to look back and share work that I reeally liked. As an artist I do a bunch of art and wear many hats but I dont always love every project. These are a feew that I love. Top to bottom, left to right. These are usually shared in December of each year I think, but hey-better late than never. #ArtVsArtist2025 #artVSartist

  1. Story time Print 8– I wanted to draw a teacher or librarian reading to some children, simple yet joyful.
  2. Short story 31– A fun exercise to make some promo art and get back to my series of short stories. Read it!
  3. Postcard -This postcard I made in the new year to get back to basic self promo. It has some nice gold finishing.
  4. Rights of Every Child – This is a collab to illustrate a line from the UN convention on the rights of the child.
  5. Photo– Shot of me speaking at Modesto Jr College thx to Dr Theresa Rojas.
  6. Social Justice Children’s Book Fair– Heres the art I did for the 2023 fair!
  7. Branding/ Self portrait– This is the art for my 2023 branding.
  8. Character 171– Mama and daughter character for fun.
  9. Fridays for Falestin– Art to assist a GoFundMe for a Palestinian family w/ Artists for Radical Imagination.

Dig this? Check out my most recent book Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco. Or check out the last time I did #artVSartist in 2023. Check that out here.

Character Collage 2020-2022

What up fam, wow its been two years since I uploaded my last character collage. Back in 2020 I was a new dad again, and then the pandemic hit! I have still been sketching, drawing, and painting but lord it was rough balancing the kids at home, my work, and life. So here are a snippet of some of the characters I made over the past two years. This is the 9th time I’ve uploaded a collage of these over the past 13 years or so. I started making these as a way to practice character based artwork for storytelling, and I still love to do it. Always practicing to see improvement.
 
Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Word? 2. Bruce Leroy (Last Dragon) 3. Neighbor 4. Sketchbook doodle 5. Laura Charles (Last Dragon) 6. Hammer 7. Hmmph 8. Motorcycle 9. Sketchbook doodle 10. Deb Never 11. Crate Digger 12. Sketchbook doodle 13. Judging you 14. Spikey 15. Pink Dread
You can see the previous collages here too: 
If you are interested in more information about any of the characters, want to work with me, or interested in a print just email me at info@robdontstop.com To get a copy of my first 130 pg art book go HERE.

Short Story 29 – Welcome

“This has been a long trip with few familiar faces. But, there’s nothing like trekking a thousand miles and coming home to your family. Here I was thinking it would be a quiet Sunday all by myself since everyone was out of town; they said. And I had my key still. But when I walked in Grandpa and Grandma, my sisters, my cousin, and the kids were all there, I almost cried! Somebody up there has a sense of humor.”
 
Here’s my latest short story: Welcome
If you missed the previous short story called Flight check it out here. And if you dig this style, check out this collage of characters done in the same style.

Character Collage 2019-2020

What up everyone. It has been awhile since I uploaded a character collage; like since 2018. But you know what, my wife and I had a daughter in 2018 so I did not have the time to do as many character drawings. In fact the majority of what you’re seeing above I started to draw back in November of last year (we got childcare). This set of drawings is all done in dark blue colored pencil because I felt like switching it up from my normal style and using one color. This helped make it faster and helped me make work that’s suitable for middle grade and picture books. Alright, please check these out out!

Left to right, top to bottom: 1. Ride 2. Fix it or Trash it 3. Photo 4. Jet Boil 5. Rollercoaster 6. Jump 7. Bandsaw 8. Protest 9. Haenyeo 10. Donny & Jalil 11. How’s it sound? 12. Pack your bag 13. Argue

You can see the previous collages here too: 
If you are interested in more information about any of the characters, want to work with me, or interested in a print just email me at info@robdontstop.com To get a copy of my first 130 pg art book go HERE.

Short story 28 – Flight

“Normally I would tell you to get your hair out of my face! But, agggghhh!” Shouted Tong as Hattie duck, dived, and barreled the dragonfly. Not trying to win, but showing off. There was something peaceful about riding. Our lands seemed to go on forever and I had never seen it from so high up. I want to win but Hattie just wants to have fun.
This is the latest short story! If you missed the last one please check out “Hike” by clicking this link.
Digital drawing
Lightboxing with colored pencils