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 over the years. 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 (shorter more manageable stories) so I could do the most important part; finish them. This is a continuation of that.
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 over the years. 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 (shorter more manageable stories) so I could do the most important part; finish them. This is a continuation of that.
Hey fam. I’m excited to share this. I’ve known the host of this pod for 20 years I think. He is an awesome educator and we met while teaching for a program called “Making Waves”. Colin is a husband, dad, educator for public schools and university students, and he’s a former emcee who used to kill them rhymes as Senbei w/ DJ Dahi. LINK to listen to the episode.
In this episode, we talk about three of my favorite books because we’re nerdy.
1-Spraycan art-James Prigoff (RIP), Henry Chalfant
2-Baby Baby Please-Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee, and Kadir Nelson
3-Fighting to Belong-Amy Chu, Alexander Chang, and Louie Chin
We also talk about hip hop, ethnic studies, and more. Take a listen to this episode and some of the many others he’s done!
Dig this? Check out an interview I did with emcee and educator Maddy Clifford
Ok here is my first Inspiration board for 2025. A lot of this comes from last year but some of it is brand new. Alright, lets run it down, top to bottom, left to right.
Event:8th Annual Social Justice Children’s Book Fair I have co-organized for 8 years!Peep it!
Network: PBS or Public Broadcasting Service TV network puts out great shows, videos about educational and informative topics and I wish I could give them more money and resources! Watch!
Book: Ghost Roast is middle grade graphic novel about family, class, the supernatural, and history. Read it.
Music: The Long Kiss Goodnight is a newish LP by Rocky Rivera and Otayo Dubb (Hip hop). Listen!
Music:If You See Someone Stealing Food…No You Didn’t is a new LP by Bambu (Hip Hop). Listen!
Book: Our Little Kitchen is a great picture book by Jillian Tamaki about cooperation and community. Read it.
Art:Monica Trinidad made this incredible piece that sums up my feelings about people vs corporations.Peep it.
Art: This illustration is about story artist Paul Briggs whos an incredible illustrator. Check him out.
Book:Mexikid is a great all ages graphic novel by Pedro Martin about family, being bicultural, childhood, etc. Read it!
Film: We Like it Like That is a great doc about a musical sub genre born in NYC by Matthew Ramirez Warren. Watch it!
Music:Saw Emily King (Singer, songwriter, guitarist) play live and shes incredible soul music.Listen!
Podcast: The Light is a great show by photographer Brooke Anderson about movement artists and cultural workers.Listen!
Book:Swim Team is a great all ages graphic novel about growing up, appearances, history, and swimming by Johnnie Christmas.Read it.
Health: Yoga! Ive been practicing for almost 15 years now. I do it weekly and it helps stretch my mind and body. Learn more.
Film:Ultraman Rising is a really cute take on an old school Japanese character by Shannon Tindle.Watch it!
Podcast: Asian American History 101 is a great podcast about people, places, things, and events from AAPI history. Listen!
Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more
What’s this? This inspiration board is one of the ways I stay inspired and sane through all of life’s trials, and tribulations, work, etc. I’ve been making inspiration boards full of films, books, music, events, people, artists, movements, and more for over a decade. Do you have an inspiration board? Please share in the comments. Who am I? My name is Rob Liu-Trujillo and I’m an artist working in kid lit, public art, and other disciplines. Go to my website, or follow me on IG or YouTube. You can also cop my first art book here.
Hey, this month I’ll be at the Latinx Comic Arts Festival in Modesto Ca at Modesto Jr College. At the event there are panels, workshops, lowriders, food, families, educators, and lots of vendors. The vendors make kids books, art, merch, and stories for all ages. See this LINK for more info.
These are a few fotos from two years ago. I grabbed a few from the LCAF Facebook and the last one is of my cousins who came to visit me-a big surprise.
Here’s a group shot of most of the participants last year.
Dig this? Check out some photos fromthe Latino Comix Expo which was held at the same location.
I nervously met Steenz while walking around the Toronto Comics & Arts Fest and their work is amazing. I believe they identify as both she and they but I’ll use they. Steenz is a comics writer, cartoonist, and editor from St. Louis (My Grandma’s hometown). Not only that but they teach it which is so freaking cool!
Hey folks, I’m going to be a virtual vendor at the third “Virtuous Con“. I’m excited to participate, check out the panels, and to interact with attendees. Once you register for this event you’ll be able to virtually interact with the different creators and vendors. More info and registration here.
What is this? Virtuous Con is a company created by Cerece Rennie Murphy that produces and hosts virtual events, as a vehicle for independent science fiction, fantasy, and comics creators to grow an audience for their work. Each event venue creates an authentic experience for attendees including virtual “booths” for vendors to interact live with attendees about their products and live panel rooms to interact in real-time discussions. Murphy created Virtuous Con out of a need to help many of her BIPOC creative colleagues and friends whose businesses were disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 shutdowns.
Victoria Ying is an incredible artist and author from the LA area who I came across when she was working at Disney many years ago. I remember seeing a project she lead called “Extra Curricular Activities”. Then I saw her in the “Lovely” book with women working in animation. I have been a big fan ever since and I loved her books “City of Secrets” and “Meow”. Check out some of her beautiful paintings and drawings.
Yo, if you’re new: This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Do yourself a favor and check out Victoria’s site here. There you can catch some of the amazing books she’s created such as “City of Secrets” and hear some interviews such as this one where she talks about her process for creating her graphic novel.
If you missed the last inspiring artist I posted, check out Ami Thompson or Elizabeth Catlett‘s work! And if you’re still looking for more inspiration peep inspiration board 41 I made because everybody gets stuck.
PS: Victoria teaches!! You can take a class she teaches on visual development here :)
Hey everyone its been awhile since I did one of these and I’m excited to share it. The aim of these is to inspire you, inspire artists, young readers, and more. Art books to me arebooks using visual art, photography, design, collage, and words to highlight a topic, art form, person, place, genre, discipline, or medium.
They are a great way to unplug when you’ve been staring at screens too long. They’re great for traveling, road trips, flights, etc. They’re great for getting inspired and they’re a great way to get young people reading; as long as its about a topic they LOVE. Please watch and share.
I discuss 13 books in the video including my own art book:
“The Art of Tekkenkinkreet / Black & White” – Shinji Kimura
“Supreme Glamour”- Mary Wilson
“The Art of Juanjo Guarnido” – Juanjo Guarnido
“Shelter in Place” – Avy Jetter
“Dinotopia” – James Gurney
“Painting The Streets-Oakland Uprising in the Time of Rebellion”- Nomadic Press
“Creations Vol. 1” – Derek Laufman
“Iguana Bay” – Claire Wendling
“Black Champions in Cycling” – Marlon Lee Moncrieffe
“Maestrapiece- San Francisco’s Monumental Feminist Mural” –Heyday Books
“Art of Rob” – Robert Liu-Trujillo
“Prince of Cats” – Ronald Wimberly
Dig this? Check out “My Favorite Art Books 2” the second video in this series. And if your local bookstore or library doesn’t have any of the art books you’re looking for, politely request them 🙂
If you’d like to purchase some of them I suggest ordering them from your local bookstore, Bookshop.org, or StuartNg Books in LA.
Yo, heres a snippet of a longer interview I did with Oakland Creates founder Avy Jetter! Stay tuned for the whole ting soon and come to the Oakland Creates Art, Comics, and Zine fests happening Dec 4th in Oakland Ca.
.jpg)
