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Inspiring stuff Tag

Inspiring artist – Bobby Pontillas

Yo, came across Bobby Pontillas years ago through his sketches and characters online, then found his name on some of the illest animated films like Big Hero 6, Moana, Frozen, Zootopia, Ice Age, Wreck it Ralph, Rio, Spies in Disguise and more. Beyond that dude is one of the cofounders of Rise Up Animation a program aimed at helping more Bipoc creators into the animation biz which is hard af! He’s worked as an animator, Character design, director and more. Check out more of his work here.

I love the moments he crafts, you feel like you’re there or in the second or two before it happens. I also love to see the depiction of brown Filipino/a children! We don’t see enough animated film, or tv shows depicting Asian American or Asian children.

Check out this short film he co-directed – One Small Step! Incredible!

What’s this? This is where I share inspiring artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. I love seeing the caliber of work Bobby puts out and hope to see him direct something big one day. Here are some others to check out:

Cymone Wilder– Typographic artist and designer

Elizabeth Catlett – Sculptor and fine artist

Olivia Fields– Illustrator, cartoonist

Helen Mingjue Chen– Illustrator, concept artist

Dig this? Check out my latest inspiration board

February 5, 2025
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Farah Audhali (Soul) and yU (Hip Hop) 

I've had this joint on repeat. Funny how one short freestyle can have so much soul to it. Love her collabs w/ Blue Lab Beats. Farah is an ill singer songwriter from the UK. Follow her journey.

Hey, this brother yU of “Diamond District” has been underrated and not mentioned enough. He is a dope Emcee and producer from the Washington Dc area. More of his music here.

Dig this? Check out “Stuff I’ve Been Listening To-More Soul”

January 30, 2025
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Inspiration Board 46

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.

  1. Event: 8th Annual Social Justice Children’s Book Fair I have co-organized for 8 years! Peep it!
  2. 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!
  3. Book: Ghost Roast is middle grade graphic novel about family, class, the supernatural, and history. Read it.
  4. Music: The Long Kiss Goodnight is a newish LP by Rocky Rivera and Otayo Dubb (Hip hop). Listen!
  5. Music: If You See Someone Stealing Food…No You Didn’t is a new LP by Bambu (Hip Hop). Listen!
  6. Book: Our Little Kitchen is a great picture book by Jillian Tamaki about cooperation and community. Read it.
  7. Art: Monica Trinidad made this incredible piece that sums up my feelings about people vs corporations. Peep it.
  8. Art: This illustration is about story artist Paul Briggs whos an incredible illustrator. Check him out.
  9. Book: Mexikid is a great all ages graphic novel by Pedro Martin about family, being bicultural, childhood, etc. Read it!
  10. Film: We Like it Like That is a great doc about a musical sub genre born in NYC by Matthew Ramirez Warren. Watch it!
  11. Music: Saw Emily King (Singer, songwriter, guitarist) play live and shes incredible soul music. Listen!
  12. Podcast: The Light is a great show by photographer Brooke Anderson about movement artists and cultural workers. Listen!
  13. Book: Swim Team is a great all ages graphic novel about growing up, appearances, history, and swimming by Johnnie Christmas. Read it.
  14. Health: Yoga! Ive been practicing for almost 15 years now. I do it weekly and it helps stretch my mind and body. Learn more.
  15. Film: Ultraman Rising is a really cute take on an old school Japanese character by Shannon Tindle. Watch it!
  16. 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.

January 13, 2025
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That’s How the Light Gets In-Podcast

Really enjoyed listening to this podcast!

You might hear me critique politicians or systems and think Rob is just anti this or that. But, although I am anti systems of Capitalism, Patriarchy, Homophobia, Police brutality, so many things I am very PRO getting off your ass and getting involved beyond electroral politics. Those serve a purpose as well tho, dont get me wrong. What I want folks to do is join a fucking organization, and link arms with other orgs so you can learn from each other and champion ea others causes. Joining organization builds power, and when we have power we dont have to ask, we can demand.

That being said if you saw my profile image of the huge street mural painted in front of Black Rock in SF who are actively funding genocide-David and Gemma are two down ass foo’s who were leading us all that day and I have hella respect for them. On this podcast they are interviewed by photographer and activist Brooke Anderson who has been there documenting so many of our movements for ages. Please listen to this show, rate it, subscribe, and recommend more movement artists who should be on the show in the BAY.

Link to listen

Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board because this is the type of stuff that inspires me!

October 23, 2024
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Asian American History 101-Podcast

Link to interview with Be a and Harvey of EastWind Books. Last Spring I got the chance to speak and table at an event in Berkeley California supporting a new model curriculum about Ethnic Studies; one of my favorite things to talk about. And while I was there I got a chance to speak to Bea and Harvey. They were both so kind and actually carried one of my books! I regret not going to EastWind more when the physical location was open, but as you’ll hear in this episode they are still publishing and selling books. Their advocacy and work is so freaking important so please check out their work here. 

Really enjoyed this episode of “Asian American History 101” which I found through an awesome interview w/ my good friend and fellow kid lit creator Nidhi Chanani. This seems like a really cool podcast to follow and listen to for historic and current perspectives on AAPI in the US! Love the fact that is a father daughter duo too:)

Dig this? Check out this Inspiration Board I made featuring books, art, film, and more.

August 14, 2024
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Inspiring Artist – Greg Ruth

I don’t remember how I came across Greg Ruth’s amazing illustration but after I found him I started seeing his work a lot. Greg is an incredible illustrator with multiple styles. Dry brush, pencil, and pen & ink. Mostly traditional media mostly. Check him out.

Greg does a bunch of private commissions but he also works in comics, does book covers, artwork for films, and album covers, etc. See more of his work HERE.

Here’s an interview he did with Criterion.

What’s this? This is where I share inspiring artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. I share them here on my blog in the hopes that somebody will also find some inspiration in their work. Check out some of the other artists I’ve shared.  

Dig this? Check out my last Inspiration board.

July 27, 2024
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Inspiration board 45

I’m still not out of a funk of creativity and a dirth of inspiration but we keep going right? Here are some things I can share with you that caught my eye, ear, or heart. Some I’m sure you already know. Some I’d be happy to introduce you to.

Starting from top to bottom, left to right:

  1. Devon Blow (Art)– Dev has been pumping out some critical and necessary art about genocide, war, social justice issues, and finding joy. Follow her here.
  2. Self (Film) – This is an incredible stop motion/ cg animated short film by Searit Huluf about self love
  3. Alexandra Gater (Interior design)– This is an interior decorator w/ a niche of helping those in small apartments make better use of their space with style.
  4. Calida Rawles (Art)– Found Calida through Amy Sherald. Shes an incredible photorealistic painter who depicts Black folks relationships to water
  5. BUSD (Community)- I attended several Berkeley School Board meetings re: Palestine, teachers who’ve been fired, trans and queer student rights, and ethnic studies
  6. Story Sun Birds (Kid Lit/ activism)- This is a group of folks who work in kid lit who stood for a ceasfire in Palestine and who now are carving a path for an alternative kid lit space
  7. Fights (Graphic Novel)– This is a great book by Joel Christian Gill who is a cartoonist and professor based in Virginia
  8. Farah Audhali (Music) – Farah is a talented singer songwriter from the uk and i love this collab with Blue Lab Beats!
  9. Butterly in the Sky (Film) – This is a great doc about the history of Reading Rainbow featuring interviews from the entire team behind it.
  10. Belly (Music) – 96 Miles from Bethelhem is a dope EP by MC/Singer Belly in response to the genocide in Palestine
  11. Vittoria Macioci (Art) – Love the illustrations of this Italian illustrator and comics artist
  12. Microcosm (Podcast) – Been knowing about Microcosm for years but just started listening to their podcast about indy publishing and it is great!
  13. James Shields (Art)-James’ watermelon couch is an incredible work of sociology, US history, narrative, and immersive art.
  14. Ruha Benjamin (Speech)– I know of Ruha’s name but this speech she gave at an HBCU grad ceremony caught fire because it is so true!
  15. Mackelmore (Music)– Man, was not expecting this bombshell of a song from Macklemore titled Hinds Hall, but I was so happy to hear his stance!
  16. ABC’s of Lowriding (Book) – This kids book by Ricardo Cortez is a testament to lowriding culture and helps introduce it to a new generation

Did you miss the previous inspiration board? Here it is, plus a few more

Inspiration board 44

Inspiration board 43

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.

July 25, 2024
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Butterfly in the Sky (Reading Rainbow) – Trailer

This is a really inspiring documentary about “READING RAINBOW” featuring the creators of the incredible show that touched so many of us as youngins. PLEASE watch it, rent it, go see it in theaters, share it. It’s all about spreading the love of reading and learning. #readingrainbow #Documentary #ButterflyInTheSky

Dig this? Check out my last art print “I’m a Reader”

March 26, 2024
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VIDEO: My Fav Art Books 4

Somehow I forgot to post this video here last year. I think after Palestine and moving my brain went alesewhere but here is a video of some of my favorite art books. Check it out! Note: I define art books as mostly pictoral books exploring various generes of art such as photography, fashion design, illustration, animation, filmmaking, cooking, dance, public art, and more. its not everyone’s cup of tea as far as “art books” go, but its my absolute jam. A mix of styles, interests, and disciplies. Enjoy.

Dig this? Check out My Fav Art Books 3 or cop my first art book “Art of Rob”.

March 14, 2024
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