Monica is the homie and as someone who got to work with her she’s a bad-ass artist and organizer. Peep this video which introduces how to make art for social change! Very good info for beginners or experienced artists.
Dig this? Check out my crew “Trust Your Struggle Collective”
I really enjoyed watching this film, the cast of characters, the writing, the story, and the sentiment which is true for any parent or guardian; but really resonant as a father of two myself. Its funny of course because its Kevin Hart, but its heartfelt too!
Dig this? Check out my 46th inspiration board
Fam, Its been over a year since I did one of these. If you follow me you know that I am a huge advocate for literacy. Reading kids books, comics, annnnd ART BOOKS. Art books about gaming, film, comics, illustration, sneakers, you name it. Anything you can find to get young people reading for fun! So with high school, middle school, and older elementary students if they’re not enjoying reading, find something that they LOVE and find books about it.
You can see the other videos I did featuring lots of different books. Check them out and share!
Dig this? Check out these shorts I started making about my favorite picture books like Turntable Timmy!
Whenever kids ask me how I got started making art I tell them: defacing public and private property. Here’s someone I saw “up” a lot as a kid-KR. Didnt know he was from NYC but I saw him a lot! I remember the drippy tags and I remember when KRINK became a brand.
Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board
Emergency Quarters by Carlos Matias and Gracey Zhang is a really dope new picture book that I read with my daughter recently. Check out this video where I explain a bit about the book!
This is a dope story about responsibility, bravery, and trust as this kid is maturing enough that he can walk to school by himself. When he goes his Mama gives him quarters to call her in case of an emergency. On his travels we see his community and all kinds of temptation haha. Matias and Zhang did an incredible job with this one. Hats off to the editor, art director, publisher, and agencies involved
Review it on The Story Graph! Request it at your local library or independent bookstore.
What’s this? Whew, I’ve read over 500 picture books y’all! An author who I admire and respect “Adrianna Cuevas” was sharing her favorite books and it inspired me to share some of mine with you. I’ve read ok books, garbage ones, and some that I think are incredible examples of the picture book format. Here and on the socials I’ll be recommending some of my favs. Please support your community and the creators by requesting them at your library or local independent bookstore. Peace. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I am the author and illustrator of Fresh Juice.
Dig this? Check out these reviews of my book Fresh Juice
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
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”
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.
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.
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.
Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board because this is the type of stuff that inspires me!
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.