#art of Robert Liu-Trujillo

[winningthesweepstakes]

Jugo Fresco/Fresh Juice by Robert Liu-Trujillo

Jugo Fresco/Fresh Juice by Robert Liu-Trujillo. Lee & Low Books, 2023. 9781643791135 (English version) or 9781643796697 (Spanish version) Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 3.5 Format: Hardcover picture book What did you like about the book? When Art’s dad wakes up sick on a Saturday, Art and his dad decide to make a “sick-fighting” juice to help him feel better. After…

[robtrujilloart]

Hey Tumblr family, I have been posting a lot less frequently on here, but if you're really interested in keeping up with me there are three ways to do it. 

1. Sign up for my monthly newsletter 

2. Follow me on Instagram 

3. Subscribe to my other blog, which I've kept since 2008!

I’ll still come back here every now and then, but if you’re wondering where the good stuff is, check out the above links to stay in touch. One love!

Photo by Nisha Seti of Kalakari

[fyblackwomenart]

Ibeyi by Robert Liu-Trujillo

[afrodesiacworldwide]

Black is Beautiful (2018) - Roxanne Shante by Robert Liu-Trujillo

Born in 1969 Roxanne Shanté is a pioneering MC in the art of MCing and hip hop. Roxanne was a part of the legendary Juice Crew helmed by Marley Marl. She grew up in Queensbridge projects which was one of the largest housing projects in the US. She started recording at the age of 14 but had been rhyming and battling for awhile before. After she recorded a diss response to the group UTFO’s “Roxaxanne Roxanne” she blew up and started the “Roxanne” wars which resulted in countless songs dissing her or adding to the feud. Shanté would record three albums, tour, perform, and influence countless kids as a lyricist and as a bold woman…….

[reclaimingthelatinatag]

Inktober - Sandra Equihua  (animator) by Robert Liu-Trujillo

Sandra Equihua is a Mexican American artist/illustrator who works in animation. She has been an artist for a long time, but officially started in animation with the animated short El Macho in 2001. Since then Sandra has created concept art and character design for films such as The Book of Life, The Guardians of Oz, El Tigre, Mucha Lucha, and now she is working on designs for the films Kung Fu Space Punch and Son of Jaguar. In addition to her studio work for Mexopolis which she co-founded with her husband Jorge Gutierrez, she has exhibited her fine art in galleries.  From Tijuana, Mexico, Sandra came from a family of doctors and academics but decided to pursue art. She is a shining example of artistry and style, and a role model for young women of color interested in pursuing a career in animation. For prints, please email me at info@robdontstop.com Sources: Mexopolis, Lynda.com, Imdb

[latinearts]

Inktober 2017 - Ezln by Robert Liu-Trujillo 

Art and text by @robtrujilloart

“The Zapatistas (named after the Mexican revolutionary Emilio Zapata) were founded in 1994 in Chiapas Mexico when the NAFTA ( North American Free Trade Agreement) began. This agreement would be created under the guise of opening trade routes for money, trade, and goods to flow through the US, Canada, and Mexico. But really this a bunch of bs decided between people in power in North American governments. For too long in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries in Central or South America Indigenous, peoples have been disrespected, kicked off their land, exploited and murdered. Not only that, but their political autonomy has been disrupted and sabotaged by outside (mainly US corporations) seeking to get profit. So, the Ejercito Zapatista de Liberación Nacional banded together to fight the corrupt in the Mexican government and those who it employs. They wore masks to hide their identity and defended their land in the southern region of Chiapas Mexico. I heard many accounts from college students who went to assist them by getting their narrative out. In the beginning it was only small news sources, now even bigger companies like Vice have gone to get “content”.  Commandante Marcos, & Ramona (commanders in the people’s army) are gone so what is happening now? They’ve traveled to Mexico City to rally for their rights. There have been members killed…. If you know, leave an update in the comments. Respect to Ezln for their righteous fight for land and dignity. They are one of many indigenous peoples all over the world fighting back. Sources: Guerilla News Network, Personal accounts, IndyMedia, Kpfa,”

[mauricecherry]

The long wait is over — the design anthology RECOGNIZE is here! Check it out over at Inside Design, and read the entire collection, including an introduction from me. Each essay is also accompanied by custom art from illustrator Robert Liu-Trujillo!

Huge thanks to everyone who submitted an essay for the inaugural volume of RECOGNIZE, and special thanks goes out to InVision for funding this anthology, hosting it, and for their editors’ work with helping polish these essays for publication.

Enjoy!

[thibui]

Fall Book Talks

Hi everyone, here are my public appearances for September and October! And then I’m going back into submarine mode for a bit.

Decatur Book Festival, Georgia, Saturday 9/2 - 11am panel: The Human Impact of the Vietnam War, with Paisley Rekdal, Thi Bui, and Bee Nguyen

Coffee and Conversation with Thi Bui, Sunday 9/3, 10:30am, AKQA Atlanta, GA (signing The Best We Could Do)

Marin Comics Fest, Wednesday 9/13, 6:00pm at San Rafael Library

In Conversation with Lauren Markham, author of The FARAWAY BROTHERS, launching that evening at Books Inc, Berkeley! Thursday 9/14, 7pm

Brooklyn Book Festival, NY Friday 9/15, 7pm at Powerhouse Arena - Mama Takes the Mic: Magic and Madness from Storytellers at MUTHA & HIP MAMA MAGAZINE, with Ariel Gore, Aya de Leon, Elisa Albert, Katherine Arnoldi, Thi Bui, and Samantha Barrow

Sunday 9/17, 12pm at Brooklyn Historical Auditorium - Mothers and Other Monster Myths, with Gabrielle Bell, Thi Bui, Julia Alekseyeva, and Ariel Gore

Monday 9/18, 4pm at Adelphi University, NY with Jonathan W. Gray

Wednesday 9/20, 7pm at Babson College, MA

Thursday 9/21, 7:30pm at Massachusetts College of Art

Sunday 9/24, 2pm at Eastwind Books, Berkeley, CA (signing The Best We Could Do and A Different Pond)

Saturday 9/30, 4:40pm at UC Berkeley Asian Pacific Islander Issues Conference

Friday 10/6, 10am on KQED Forum with Mina Kim

Wednesday 10/11 7pm, Litquake reading in Oakland with Tomas Moniz, Innosanto Nagara, Miriam Stahl and Robert Liu-Trujillo

Saturday 10/14, 12:30pm at Life is Living Festival, Oakland, CA with Laurin Mayeno, Melissa Reyes, Grace Carroll, Robert Liu-Trujillo and more. (I’ll be reading from and signing A Different Pond.)

Saturday 10/14 5pm, Litquake reading in San Francisco with Viet diasporic collective, She Who Has No Master(s): Angie Chau, Aimee Phan, Isabelle Thuy Pelaud, and Julie Thi Underhill

Saturday 10/28 evening, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival: Read to Me (live reading with cartoonists from the Comic Art Workshop), Indonesia

[blackchildrensbooksandauthors]

What’s Your Story?: Robert Liu-Trujillo

“What’s Your Story?” is a new, guest post feature on BCBA web. Authors-traditional and self-published-are invited to write about their books, writing journey, creative process, inspiration, rewards and challenges of publishing, etc. They can go in whatever direction they choose. We are excited and grateful for their willingness to share, and we hope you enjoy our guests’ stories.

Peace, my name is Robert, and I'm an author/illustrator from Oakland California, raised in the Bay Area. I have been a lifelong artist, drawing inspiration from graffiti, printmaking, social justice, music, ethnic studies, parenthood, fine art, illustration, and so much more. I have been working on children's books for the past four years, and I have been a freelance illustrator for over eleven years.

I am always learning as a writer. The woman that made me want to read and write is Octavia Butler. It was after reading some of her books that I believed that I could not only enjoy reading but that I too could write. The way I started was by writing lot of words and tags in graffiti. I would look up words and write lists, and I would then take those lists and make sentences that would turn into paragraphs, and that is how I wrote my first story. I could not find anyone at the time who could "see" the value of my writing or understand its worth, so I published it with a team of folks, and now it exists and has been accepted by librarian and child alike...continue reading

Robert Liu-Trujillo is the author and illustrator Furqan's First Flat Top. He also illustrated A Bean and Cheese Taco Birthday, I am Sausal Creek, and One of a Kind, Like Me and has assisted a few other authors and illustrators on their books. Trujillo has a lot of other book ideas swirling in his head. Occasionally, he writes about what it’s like to be a freelancer and a children's book creator.

[robtrujilloart]

So, I've been working on this project for over two years now. Aaliyah Bilal is a writer from Baltimore who has lived and worked in China for over 15 years. She is a creative writer working in fiction and non fiction. The story we've been working on is loosely based on her experiences there. Y'all, graphic novels are hard af. I started this project making so many rookie mistakes even though I've read and studied many graphic novels for years. And I've been drawing forever. Still, the language of comics and graphic novels is much more challenging than I could ever imagine and I have so much more respect for folks who make them. That said, this project is a labor of love. 

Me and Aaliyah have been corresponding, meeting, and sharing artwork and writing back and forth for awhile. If you'd like to read an excerpt from the book please go to the website LINK and check it out. Browse the work and check out Aaliyah and my websites. Stay tuned for more.

[robtrujilloart]

You can go get this amazing new picture book I illustrated for Dani Gabriel and Penny Candy Books today. If you don't see it at your local bookstore or library please request it!

LINK

[robtrujilloart]

Hey, I'm excited to say I have been featured on Bee Paper's blog of artists. This is super dope because I have been using their sketchbooks for a few years now and love the "Super Deluxe Mixed media" sketchbook. I draw a lot so it is important for me to have a sketchbook all the time. BLOG INTERVIEW

[robtrujilloart]

This is a Shekere which is a West African musical instrument used in both African and Latin American music. It is traditionally a gourd that is dried out then scooped of its insides until it is hollow. Then cowry shells or beads are woven around the gourd and when it is shaken the beads or cowries hitting against the gourd make a percussive noise. Here's an demo where you hear the shekere. You can get a print of this here: LINK If you're just tuning in, i'm doing a series of music inspired artwork. Here are some recent and old ones you might have missed: Drum Illustration Patrice Rushen Portrait Memphis Minnie Character

[robtrujilloart]

Here's a recent photo of me by Vallejo Community Access TV. I was vending at the Vallejo California Juneteenth festival. Met some great folks. Its always nice to bring the books to people and see what people are feeling. If you want any of the stuff you see here you can cop it from my Etsy page.

[robtrujilloart]

Hey folks, I made some illustrations for this film "Transfinite" by Neelu Bhuman. Transfinite is a sci-fi omnibus feature film composed of seven standalone short stories where supernatural trans and queer people from various cultures use their powers to protect, love, teach, fight, and thrive. The individual pieces were then animated by artist Pamela Chavez! If you're in the Bay and want to see this film go here and cop tickets. If you're in other parts of the world, please visit this LINK and get ready for the premiere near you. Support Trans filmmakers of color.

[robtrujilloart]

Who is She? 33 - Dolores Huerta

Short version: So this will be my only new piece for Women's History Month 2019. It's a larger illustration of Dolores Huerta featuring many symbols that represent parts of her life both big and small. Dolores is one of the most revolutionary women living. As the co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union her selfless activism and organizing helped to not only change the lives of the farm workers across California, but it continues to inspire young women and people all over the world.

It is a crime that more attention, respect, and admiration is not given to her. I just finished working on a project about her and had the chance to learn a lot more about her. But, if you're not familiar with Dolores, I highly recommend watching the most recent documentary by Peter Bratt. It will give you a good glimpse into her life. Then go check out her foundation because she is still organizing! I give Dolores and her family so much respect and thanks. Happy women's day! 

Longer Version: So, here is a slightly longer version but I am not going to go over her entire life just some of the words, drawings, and symbols I included. I would highly suggest watching the documentary if you are not a reader. If you're a reader go check out her foundation.

Stockton- Ok so Dolores was born in Dawson New Mexico, but she grew up in Stockton California. Although her dad was a farm worker and organizer, she was raised by her mom and siblings. There she watched her mom hold down jobs and eventually run a hotel which was not a typical thing for most women to do in the 30s. It was through her mom that she got her first feminist role model; saying that she never had to cater to her brothers. Her mother made them all work equally; which is often not the case in some Latinx families. Dolores attended school in Stockton in what was a very mixed setting, but she also experienced racism there in the treatment of students of color and her education. 

Dancing/Jazz-Dolores loved to dance and she loves music. One of her favorite genres is Jazz. She helped organize a dance, danced herself, and made time to go see musicians play live. 

Fred Ross-After working as a teacher and witnessing the conditions the children of farm workers lived in she dedicated her life to organizing. It is then that she met Fred Ross who ran the Community Service Organization (CSO). He taught Dolores about organizing and she became a bad ass at it. She was so persuasive and hard working that they soon promoted her to take policy changes to the states capitol.

Cesar Chavez-Another bad ass who worked with and was trained Fred Ross is Cesar. Cesar grew up as a child of farm workers and understood their experiences first hand. He was also a star at organizing and soon Fred was partnering Cesar and Dolores up. Cesar would also go on to be one of the most revolutionary activists of his time.

NFWA-National Farm Workers Association- Together Dolores and Cesar left the CSO and co-founded a small organization aimed at specifically organizing Latinx farm workers in Central California. They called it an association rather than a union because unions were outlawed and union organizers were being hunted. 

Huelga sign- After getting a jump from the Filipino workers AWOC (Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee) they joined forces with Dolores and Cesar to form what would become world famous as the United Farm Workers or UFW. The symbol for their flag inspired by Aztec iconography and later becoming a symbol for organizing, social justice, and Chican@ pride. The word Huelga means "strike" in both Spanish and Tagalog the languages spoken by the multicultural UFW.  

Si! Se Puede!- Dolores was a leader who often went into towns, cities, and communities to speak with folks, hear their needs, and to organize them.  She did this with wit, strength, and humility. But, if anyone ever told her she couldn't do something which both white folks and macho men of color often did, she'd say yes we can. Si Se Puede! Which is a slogan she came up with and was later used by Barack.

The Feminist fist- I included this because although Dolores was brought up Catholic in a traditional Latinx family she was brought up with some very feminist ideas. And when she met feminists on a trip to NYC to promote the grape strike of the mid 60s she gained some new ideas. At first she didn't rock with all of what they said, but then slowly she started to change her mind, incorporating them into her life. This is important, because of in el movimiento there can be sexism. Women from the Black Panther Party have spoken about this as well.

Family-So Dolores amazingly had 11 children! She now has 17 grand kids as well. So, as a movement parent she lifted up farm workers and fought for revolutionary causes. She worked tirelessly to do this for decades. But, her family life was sacrificed in many cases. She got married three times and often was away organizing. Her grown children have not held back in saying they were sometimes angry with her, left behind, or frustrated. They understand why she did what she did, but it was not easy. Somehow with little to no money (organizers don't get paid often) she raised and got help raising her kids. 

Billy club- I put that in there because she was beaten by the San Francisco Police Department. They broke her ribs and she had to be hospitalized. She has been arrested over 20 times in her life.

Why? Ok, so why did Dolores do all this work? Why sacrifice? A couple of reasons. The Mexican and Latinx workers who grew, picked, and serviced the farm lands that feed the United States were being exploited. They were being ripped off financially. Whenever possible the white farm owners undercut their pay. leaving them with not enough money to pay for proper housing (Dolores' mom often let workers stay for free because of this) , food, clothing, and/or schooling for their kids. Their kids could not attend school, they had to work in the fields to help support the family. The working conditions were horrible. Imagine bending over all day to pick fruits and vegetables without proper breaks, no drinking water, no bathrooms, or shade. Workers were . threatened if they asked for these things and fired if they attempted to form a union. They had no sick time, no benefits, no regular raises, and no support if they got ill. Lastly,  the farm owners were poisoning their workers as they worked them to death (life expectancy was in the 50's). The farm owners had their fields sprayed with harsh chemicals such as DDT known to cause cancer. Because of all this Dolores was passionate about fighting for these workers. 

Victory-And you know what? They organized among the Filipino and Latinx workers striking for years, bringing down a boycott that reached across the US . This eventually took so much money out . of the growers pockets that they forced them to the negotiating table, winning better working conditions, rights, and pay for the families. Dolores is a bad ass!

There's a lot I'm leaving out, but please check out more of the drawing and go find out more about this woman's life!   If you wanna see more women I've drawn for Women's History Month click HERE.