music makers + action

I wanted to finish this before Father’s Day but I didn’t have the time. I couldn’t celebrate with my family because I was in Denver for their Comic-con. While I was there the news of the administration taking a zero tolerance stance on immigration filled my news feed. Photos of children kept in cages and separate from their parents. I wanted to tune out, numb myself and disengage.

In the the last 10 years I built my art career and generally feel proud of my accomplishments. As the news of this horrific practice released I began to regret my life choices. Why didn’t I become a lawyer, doctor, advocate? I have no skills to help in these situations. I asked myself, what can I do to combat these atrocities?

I can draw. I can create and I can use that skill to raise money and awareness. My voice is small but I will not remain silent. I will not sit idly by as babies are ripped from their mothers. Mothers whose only crime is to seek asylum from trauma in their home countries.

Today I will run an auction on twitter of rare pieces of art (Disney art, variant cover comics and art collections) I will begin posting at 1pm and close each auction at the end of the hour. All money will be donated here. Next week I will create ink drawings and sell them to raise money. I will continue to find ways to help.

Please consider donating. Or signing up to provide support here. Or calling your reps. We have to fight for justice. Together.

 

love in the leaves

I had the privilege of creating this custom illustration for a lovely couple who will marry this fall. I’ve been buried under deadlines and at times unsatisfying work. Drawing this reminded me why I love my job.

Next week I will be at Denver Comicon as their special guest, I will participate on a slew of panels as well as have an artist alley table and I’m excited to share that my office manager, Nickole, will have her original art there as well! I will kick of the weekend with a presentation at the Denver public library on Thursday. If you’re around the area, I’d love to see you!

I hope you have a great week!

mommy vs. mickey

Jasmine graphic novel

I wrote, drew and colored (with flatting help from Nickole Caimol) this graphic novel last year with Disney Publishing. You can read about it in the exclusive press release in the Hollywood Reporter. It releases in Oct with Dark Horse Comics and is available for pre-order here. I hope you enjoy it!

disneyland in july!

I’m excited to share that I will be at Disneyland a few times in July! Catch me at Wonderground Gallery where they will release 2 new Disney prints, Disney California Adventure where I will perform live wood burning demonstrations or on July 21st for the Pixar Artist Showcase. My artwork will be featured at both Wonderground Gallery and Rushin’ River Outfitters in California Adventure for the month of July.

Meanwhile I will be presenting about PASHMINA and doing a mini presentation tomorrow the Turn the Page event at Fairyland in Oakland with a whole lot of amazing children’s book authors.

Whew! That’s a lot of events – hope to catch you at one!

schulz museum tomorrow

Seven years ago I made this drawing for my mother-in-law. She loves Peanuts and Snoopy.

So I’m extra excited that tomorrow I will be featured at the Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. If you’re in the area, please come by. I will be signing books and talking about my comics process.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

undies

Mother’s day & Free Comic Book Day

From now until May 10th enjoy 15% off my shop during the Mother’s Day sale.

I will also be signing books as part of Free Comic Book Day at Isotope Comics in San Francisco this Saturday.

Meanwhile I’m close to complete on the final art for my upcoming picture book, written by Bea Birdsong, I WILL BE FIERCE. After which I will roll right into finishing artwork for my first bilingual board book, Shubh Raatri Dost! Sometime after that I hope to create some new illustrations to share here.

Until then, I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Bay Area Book Fest and PASHMINA in India!

Some of my best friends - Magnet

SUNDAY! Catch me at two events discussing PASHMINA at the Bay Area Book Festival With Mitalit Perkins, Abdi Nazemian and Chris Crutcher in the morning (tix: https://bit.ly/2r08Wce ) and Thi Bui Amber Padilla, Trinidad Escobar, Meggie Ramm, Matt Silady in the afternoon (tix:https://bit.ly/2qZH9tl ).

Also this month PASHMINA was released in India with Harper Collins India! There has been some great press already in the Deccan Chronicle (Kochi) and and The Asian Age News (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata)!

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Immigration comic

I contributed a comic to the Nib in response to the recent conversations and decisions around immigration. You can read all of the responses here.