The Museum of UnCut Funk is connecting with the koolest cats and the hippest chicks in the comic book, comic art, graphic novel and illustration world. We are building some really great relationships as we pursue our mission to provide independent artists with a funky venue where they can showcase their work. Trel “Fave” Robinson is one of the kool cats that we have discovered in our journey. By featuring him in Aesthetic Grooves we hope to help spread the word about his work.
Trel “Fave” Robinson is an illustrator/graphic designer who created A PUG NAMED FENDER, a music-inspired webcomic centered around a pug and his friends with frequent guest appearances from contemporary soul and hip hop artists.
He has been drawing for as long as he can remember – with childhood dreams of becoming a cartoonist. By the time he entered college, his aspirations shifted to music when he started playing the piano and went on to direct gospel choirs. He spent the late-90s and 2000s producing music while working as a marketing exec in various industries from radio to consumer goods.
This all changed in 2010 when his beloved pug, A Pug Named Fender (yes, that was his whole name), died unexpectedly after sterilization surgery. For the first time in over a decade, he chose to grab pen and paper to memorialize his friend in an online comic strip. Robinson was also an avid blogger and podcaster who showcased indie soul and hip hop – so he infused the comic with illustrated renditions of his music heroes (i.e., The Roots, Eric Roberson, Ledisi, etc.).
He never took an art class, so Robinson immersed himself in the comic world through countless YouTube tutorials and webcomic message boards. This enabled him to give APNF a polished look and feel through the use of hand-drawings as well as digital coloring and lettering.
In 2011, Robinson launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to produce a printed version of APNF’s online episodes. The book is currently still in production and scheduled to be released in Summer 2012.
As the popularity of the webcomic grew, Robinson was commissioned to design the album artwork for Eric Roberson’s “Mister Nice Guy.” He also has a blog of illustrated musings called “Favedoodles” (www.favedoodles.tumblr.com).
Robinson works as a marketing manager in the telecommunications industry and maintains a number of websites focused on his creative expression from music, art and writing. He currently lives in Houston, Texas.
For more information on Trel Robinson and A Pug Named Fender please visit:
