HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!

Just a few old sketches!

Sample Piece

This was a sample piece created before starting on the "Goal" book with Candlewick set to be released in April of 2010. After creating this image, me and my editor were able to talk about what we did and did not want as far as the imagery for the book in regards to color, textures, landscapes, etc.

Sneak Peak at "First Family"

Deborah Hopkinson is the award-winning author of many books for young readers, including Stagecoach Sal, Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek, Sweet Clara and The Freedom Quilt, winner of the IRA Award, and Apples to Oregon, winner of the Golden Kite Award.

Deborah did a great job writing this book and I surely enjoyed illustrating it! It hits stores Dec. 22 and is available for pre-orders. Pick one up this holiday season for your family and closest loved ones!

Pre-Order Now!!

Old Time Photo Sketch

While doing research for a book cover that I am working on, I ran across this photo and decided to do some quick sketches of the characters!!

More quick sketches

quick sketches

Michelle Hits stores Tuesday 9/29/2009

Order Now!!

Smart and sure, hardworking, talented, professional and passionate, loving wife and mother, daughter, sister, friend.

This is the story of a girl from Chicago who dared to dream big, worked hard to make things happen, and grew up to be an extraordinary woman: Michelle Robinson Obama.

Deborah Hopkinson and AG Ford capture the inspiring story of the first African American First Lady in this beautiful picture-book biography.

The Progression

Here are a couple of progression shots of paintings that I was working on for the First Family book I just completed that will be released later this year. I am basically painting very directly to work quickly, mid to dark thin layers of paint, and then opaque lights, wet into wet oils, usually just in one sitting for each portrait in order to work quickly to meet deadlines.

Sketch Studies for Books

Here are just a few sketches, basically just studies of the First Family, trying to understand how to draw their faces accurately

Illustration for Black Enterprise Magazine 2008 for and article about the election

Here is an older illustration I did back in 08, I have been very busy with current projects which I can't show yet, but will definitely be posting older pieces and works from my sketch book (when i get to sketch) as much as possible. Also, these are the photos from which I used for reference as I did the drawing and painting. Thanks! and stay tuned in!!

Interior Spread for a book Im working on!

Here is a sneak peak at an interior illustration for a book that I am finishing up with Candlewick Press titled Goal!, written by Mina Javaherbin. I can't show too much of this book yet, but thought I would share one spread, the book is scheduled to be released in 2010. The book is about kids playing soccer in the alleys of their shanty homes in Africa, very fun book to illustrate!

New Book!! Our Children Can Sour!!

This is the seed of a unique picture book that is part historical, part poetry, and entirely inspirational. I did one painting of Jesse Owens for this book, a fun painting. There were many illustrators on this project (cover art by Bryan Collier) so I really wanted to stand out in someway, so I went with a very golden and sepia palette hoping no one else did the same. Books are available now, click here to order!

Humorous Illustration for Ohio Magazine

Here is an illustration done some time ago but I thought I would show you all some of the reference pictures that I took of a friend for the project and also some of the photos for the scenery that me and my art director found. Fun project!

Michelle Sneak Peek!!

Here is the cover and also one of the opening spreads for the book. This book was written by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by AG Ford (me) and is set to be released September 09 under Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers. This is what they are showing around so i thought i would share it with you all. I am still working on the rest of the interiors.
Oil on Illustration board

Details of Oz Portraits

Well here are the drawings and detail shots of the Oz portraits. This piece was done some time ago but I thought my website didn't do it justice. This is a rather large piece so I decided to give you some detail shots and let you see certain things, like brush strokes, the Cowardly Lion's tears, Tin man's rust, Dorothy's hair, and even Scare Crows leaves sticking out. This is all done in acrylic, transparent shadows, opaque lights working from thin to thick. I will try to post things periodically, old and new, but hopefully always inspiring!!

Sketches and Life Drawing #2

Here are a few more sketches and a quick life drawing on the right.

Life Drawings

Here are some life drawings from my sketch book. I think its important to keep drawing from life to stay on point. I draw from photos so much but there is something natural and fluent when drawing from life, people move, blink, and scratch, wiggle, and it really keeps you focused to try and create a drawing that can stand through all that. More to come from my sketchbook soon!

Dallas Morning News Article! My first full children's book "Barack" is a NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!!

Here is my interview which was on the front page of the Dallas Morning News!
Click here for Article

Interview with Irene Gallo : Art Director of Tor, Forge and Starcape Books

After seeing my painting in Spectrum, and meeting her a couple of times at the Society of Illustrators show, Irene was nice enough to contact me for an interview about artist a few years out of school. Fresh Paint!
Click here for Interview

The Interval

Sketch book Sketch book Sketch book, how important these are but i am sure I don't give mine enough attention at all, it feels abandoned and its vacant pages communicate this clearly. Although I am pretty busy now a days, there is a little downtime when waiting on editors and art directors to get back with me. Usually I use this time to do research, prepare boards, look at new art, read, search for new music or for anything inspiring in the world but ignore the option of just drawing for fun. I think I should absolutely add sketching to the list! Sketchbooks are so important for the creative mind and can be great to build yourself as an artist conceptually and to keep your hand and eye coordination on point. SO...... what to do??? I think I will keep my sketch book near me from now on. Here are the first few sketches from pictures I found, I will be doing some drawings from life as well soon!