AG Ford

Sketchbook

2011-09-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

Coretta

Summer Jackson: Grown Up By Teresa E. Harris, illustrated by AG Ford

2011-04-28T11:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Summer Jackson.

Summer is fairly certain she's ready to be a grown-up—right now. She wants to wear a blazer, read the morning paper, and boss around a few second graders. Grown-ups have it so easy! But wait, do grown-ups play on swings?

Teresa E. Harris and AG Ford's hilarious story shows that being a kid might not be so bad after all.

Click here to Order Now! Official Release date May 17, 2011 available in book stores!

Another Random Sketch

2011-04-20T14:28:00.001-07:00

Sketches

2011-02-08T13:22:00.001-08:00

Zoe and Carey

Boys Life Illustrations for Feb 2011 issue

2010-10-26T19:09:00.001-07:00

Interval .0

2010-08-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a bit more work done to the portrait of my brother I've been working on in my down time. I got a chance to work on the hand a bit, but its been so long since i worked on this portrait, that my color combinations were thrown off a bit. Notice how much warmer the hand is than the face. This is only the underpainting, but this will play a roll, we will see how it turns out. Thanks for viewing!

Random Sketching

2010-08-02T09:44:00.001-07:00

Drawings from "Goal"

2010-07-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Here are a few final drawings from the "Goal" book. These two drawings were some of my favorite spreads to paint. They offered intense emotion and also a climatic point in the story where I had the chance to show action throughout a piece. Enjoy! Also, checkout the finished "Zora and Me" cover on my site here!

Sorry - For Contractual Reasons- This recent post has been removed.

2010-07-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

I will be updated the blog with more art soon! Thanks for tuning in.

Sincerely, AG

Sketches featured at the Book Signing

2010-06-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple sketches that were featured at the Book Signing, along with many other sketches. Guests were allowed to look through a bundle of drawings that ultimately became finished portfolio pieces.

Pictures from the Book Signing!!

2010-06-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Book Signing at Barnes and Nobles! Friday June 11th at 7pm

2010-06-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

I will be reading my new book "Goal" to the children, holding a Q and A session, and also signing books. All of my previous books will be available for purchase as well!

Hope to see you all there!!

New Illustrator Interview with 7 imp!!!

2010-06-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

Seven impossible things before breakfast Illustrator Interview!

Check the interview out, it is quite informative, and 7-imp always offers a different twist to an interview! Let me know what you think! Below is an interior from the the Michelle Book, just for kicks!

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast talks with Mina Javaherbin!!

2010-05-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a great interview by "Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast" with the outstanding author Mina Javaherbin about her inspiration to write "Goal"

Click Here to Read!

Goal by Mina Javaherbin Illustrated by AG Ford IN STORES TODAY!!!

2010-04-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

Check out my new book with Candlewick Press!! To order online Click Here!!

"Uplifting and inspiring, this beautifully written and illustrated book reminds us of the joys and saving grace of friendship and sport. Set in South Africa, this book is a gift for soccer fans and all families around the world." -- Archbishop Desmond Tutu
In a dusty township in South Africa, Ajani and his friends have earned a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They kick. They dribble. They run. They score. These clever boys are football champions! But when a crew of bullies tries to steal their ball, will Ajani and his friends be able to beat them at their own game?
A lyrical, strikingly illustrated story celebrates the unifying power of soccer. Just in time for the June 2010 World Cup in South Africa! Order Now!

NAACP IMAGE AWARD!!

2010-03-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

"Our Children Can Soar" Wins NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Children! I contributed an illustration of Jesse Owens (painting shown in previous posts on my blog) to this book along with 12 other well know illustrators. Check out the NAACP Awards site under Literature.

Also, to get your own copy of Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change, click here!

Sketch

2010-02-24T13:10:00.000-08:00

This is a drawing in my sketch book of singer/ song writer Janelle Monae.

The Interval 2

2010-02-05T12:41:00.000-08:00

Here is another entry of "The Interval". In between projects and such, I am working on a portrait of my brother to keep my hand active and creative juices flowing. Still in its beginning stages, I am starting out with a mixture of raw sienna and cobalt blue to give me variations of cool grays as an under painting. When this stage is completed, I will be glazing in colors softly but want to maintain a slightly saturated color scheme overall.

Interview with The Brown Bookshelf

2010-02-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

Click Here to read Interview

For Anymore Questions, just post a comment, and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Drawings/Paint Study/Haiti

2010-01-22T11:06:00.000-08:00

Hey all out there, here are a couple of sketches, and also a quick paint study from a John Singer Sargent painting. I used to do a lot of these little quick studies to help me get better at painting. I used Acrylics.
Also, and most importantly, please donate to Haiti what you can, the earthquake is a terrible disaster. Any money you can donate is helpful to the people of Haiti, and every cent counts. No one asks for things like this to happen, we all as people of the world, have to contribute what we can. Here are a couple sites where you can donate: American Red Cross, Yele Haiti

Cover Illustration (Post Comments People!)

2010-01-14T10:06:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone, It seems I have been getting more traffic through the blog recently, please post your comments and give feedback! Thanks!

This is a cover illustration recently completed for a book being released this fall, more info will be posted throughout the year upon the books release. Peace!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!

2009-12-30T15:52:00.000-08:00

Just a few old sketches!

Sample Piece

2009-12-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

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"

2009-11-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

quick sketches

2009-10-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

Michelle Hits stores Tuesday 9/29/2009

2009-09-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-26T18:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-18T09:55:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-22T20:49:00.001-07:00

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!

2009-06-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-04-23T13:50:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

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!!

2009-04-10T08:24:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-02-24T09:28:00.000-08:00

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

Life Drawings

2009-02-03T10:55:00.001-08:00

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!!

2009-01-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-20T14:51:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

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!

The Work Area

2008-09-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

Alright, here is a picture of my work area and a little preview of a new piece that I am working on. More in the direction of fashion-like imagery, I basically use the same thought process that I would approach any other painting, collecting tons of reference and inspiring visuals. You see torn pages from magazines everywhere, on the table, on the floor (even though I am quite fastidious), books from the library, and I also collect images from the web. All this is just to try and capture a feel for the painting and make sure I am consistently headed in the right direction. I also have a bundle of illustrators works posted on my wall, just to keep me inspired while I work and to always have new images that I like in front of me. I never hang up my own work, it just....mmmmm I don't know, it seems that you would have more progression learning from others, and artists that think differently rather than seeing your own images.

My First Book Signing at the Tom Joyner Family Reunion Convention in Orlando, Florida!!

2008-09-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

AG Ford (left) Jonah Winter (right)

Hello all! Here are a couple of pictures from the Tom Joyner Family Reunion event in Orlando Florida where I had my first book signing along with the author, Jonah Winter of our new picture book "Barack". This was actually a first look at the book and a sneak opportunity for people to purchase before the release date of September 30th, 2008. We signed a lot of books and viewers were excited to see and read this inspirational story about Barack Obama. I myself am really excited to see the book hit stores and was overwhelmed when receiving a finished copy of the printed book. I had a really nice time talking with people about the process of book making, my experience with deadlines and the intensity of creating all the images for a full picture book.

Obama Sample for Harper Collins!!

2008-06-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

This was a sample piece I did for Harper Collins which ultimately earned me the opportunity to work on my first full picture book for young readers. The picture book is based on the life story of the inspirational leader Barack Obama and is written by the award winning author of many picture books, Jonah Winter. I had a lot of fun doing this piece, especially from a historical perspective. I also wanted Barack's pose to have sentimental value and power, which is the reason I wanted him with his fist launched in the air with power. African Americans identify a fist in the
air symbolic of their struggle and a gesture that says "as African
Americans, be strong, we can make it through anything". It gives the sentiment of when John Carlos and Tommie Smith raised their fist's in the 1968 Olympic
Games which was the same year that Martin Luther King was
assassinated. I also wanted to show Barack in a position where he was
speaking to his people, this also gives you the tenderness you feel
when seeing a picture of Martin Luther King speaking, from which the
author makes reference to in the story. Be on the look out for "Barack" to hit stores late Sept 2008 (date may change), written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by AG Ford(me!)

Also, This piece was done with an acrylic under painting (value based) and then oil over top. Basically the same technique as the painting below, oil really helps the paint strokes look more appealing. I really wanted the strokes to be visible with a piece like this because it gives the painting emotion, and this is a passionate piece.

HOMER B!!!!! oils, 2 session painting, just for fun.

2008-03-21T00:29:00.000-07:00

Here is the finish of my first shot at oils in a while. I tried to stay slightly neutral in the skin tones in order for the fire to glow. This took me about two and a half days which is way too long for a portrait but I was pretty experimental in the proccess. Im transfering into using oils more just because I think it is a more powerful medium. I usually use acrylic but after talking with other artists, I finally decided to make the leap and dive into some oils. I always felt like I would like illustrating in oil. Also shown is the drawing and the underpainting for which I then paint the finish on top. Once I have my value structure in place, I am basically just replacing the values with color while still maintaing the structure. Oh yeah, and this is a friend of mine, he enjoys art and likes graffiti, so I decided to do something kind of street and urban, its a bad pic but you get the idea, its time for a new camerea though, upgrade!

Beauty & the Beast drawing/thumbnails ( SCROLL DOWN for finished painting)

2007-09-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

With this piece, I had alot of big ideas and imagery that I wanted to use when taking my own spin on this classic fairy tale. I went to the library and checked out every book on fairy tales that I could find and read atleast ten versions of The Beauty and Beast. The scene in the book which seemed to portray the most emotion, was the scene where Beauty left to see her father, and returned only to see the Beast left for dead in the courtyard. The moments before the Beast awakes, in my vision would be the moments of high drama and suspense, the brass and drums begin, along with the tear on Beauty's face, music at its climax, and then he awakes.

Beauty & the Beast

2007-09-22T17:06:00.000-07:00

I thought I would add some detail shots due to this being such a large piece. I am happy with the end result of this piece and think that it is a good addition to my portfolio. Fairy tales seem to draw my interest and I think its a genre that I will continue to investigate.

Dorothy and Munchkins Thumbnails/Drawing (Scroll Down for Finished Painting)

2007-09-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

When starting a new piece, the thumbnail process is extremely important and is usually the most difficult for me. Getting set on a good composition and idea takes alot of thinking and sketching out all the possibilities. Because I am a perfectionist, I always think I can make a piece better, which causes me to explore to the max. Here are just a few of my thumbnails.
Also here are my final pencils of the characters from which I then transfer to my masonite board. I then draw my landscapes directly on to the board and begin to paint. I basically use a very traditional way of painting; tranparent shadows and opaque lights, topped off with some glazing to polish and finish. Finish is below!!

Latest Dorothy Piece

2007-09-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

This was a very involved piece that took me through an extensive journey of photo referencing, costuming, and a soft glazing process in order to maintain the color palette intended. My models used for the characters in the painting had fun with the costuming and the idea of being munchkins which made shooting reference enjoyable. Throughout the developement of taking all the photos, we seemed to pull out all kinds of tricks using drapery, safety pins, pillow cases and whatever we could find to assemble an innovative wardrobe.