Thomas Gonzalez

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THOMAS GONZALEZ
ILLUSTRATOR HIGHLIGHT

 

14 COWS

14 COWS 2

14 COWS 3

From 14 COWS FOR AMERICA, by Carmen Agra Deedy and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah (Peachtree)

 

Thomas Gonzalez has been drawing since he was a child in Havana, Cuba. A Spanish speaker, Thomas didn’t know the English language when he migrated with his family to the States, so it became even more natural to express himself in pictures. Express and impress, we might add! Gonzalez’s debut picture book, 14 COWS FOR AMERICA, received many starred reviews—SLJ described it as “exquisite”—and made several national bestseller lists, including the NYT, which hailed Gonzalez’s illustrations as “beautifully evocative.” Most recently, COUNTDOWN: 2979 DAYS TO THE MOON received three starred reviews, a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, and was named an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12.

 

MOON

EARTH

From COUNTDOWN: 2979 DAYS TO THE MOON, by Suzanne Slade (Peachtree)

 

Influenced by 1960’s photorealist illustrators, Thomas is a thorough researcher, placing great importance in accuracy. He is also a planner, a trait he inherited from his many years in the advertising world. Indeed, his background enables him to fully embrace not only the content of a manuscript but the entire approach to the project. For example, in 14 COWS FOR AMERICA, Thomas conveyed his admiration for Maxfield Parrish’s realism along with the precise techniques of Japanese airbrush illustrators.  He considers the arrangement of an illustration to have a powerful effect on the senses and the content of a book and strongly believes that the perfect page balance will guide the flow of information and aid understanding. His illustrations are made on paper, using a combination of watercolor, markers, colored pencils, pastels, and airbrush finishes.

 

GANDHI

GANDHI 2

From GANDHI: A MARCH TO THE SEA, by Alice B. McGinty (Two Lions)

 

Award-winning Thomas Gonzalez spent years as an art director, a creative director, and a principal designer, the majority of them at The Coca-Cola Company. He received several advertising and design-related awards, including one gold and two silver Addy’s and a bronze International Packaging Award. He lives in Georgia with his family.

More Art by Thomas Gonzalez
 

TOAD WEATHER

From TOAD WEATHER, by Sandra Markle (Peachtree)
 

Sample art from ONE SUN ONE MOON, by Sarah Scheerger
 

SEVEN AND A HALF TONS OF STEEL

From SEVEN AND A HALF TONS OF STEEL, by Janet Nolan (Peachtree)
 

MOTORCYCLE

 

 

ERRATA: A previous version of this publication mistakenly listed Peachtree as the publisher for GANDHI: A MARCH TO THE SEA. The book was published by Two Lions.

Check out our previous Illustrator Highlights:
HEATHER B. LEE  |  RON BARRETT  |  SPECIAL EDITION  |  LUCIANA N. POWELL  |  SHIHO PATE

The Illustrator Highlight is a monthly publication featuring some of the artistic talent represented by East West Literary Agency.

DEBORAH WARREN, EAST WEST LITERARY AGENCY
dwarren@eastwestliteraryagency.com

East West Literary Agency, LLC specializes in children’s books of all genres, from concept, novelty and picture books through young adult literature and everything in between.
We represent both authors and illustrators.

More East/West Artists
 
 

Copyright © 2019 Thomas Gonzalez. All rights reserved.
Thomas Gonzalez is represented by East West Literary Agency.

Our mailing address is:
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Santa Monica, CA 90403

This publication is edited by Ana Crespo.