Floyd Cooper was a gifted illustrator of children’s books hailing from humble beginnings in Tulsa, OK.
He was known for using his authoring and illustrational talents to celebrate African American experiences through his work.
Floyd was dedicated to bringing forward a depiction of Black life that was closer to history and taught among all Americans for the sake of bringing communities together.
Having worked on close to 100 published books, his landmark approach to educating children through his book illustrations was awarded by several dignitaries within the publishing and authoring communities. Many capable writers were fortunate to have authored Floyd’s illustrations as well.
Let us go through his work, achievements, and the ideas he stood for in this article to remember his life since it’s been just over a year since he passed on July 15, 2021.
Floyd Cooper was born on January 8, 1956, in his hometown Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, based on his recollection, the artist in him was born as early as three.
He once stated that he could remember creating art when he was three years old by simply using a “chalky piece of wallboard” to make shapes on the walls of his childhood home.
Although the Cooper family could not afford many luxuries of the world, that did not stop a peculiar boy from a modest family and an uncertain home (due to his parent’s divorce) from finding beauty in the most ordinary things.
As he got into school, Floyd’s attempts at creating something out of nothing did not go unnoticed. His teachers noted and submitted his work to a scholarship committee as well.
In his own words, “Not giving up on one’s dreams is something I feel very personally about..” which goes on to show that Floyd’s expression of art came from a real place. For such poignant reasons, he continued to pursue his passion and completed a degree in fine arts from the University of Oklahoma in 1978.
Floyd moved around for work from Kansas City to New York City until setting base later in life at (Easton) Pennsylvania, where he eventually passed away at age 65 due to cancer, leaving behind two sons and his wife, Velma.
Floyd had a decent share of his career working in the advertising industry, famously at Hallmark Cards. He worked there in the greeting card design department, which he believed contributed to polishing his illustrational skills. It’s where he received his legendary “oil erasure” technique.
When it came to his acclaimed and signature work around depicting the African American experiences in their sincerest light, he did not restrict the reality of it only to the stories being portrayed. Instead, he would use real models to illustrate, typically involving his sons, friends, and their families.
Another milestone of Floyd’s work would be to have collaborated with Eloise Greenfield, who herself was known for portraying African American experiences sincerely. Jane Yolen, Nikki Grimes, Howard Bryant, Joyce Carol Thomas, and Bill Martin Jr are some of many writers who shared their writings on Floyd’s celebrated illustrations.
Throughout his career, he made a conscious effort not to limit his audience to African Americans but rather to have all communities learn from those experiences.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Floyd strived to bring groundbreaking change in children’s classrooms by teaching African American experiences in the most honest fashion. He encapsulated his work perfectly by saying the following back in 2012:
“If you say it in just the right way to just the right student, it can lead to someone perhaps finding their dream.”
While his cause was inspirational in and of itself, his illustrations were a work of art that left every reader wanting more. Although his message in each story was what lured its readers, the illustrations were the magic that kept them intrigued.
Floyd was able to grab recognition for his work not just in classrooms but from honorary establishments too. Here’s a list of those achievements that he earned along the way.
Floyd Cooper, with his distinctive style, has not only left a sharp range of work for the African American community but also comes out as an exemplary illustrator who went all in and stayed true to his idea of bridging gaps through his art.
Nevertheless, a positive and critical note to end on in remembering the legacy of Floyd Cooper would be that he recognized the currency of his art as well, which goes on to show that one can always monetize their artistic ideas with longevity as long as the meaning attached to the art resonates sincerity.
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