Ford's sense of nature is not a Romantic's wild and angry universe. To the contrary, his distinctive paintings reflect a palpable optimism and vibrant confidence. The easy precision, subtlety and repose of his paintings may well derive from that Asian aesthetic he developed in his early years.

Now he’s arrived at what he believes to be his true destiny. “I’m grateful every day that I get to paint for a living,” Smith says, “I feel like the luckiest guy on earth, and I think that energy and optimism is reflected in my work.” Ford resides in Roswell, Georgia with his wife, Cristi, along with their two dogs and two cats. Their adored, 23 year old daughter, Hilary, also lives in Atlanta and is a talented, burgeoning filmmaker. Their son, Brian, also lives in Atlanta with his wife, Adrienne and their beautiful little girl Nora.