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James Coleman - a name
synonymous with sweeping skies, tropical rain forests, rich deep woods
and silent deserts. The images created by this talented man continue to delight
all that view them.
James
Coleman was born in Hollywood, California in 1949. As a youth, his creative
abilities seemed to
dominate his world. Though he lacked the athletic skills of his young friends,
he more than made up for
it with imagination and ingenuity. As a young man, his interest in
filmmaking and fine art would mark the
beginning of a long, successful career in animated films. Coleman began his
career with Walt Disney
Studios in the summer of 1969, when his mother, who had been working as a
secretary with Disney since the
Hyperion days, got him a job in the studio's mailroom. His big break came when
he entered one of his paintings
in the studio art show. Several of the Disney artists viewing his work,
saw his potential and realized he
had an untapped ability and encouraged him to go into animation background
painting.
Walt Disney Productions
welcomed his creative energies. His first film, "Winnie, the Pooh and Tigger,
too",
sparked his interest not only in painting backgrounds but also in background
design and color styling.
After completing, "The
Rescuers", his first feature film, he was promoted to Background Department
Supervisor, a position he held for nearly seventeen years. During that time, he
personally hired and trained
a select group of artists, whom he would work with for most of his career at
Disney. While at Disney, James
styled and worked on twelve films and over thirty short subjects which included
"Mickey's Christmas Carol",
"The Fox and the Hound", "The Great Mouse Detective", "The Black
Cauldron", "The Little Mermaid", and
Academy Award-winning, "Beauty and the Beast". All of which came to life
with James Coleman's
background images gracing the silver screen.
In 1991, after twenty-two
years with Disney, James left to pursue a new career. He was ready to devote all
of his time and talent to the love of his life, fine art. Today he continues to
illuminate the art world with
vibrant colors, gentle moods, powerful design and exquisite detail.
Coleman works in oil,
watercolor, gouache and pastel. His work is impressionistic and luminous. His
pieces
intrigue the eye and touch the heart. His paintings are warm, inviting and
unique. A master of color, light
and design, Coleman has become one of the most collected and sought after
artists around the world.
James Coleman pieces can be found in many fine, personal and corporate
collections including that of the
Disney family. Coleman is a naturalist and environmentalist who involve himself
with the National Parks
and other environmental organizations. He has been a finalist for five years in
the Arts for the Parks competition.
The contribution made by
Coleman to the world of art over some thirty years, both in film and fine art,
makes
him one of the most collected artists in contemporary art. His work is
represented by some of the most
prominent and respected galleries in North America, the Orient and the Hawaiian
Islands.
Art Gallery