James Coleman, American painter. Born in 1949 in Hollywood, California. As a young man, his creative abilities seemed to dominate his world. Although he lacked the motor skills of his younger friends, his imagination and creativity made up for it. At a young age, his interest in filmmaking and fine arts marked the beginning of his long and successful career in the field of animated films.
In the summer of 1969, Coleman began his career at the Walt Disney Studios. His mother had been a secretary at Disney since the time of Hyperion, giving him a job in the studio's mailroom. When he took one of his paintings to a studio art exhibition, he had a major breakthrough. Several Disney artists saw his work, saw his potential, realized he had an untapped ability, and encouraged him to engage in animated background painting. The Walt Disney Company welcomed his creativity.
His first film, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, sparked not only his interest in background painting, but also his interest in background design and color style. After completing his first feature film, The Rescuer, he was promoted to head of backstage, a position he held for nearly 17 years. During this time, he personally hired and trained a select group of artists and spent most of his career at Disney with them.
During his time at Disney, James designed and co-produced 12 films and more than 30 short films, including Mickey Mouse's Christmas Carol, The Fox and the Hound, Detective Mouse, Black Cauldron, The Little Mermaid, and the Oscar-winning film Beauty and the Beast. All of this comes to life on the screen against the background of James Coleman.
In 1991, after 22 years at Disney, James left Disney to pursue a new career. He was ready to dedicate all his time and talents to the love of his life, fine art. Today, he continues to illuminate the art world with vivid colors, soft moods, powerful designs and exquisite details.
Coleman worked on oil paintings, watercolors, gouache and crayons. His works are impressionistic and luminous, catching the eye and touching the heart. His paintings are passionate, seductive and unique. Specializing in color, lighting and design, he has become one of the most collected and sought after artists in the world. His work can be found in many individual and corporate collections, including those of the Disney family.