Hollywood never came calling for James Coleman.
But it didn’t have to. James had his foot in the door of America’s “Movie Capital” when he was born there in 1949. As a kid, James’ imagination and creativity ruled his world. While other boys played baseball and football, James drew and painted.
In the summer of 1969, James’ mother, a secretary at Disney, landed him a gig in the Studio’s mailroom. No, it wasn’t glamorous, but in between sorting letters, James did manage to enter one of his paintings in a Disney Studio Art Show.
And that’s when his life completely changed.
His entry caught the eye of one of Disney’s top artists, and it wasn’t long before James was hired to paint backgrounds for Disney’s animated films. From Background Painter to Background Designer and Color Stylist, James worked on twelve films and thirty short subjects before being promoted to Background Department Supervisor.
Finally, after twenty-two years at Disney Studios, James Coleman took a leap of faith: he left Disney to pursue his passion for fine art. Working in oils, watercolor, gouache pastel, and metal leafing, he began creating luminous paintings that were warm, inviting, and unique.
No longer behind the scenes, the former Disney artist is now a world-renowned impressionist whose artwork is represented by some of the most prominent galleries in North America, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Orient. And with over 100 million in sales, he’s also one of the most collected and sought-after artists in the world.
In addition to his fine art, his early work can still be seen in many Disney classics, including “The Rescuers,” “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” “The Fox and the Hound,” “The Little Mermaid,” and the Academy Award-winning “Beauty and the Beast.”
On Friday, October 21, Saturday, October 22, and Sunday, October 23, James Colman will be in Key West for a “Live Artist Show,” where he’ll be painting on location at Ocean Blue Gallery, 109 Duval Street, from noon until close.
It’s a great opportunity to see a true master in action! Info: 305-296-7474; oceanblue.gallery.
