James Coleman

James Coleman is an animation legend who helped bring some of the most famous Disney films to life as a background painter before pursuing a career as a fine artist. Born in Hollywood, California in 1949, Coleman began working at Walt Disney Studios in 1969 when his mother got him a job in the mailroom. His big break came when Disney purchased one of his paintings for thirty dollars at an employee art show, leading senior artists to encourage him to pursue animation background painting.
Coleman’s first background work was for the 1974 film “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too!” followed by his first full-length feature, “The Rescuers” in 1977. Disney promoted him to Background Department Supervisor, and for almost seventeen years he supervised hand-painted backgrounds for more than twelve feature films and over thirty short films, including “The Fox and the Hound,” “The Little Mermaid,” and the Academy Award-winning “Beauty and the Beast.”
After a twenty-two-year career with Disney, Coleman devoted himself entirely to fine art in 1991. Today his work is represented by Park West Gallery and other prominent galleries worldwide. A self-taught artist, naturalist, and five-year finalist in the Arts for the Parks competition, Coleman creates Impressionistic works in oil, watercolor, gouache, and pastel, incorporating leafing techniques to add extra dimensions. His luminous paintings of illuminated skies, lush forests, and sweeping deserts invite viewers to step into his magical world.