Artist James Coleman can be found in collections around the world. His work is represented by some of the most prominent and respected galleries in North America, Asia, and the Hawaiian Islands. Coleman works in oil, watercolor, gouache and pastel. His work is impressionistic and luminous. Coleman is a naturalist and environmentalist who involve himself with the National Parks and other environmental organizations. His work has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and in traveling exhibits both in the U.S. and abroad.

James Coleman illuminates his canvases with phenomenal details – exquisitely captured scenes from life using vibrant colors that create works that touch the heart. As a master of light and design, Coleman has become one of the most collected and sought-after artists in the world.

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.

For almost 17 years, Coleman supervised the hand-painted backgrounds for more than 12 feature films and over 30 short films. The memorable titles Coleman worked on include “The Fox and the Hound” (1981), “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (1983), “The Black Cauldron” (1985), “The Great Mouse Detective” (1986), “Oliver and Company” (1988), “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “The Rescuers Down Under” (1990), and the Academy Award-winning “Beauty and the Beast” (1991).

During his years at Disney he had also been showing his fine art in the top galleries in the southwest and Hawaiian markets. By 1991, after a 22-year career with Disney, he was ready to devote all of his time and talent to one of his greatest passions—fine art.