James Coleman

An animation legend, artist James Coleman helped bring some of the most famous Disney films of all time to life as a background painter before pursuing a career as a fine artist.

Coleman illuminates his canvases with vibrant colors, gentle moods, and exquisite detail, creating 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.

Personal History

Coleman was born in Hollywood, California in 1949. As a youth, his creative abilities seemed to dominate his world, suggesting a seemingly unlimited amount of imagination and ingenuity. His interest in filmmaking and fine art would eventually lead to a long, successful career in animated films.Coleman began working at Walt Disney Studios in the summer of 1969 when his mother, a secretary at Disney, got him a job in the studio’s mailroom. Coleman’s big break came when he entered one of his paintings in the studio’s employee art show. Disney purchased that painting for $30, and several of the older Disney artists saw his work and realized Coleman had potential. They encouraged him to pursue animation background painting.

Walt Disney Productions welcomed his creative energies. His first foray into painting backgrounds was for the 1974 film “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too!”  The experience not only exposed him to the joys of painting backgrounds, but also sparked an interest in design and color styling. Next, Coleman created backgrounds for his first full-length feature film, “The Rescuers,” released in 1977.

“This was a major event for me,” Coleman said. “At first, I didn’t realize just how major it was. But it literally changed my life. I had no idea what it would lead to.” 

Following “The Rescuers,” Disney promoted Coleman to Background Department Supervisor. 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.

Today, Coleman’s art can be found in collections around the world, including that of the Disney family. His work is represented by some of the most prominent and respected galleries in North America, Asia, and the Hawaiian Islands.

In addition to his passion for art, Coleman is a naturalist and environmentalist who supports the National Parks and other environmental organizations. He is a five-year finalist in the Arts for the Parks competition held by the U.S. National Park Service.

Coleman was a self-taught artist prior to working for Disney. Over the years, his name has become synonymous with images of illuminated skies, lush forests, and sweeping deserts.

His work is Impressionistic and luminous—it’s often described as having a “Disney feel.” Coleman humbly admits that he is unsure of whether he was influenced by his time at Disney, or if he perhaps helped define that unique Disney flair. Either way, it is a quality that makes Coleman’s art truly stand apart.

When painting, Coleman says he goes by instinct, allowing his intuition to guide him and his color choices. He works in a variety of mediums, including oil, watercolor, gouache, and pastel. In the past 20 years, he has also incorporated leafing techniques to add extra dimensions and layers to his magical works.

His artwork is warm and inviting, as if the artist is encouraging the viewer to step into the painting and become a part of his world.

“When someone sees one of my paintings, I want them to really feel the place that I’m depicting,” Coleman says.

Meet James Coleman: 10 Questions with the Acclaimed Artist:

If you’re not familiar with the name “James Coleman,” you’re definitely familiar with his work.For over 17 years, Coleman supervised the creation of the hand-painted backgrounds for some of the most beloved Disney films of all time, including “The Fox and the Hound,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and many more.He eventually left Disney to pursue his true passion—fine art. Coleman now brings his animator’s eye for light and color to his own paintings, which are collected by his scores of fans all over the world.

1). When did you first realize you wanted to become an artist?

At about 7 years old—it was the first time I thought that being an artist would be a cool thing to do. I always loved to paint and draw from a very early age.

 2). What inspires your art?

The beauty and power of nature. Anything I see can be subject matter for a painting, and the endless beauty of nature has a lifetime of subject matter to explore.

3). Have any artists influenced your style?

I would say that the biggest influencers of my art are the Impressionists. My favorites include—not in any specific order—Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and John Singer Sargent, to name a few.

4). Can you describe what an animation background artist does?

An animation background artist creates the world that the animated characters live in by hand-painting backgrounds. It starts with the storyboards and ends with the final color correcting of the film. On many of the movies I worked on, it could take up to 1,500 hand-painted backgrounds to create the movie. 

5). Out of all the films you’ve worked on, do you have a particular favorite?

I really enjoyed working on “The Fox and the Hound” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

“The Fox and the Hound” was my very first supervisory role, so it was a special moment for me personally. “Beauty and the Beast” was the last film I worked on and probably the most successful in terms of background painting.

6). What do you want collectors to take away from your art?

I want collectors to not only enjoy the beauty of the art but also feel the emotion and the spirit of a place we all want to be. My desire is to bring beauty and joy into the collector’s home.

 7). What inspired you to start incorporating leafing into your artwork?

I did many shows in Japan in the 1990s that exposed me to the beauty and skill of the leafed screens they have created over generations. Through many years of trial and error, I began to use leaf in a style that fits my artwork. You will see that my leaf work is free-flowing and spontaneous, much like my painting style.

8). What are the challenges of painting real landscapes vs. imaginary landscapes?

I think it would be easier to paint from a picture. My style has always been a combination of my imagination and my experiences traveling the world. So, really, at the end of the day, being creative can be more challenging than recreating nature from a photo.

 9). What do you enjoy doing when you’re not painting?

I enjoy traveling, playing with my grandkids, and just enjoying daily life. I do love playing nine holes of golf in the afternoon!

 10). Do you have a favorite color? Red.