Coleman Studios
The Art of American Mythology
Bronze Sculpture
My original influences come from Remington and Russell who are considered to be ground zero for the western art movement.
The lost wax process used in my bronze sculptures is based on technology that is more than 2000 years old. Although technically that process hasn’t change much, artistically, as a sculptural medium, there are no bounds.
Oil Painting
Largely, as in the works of Rembrandt and the Pre-Raphaelites, my story-telling is rooted deep in the tradition of mythology. My painting techniques are also similar to those schools and involve a blend of impasto coupled with glazing.
Charcoal Drawing
When it comes to working in charcoal, I think of that medium as being a blend of both painting and sculpture techniques. When I sculpt, I use my hands. When I paint, I am solving compositional problems that are void of color. I’m always amazed how a medium so simple can create such beauty.
From the Artist
“When you are creating an object inspired by real human lifeways, or using the human form to communicate an ethereal, timeless sense of the sacred, you have an opportunity to solidify an emotional bond with the viewer and have them feel the power of empathy“. Coleman says. “To me it’s always been about more than creating a visually impactful-subject. I want viewers to feel something deep down in their psyche, to relate to a piece as if they are encountering a narrative of kindred spirits, sharing the same longing for connection. It’s an old idea in art, translating old yearnings, and everyone has them inside.”
Behind the Art
“The marble sculpture, The Rape of Proserpina by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, captured John Coleman’s imagination and later inspired him in his own work. Actually, what really stirred his muse was the way Pluto’s hand leaves an indentation on the leg of Proserpina. “It’s photographed a lot, because the pressing of the flesh is so beautiful,” Coleman says. Inspired by that sculpture, Coleman sought to evoke a similar expression in his bronzes when he began his art career in 1993. Although the result fell somewhat short of his vision, he turned the experience into a valuable lesson…”
– Art of the West
Western Art’s most prominent Sculptor
John Coleman
