Michael R. Coleman                                                                              

Phone: 505-350-4063, Email: mikonty@msn.com                                

Biography

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Michael Coleman is a life long lover of art and began his art career in his early 30’s. After trying many different jobs and careers in the 70’s and early 80’s, including drafting and architecture, he completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Louisiana Tech University in 1985. Michael Coleman worked for many years as an illustrator and graphic designer while working nights and weekends to develop his personal style of painting.

He moved to New Mexico in the mid 90’s to expand his artistic options. Michael worked for a local art company, Opp Art Inc. in Albuquerque. He worked on many art projects creating murals, 3 dimensional art, graphics, interior and exterior faux finishes, signage, carpentry and other artwork for commercial clients nationwide in the restaurant and casino industries, including the Paris Casino in Las Vegas, Hollywood Casinos in Chicago, Shreveport and Memphis and an interesting 2 year project for the Imus Ranch for Kids with Cancer near Ribera, New Mexico.

Michael Coleman began his art education career teaching basic drawing, computer graphics and commercial illustration part-time for a private commercial art college in the late 90’s. In 2002 he started Teaching all levels of high school Fine Art, 9^th grade through 12^th; fundamentals of art, drawing, painting, ceramics, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, Advanced Placement and fine art matting and framing at Bernalillo High School. In 2005 he received a Master of Art in Education degree from the College of Santa Fe.

Mr. Coleman continues expanding his painting and drawing skills and experiences, painting at his home studio and drawing from life in weekly drawing and painting workshops. He loves working with developing high school art students and believes in the importance of keeping the Arts viable in the public and private school systems.