Disney Fine Art

Born in Barcelona, Spain, raised in the principality of Andorra and part of a family full of gifted artists (her father is renowned painter Quim Bove) art has always been a way of life for Lorelay. Educated at the prestigious California Institute for the Arts, a school founded by Walt Disney to foster young creative talent, this exciting young artist has made an impact on the art and animation world almost immediately upon her arrival. After making her entry into the business as an art intern at Pixar Animation Studios, she quickly transitioned into her current role as a Visual Development Artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios. As a visual development artist for Disney, her conceptual artwork has been extremely influential in the visual direction of films such as The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Winnie the Pooh, and Wreck-it Ralph. Lorelay is also known for providing the illustrations for the Little Golden Book The Princess and the Frog title, as well as Toy Story: Ride 'em Cowboy! Her work is also featured on the cover of The Art of Wreck-it Ralph. Her work is often compared to the work of Disney Legend Mary Blair, although Lorelay confesses that she did not become aware of Ms. Blair's work until her college years. Her own visual signature and style had already been well established for many years at that point, however, she finds the comparison flattering. "It's quite a compliment!" she says.

As a young child growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Edson enjoyed sketching and painting from a very early age, and eventually, through self-instruction, Edson grew to master various mediums: oil, charcoal, pencil, and airbrush, allowing him to demonstrate his talent in multiple forms. Shortly after moving to the United States in 1978, Edson established himself as an artist of the highest caliber, and quickly began to exhibit his photorealistic paintings and drawings in major cities throughout the country, and led The Orlando Modern Art Collection to honor Edson with the title of “Artist of the Year” in 2003. Believing that “beauty is essential to the well-being of the soul," Edson is known for his sensual representations of the female form, which has led to his works being published in popular magazines, such as The Artist's Magazine, where many of his pieces werefeatured in a special section on painting techniques. Recently, having spent a significant part of his life studying the masters (da Vinci, Michelangelo, Vermeer, Botticelli, etc.), Edson was inspired to create his own “Master Series”, merging the look of the old master paintings with New World women, and the resulting body of work has been praised as a breathtaking culmination of many years of expertly honed technique. And now it is time for Edson to focus his imagination and skillful hand on Disney Fine Art, a not so foreign subject to him: “My earliest encounters with Disney fairytales while growing up in Rio de Janeiro, came in the form of animated feature films like Snow White, Cinderella, or Bambi. The artistic impressions these films had on me were priceless and long lasting.”

James Coleman - a name synonymous with sweeping skies, tropical rain forests, rich deep woods and silent deserts. The images created by this talented man continue to delight all that view them. James Coleman was born in Hollywood, California in 1949. As a youth, his creative abilities seemed to dominate his world. Though he lacked the athletic skills of his young friends, he more than made up for it with imagination and ingenuity. As a young man, his interest in filmmaking and fine art would mark the beginning of a long, successful career in animated films. 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. Walt Disney Productions welcomed his creative energies. His first film, "Winnie, the Pooh and Tigger, too", sparked his interest not only in painting backgrounds but also in background design and color styling. After completing, "The Rescuers", his first feature film, he was promoted to Background Department Supervisor, a position he held for nearly seventeen years. During that time, he personally hired and trained a select group of artists, whom he would work with for most of his career at Disney. While at Disney, James styled and worked on twelve films and over thirty short subjects which included "Mickey's Christmas Carol", "The Fox and the Hound", "The Great Mouse Detective", "The Black Cauldron", "The Little Mermaid", and Academy Award-winning, "Beauty and the Beast". All of which came to life with James Coleman's background images gracing the silver screen. In 1991, after twenty-two years with Disney, James left to pursue a new career. He was ready to devote all of his time and talent to the love of his life, fine art. Today he continues to illuminate the art world with vibrant colors, gentle moods, powerful design and exquisite detail. Coleman works in oil, watercolor, gouache and pastel. His work is impressionistic and luminous. His pieces intrigue the eye and touch the heart. His paintings are warm, inviting and unique. A master of color, light and design, Coleman has become one of the most collected and sought after artists around the world. James Coleman pieces can be found in many fine, personal and corporate collections including that of the Disney family. Coleman is a naturalist and environmentalist who involve himself with the National Parks and other environmental organizations. He has been a finalist for five years in the Arts for the Parks competition. The contribution made by Coleman to the world of art over some thirty years, both in film and fine art, makes him one of the most collected artists in contemporary art. His work is represented by some of the most prominent and respected galleries in North America, the Orient and the Hawaiian Islands.

Throughout the history of The Walt Disney Studios and its unparalleled role in shaping the course of animation in film, few artists have been able to contribute on the scale and scope that Lisa Keene has over the last 28 years. After studying art at USC and The Art Center College of Design, Lisa went on to become a major artistic influence in some of the most beloved Disney Classics of all time. Her first role with the studio was as a Background Artist for The Black Cauldron (1985) and her career as a Background Painter, Stylist, Character Designer, Visual Development Artist and Art Director has since spanned four decades. Her resume includes such films as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Princess and the Frog, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tangled and many more. She also served as the Animation Art Director for Disney's modern fairytale Enchanted. Lisa is a contributing fine artist to the Disney Storytellers art collection, a special portfolio of Disney Fine Art (published by Collectors Editions) which showcases fine art interpretations of Disney classics by some of today's most talented Visual Development artists from Walt Disney Animation Studios. In her first paintings created for this special portfolio, Lisa chose to explore a more modern take on the classic Disney princess, aimed at creating fresh interpretations of Disney's royal heroines that would appeal to a modern audience. Lisa is a contributing fine artist to the Disney Storytellers art collection, a special portfolio of Disney Fine Art which showcases fine art interpretations of Disney classics by some of today's most talented Visual Development artists from Walt Disney Animation Studios.

PAIGE O'HARA is widely known as Disney's heroine, Belle, in the critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning animated film Beauty and the Beast. Her many stage appearances include playing Ellie May Chipley in the Broadway revival of Showboat starring Donald O'Connor; as Fantine in the award-winning Les Miserables on Broadway; and as Edwin Drood in both the Broadway and national tour of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. She starred as Nellie Forbush in the Australian tour of South Pacific and reprised the role opposite Robert Goulet in the states Paige’s love of painting began when she was a child. Her father was an architect – so drawing and painting was very much a way of life. Although Paige found much success with her singing, painting was always her escape. Much of her time was spent studying and learning from the masters – Turner, Sargent, Da Vinci – and although she does not have formal training, her years of practice are evident. When she first moved to New York, she helped support herself by selling her works on the street. As her stage career flourished, she painted for herself.� Since the success of Beauty and the Beast, Paige had done a few renderings based on her character, and is thrilled to have the opportunity to present a series of originals through Collectors Editions and the Disney Fine Art collection. Most recently Paige was seen in Disney’s new DVD release of Peter Pan singing Richard Sherman’s never recorded ballad Neverland and appeared in the feature film Enchanted. Paige continues to record various projects for Disney and can be seen as “Soap Star” in the long running hit “Menopause The Musical” now playing at the Luxor in Las Vegas.

As a rising star in the art world, Tim Rogerson casts his artwork with a very evident energy and passion. Inspired by the works of Edgar Degas and Malcolm Liepke, the North Carolinanative has embarked on an artistic journey that has taken him from Degas to Disney to darling of the industry. Every child has a dream. For Mr. Rogerson, it was to be an artist as well as satisfying his desire to return to his home-state; back to the magical kingdom from which he came. Of course being surrounded by the whimsical images of Disney characters, even after his family moved to North Carolina; his father was an avid Disney collector and supporter, didn't help curb his appetite for the Sunshine State. However, it was these images that helped form some of Mr. Rogerson's style, which has begun to earn him critical acclaim. Fulfilling his dream of returning to Florida, Mr. Rogerson was accepted as a student at the prestigious Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, majoring in Illustration. "I was a very traditional art student and explored all works; from the old masters to modern art," says the artist. "My influences include Degas and John Singer Sargent; with his perfect, confident brushstrokes...their work has allowed me to push the envelope with my own abstraction of life. Since graduating from Ringling in 2004, Mr. Rogerson has contributed his artistic abilities to Disney and SS Designs in Florida. Currently, Mr. Rogerson is taking the art world by storm with his whimsical imagery for Disney Fine Art and this summer's launch of Tim Rogerson's Cosmopolitan POP: A Series of Paintings About Everyday Life and the Games People Play; a series of collections of works that showcase the lighterside of life. "I want my paintings to celebrate life and stay fresh... I try to stay away from the basic routine and technique because my joy for painting comes from the challenge of creating something entirely new," says the artist about Cosmopolitan POP. In preview, this series has already won critical acclaim by the trade and his peers.  

Defined by and recognized for his elaborate use of texture in his signature impressionistic style, Trevor Mezak is an artist who is driven to create every day. "I feel the day is missing something if I don't," says the artist. Fascinated with the world around him; he has a passion for painting figurative subjects but has also held a long time fascination with the design elements of playing cards, especially face cards.   Trevor Mezak has placed in several exhibitions, both locally and nationally. His pieces can be found in many private collections, noting Michael Brown of the Chicago Bears and actor Paul Walker, among them.