Jess Coleman grew up in Washington, Texas. He spent most of his adult life in Houston, Texas. Coleman earned a MFA degree in Painting from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He was a full time Art Instructor at Wharton Jr. College in Wharton, Texas from January 2000 to July 2013. From 2016 to 2017 he served as a Teaching Artist at Gage Academy of Art in Seattle Washington. In September 2017 Jess Coleman joined the art department at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas as a full-time faculty member. Coleman works in oil and watercolor. His work is primarily figurative and when possible done directly from the model.