Roi Clarkson Colman, a painter of landscapes, marines and murals, was born in Elgin, Illinois, on January 27, 1884. He studied with L. H. Yarwood in Chicago, Illinois, when only sixteen, then worked in Dallas, Texas from 1903-11. While in Dallas, he painted pictures of Gulf Coast scenes and frontier military posts.

He studied in Paris, France with Jean-Paul Laurens at the Academie Julian, and at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere in 1911-1912. Colman went to California in 1913, residing near San Diego and becoming director of the Santa Ana Art Academy.

From 1920, he lived on the ocean at Laguna Beach. In 1928, he became active with the Carmel Art Association, while living on the Monterey Peninsula. From 1934-1940, he lived in La Jolla, moving to Bostonia after 1940. He died in Lakeside, near Bostonia, at his studio.

Colman was a founding member of the Laguna Beach Art Association. He also held memberships in the Illinois Academy of Fine Arts; San Diego Art Guild; California Art Club; and Society of Independent Artists.

Roi Colman exhibited at the Annual Texas Cotton Palace Exposition, Waco, 1910-11; Galveston Cotton Carnival Annual Exhibition, 1912; Annual Exhibition of the Society Independent Artists, New York, 1924; and Laguna Beach Museum of Art, 1980. He won prizes in 1920 at both the Laguna Beach Art Association, and California State Fair.

Roi Colman's work is in the collections of the Orange County Museum, California; Public Libraries in Ajo, Arizona and Waco, Texas; Laguna Beach Museum of Art; La Jolla Yacht Club; and Woman's Club, Santa Monica. His murals may be seen in Santa Ana Junior High School.

Source:
John and Deborah Powers, "Texas Painters, Sculptors, and Graphic Artists"
http://www.calart.com/Data/Artists/Colman_Ro.asp
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following, submitted October 2004, is from Jim Russell.

I own an R. Clarkson Colman painting that has been in our family since 1930. It was originally owned by M.R. Wood, then willed to his daughter, my Mother, June Wood Russell. My Mother gave it to me in the early 2004.

On the back of the painting is its title, written in pencil: "Changing Tide--by R. Clarkson Colman June 1930" Varnished to the back is also a large advertisement from October 15th and 16th of 1930. It was placed in a Seattle newspaper by the auction business of Greenfield-Kline, "Largest in the West." It lists many of the artist's belongings that are for sale, and at the bottom of the advertisement is an "Auctioneer's Note." It reads: "Mr. Colman, acknowledged as one of America's leading marine and landscape painters and an art collector of note, has been in Seattle the past six months painting the gorgeous beauties of our Puget Sound and is leaving shortly for Nice, France, to paint several subjects for his art patrons. You are cordially invited to attend this highly important and most interesting auction of his intimate possessions. Respectfully, L. J. Greenfield."

The advertisement also reads, after the name of R. Clarkson Colman: "Celebrated Laguna Beach, Cal. Artist."

Roy Clarkson Colman was born in Elgin, IL on Jan. 27, 1884. Artistically inclined at an early age, Colman moved to Chicago when he was 16 and began his art studies with L. H. Yarwood. The years 1903-11 were spent in Dallas, TX where he painted scenes along the Gulf of Mexico and a series of the old Indian forts. In 1911 he left for a two-year stay in Paris to further study at Académies Julian and Grand Chaumière. Returning to the U.S., he settled in southern California in 1913 where he
was active in Pasadena, La Jolla, and served as director of the Santa Ana Art Academy. A founder of the Laguna Beach Art Ass'n in 1918, he bought beachfront property there on which he built a home and studio. By 1928 he was living on the Monterey Peninsula and active in the local art scene. Colman died in San Diego on Nov. 29, 1945. Although he painted landscapes, he is best known for his coastals and marines.

Member: San Diego Art Guild; Carmel Art Ass'n.

Exh: Cotton Palace Expo (Waco), 1910; Kanst Gallery (LA), 1917, 1920, 1921; Santa Ana Art Academy, 1917; Shakespere Club (LA), 1919; Ten Painters Club (LA), 1919; Calif. Art Club, 1919-24; Calif. State Fair, 1920 (prize); Painters & Sculptors of LA, 1920-29; Laguna Beach AA, 1920 (prize); Battey Gallery (Pasadena), 1921; Venice (CA) High School, 1922; Leonard's Gallery (LA), 1923; Society of Independent Artists (NYC), 1924; Laguna Beach AA, 1924; Laguna Beach Museum, 1980. In: Santa Monica Womens Club; Santa Ana Jr. High School (murals); Ajo (AZ) Public Library; Waco (TX) Public Library; Bowers Museum (Santa Ana); Orange Co. (CA) Museum; La Jolla Yacht Club.

Roi Clarkson Colman was born in Elgin, Illinois, in 1884. Showing promise at an early age, Colman moved to Chicago at the age of 16, to study with L.H. Yarwood.

He furthered his education in Paris, at the Academies Julian and Grand Chaumiere. Colman settled in Southern California around 1913, where he taught at the Santa Ana Academy.

Colman was also active in Laguna Beach, Carmel, and San Diego, where he died in 1945. Colman is best remembered for coastal and marine paintings.