Dontae Coleman
Hey, I’m Dontae — a painter and designer based in Wichita, Kansas.
I’ve always been a creative person, but my path to art wasn’t exactly planned. I actually started out studying computer science, and for the longest time, I didn’t think I’d ever touch a paint brush. But earlier this year I decided to give it a try, and it completely changed the way I see art.
Painting became this space where I could slow down, experiment, and just let things happen. I’m drawn to portraits, not the perfectly detailed kind, but the ones that feel alive through loose strokes and color. I like finding that balance between control and chaos, where the piece almost paints itself.
These days I split my time between design work, helping out in creative spaces, and building a body of work that reflects growth and curiosity. Every painting teaches me something new, and I want to share that journey with others who are figuring it out too.
My goal is simple: to inspire people to just make something.
Studio
Most of my paintings come to life in my small studio space — a mix of easels, sketchbooks, camera gear, and a mess of brushes that somehow all make sense to me. I like having music or a podcast playing in the background while I work, and I tend to move between digital and traditional pieces depending on my mood.
I’m usually working on a few projects at once — whether it’s a new portrait, design work, or experimenting with something totally random that I might never show anyone. My studio’s kind of like my second home — organized chaos that keeps me creating.