Originally from the Midwest, David Coolidge graduated from Drake University and lived in the Philadelphia area for twenty years where he maintained his studio. Thirty years ago he moved to Naples, Florida. David attended The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and studied in Rome, Italy, at the Tyler School of Art, but cites his apprenticeship with John Falter, noted cover illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post, as the high point of his art training. For over ten years he worked in Old Naples at his Third Street South studio. More recently he works from his home studio in Park Shore.

In addition to being a member of the American Watercolor Society, David Coolidge is a member of the National Watercolor Society. He is also a signature member of the Philadelphia Water Color Society, and has received the “PWCS Award forExcellence in Works on Paper” for his painting “Along the Brandywine” at the PWCS 109th Annual Exhibition at the Berman Museum of Art, Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania.

He has been selected to exhibit at the National Academy of Design in New York. Other societies of which he is a signature member include the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, the San Diego Watercolor Society, the American Society of Marine Artists and the Academy of Golf Art.

Coolidge has also exhibited at Artists of America in Denver, and the National Arts for the Parks where he won recognition at the exhibition in Jackson, Wyoming, for his painting “Lookout from Little Round Top”, which received the Purchase Award from the Gettysburg National Military Park. Coolidge won the High Winds medal for the 2008 Traveling Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society.

Extensive travel is evident in David’s paintings, “When viewers associate a scene from a painting with a fond memory of a place that they have known, or with thoughts of a place they would like to go, I feel I’ve been successful.” he says.

Coolidge has a continuing fascination for the colorful, bright images and lush foliage that watercolor creates. He has had more than fifty one man exhibitions. Coolidge has been commissioned by numerous corporate clients and for private collectors. Most recently his painting of “Mangroves Off Dollar Bay” was auctioned by Collier Enterprises to benefit Rookery Bay during the grand opening of the Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club.