While studying at Kenyon College in 1902, he found an audience for drawing in the school yearbooks. His drawings appear in the 1901-1904 issues of The Reveille, and in the 1921 and 1922 editions of the U.S. Naval Academy's yearbook, "Lucky bag". After leaving Kenyon, Phillips moved to New York determined to earn a living with his art. After taking classes in art school, Phillips started his own advertisement agency. In 1907, Phillips met with J.A. Mitchell, the publisher of Life Magazine, and was hired at the age of 26. Phillips would be associated with the magazine throughout his life.

Phillips became very popular with readers and was awarded cover assignments. In 1908, he created a cover that would become his trademark--by combining foreground and background elements of the same color, he created the "fadeaway girl," which became a popular convention in print art for decades to come.

IMPORTANT - This biography of Coles Phillips was borrowed from the excellent website Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.