Barry Kooser

Background

About Barry Kooser

Growing up in Colorado, I've always been passionate about the arts due to several influences; my brother, Brian Kooser, my uncle, Phil Kooser and my high school art teacher, Dave Passarelli, who once said to me,"You have no idea what kind of potential you have." With this boost of confidence and the support of my parents, I was inspired to become a professional artist. My journey began with an internship at Walt Disney Feature Animation as a Junior in college. I then graduated from The Kansas City Art Institute in 1991 with a Bachelor's Degree in Illustration, freelance Illustrated for a time in Denver, CO, and ultimately returned to Disney in 1992 as a full-time In-between Clean-Up artist on a Roger Rabbit short (Trail Mix-Up -1993). In 1993 I was promoted to Background Artist (which is responsible for creating the stylized environments in which the animated characters exist: skies, clouds, ground planes, mountains, interior & exterior architecture, etc.) I had the great fortune to work with amazing people on many classic animated films: The Lion King, Pocahontas, Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, Princess and the Frog, and was the Background Supervisor on Brother Bear. After I left Disney in 2003 I started Kooser Studios. I have sold traditional paintings and prints in numerous fine art galleries throughout the western U.S, taught concept art and landscape painting at the college level. I also founded the film production company, Many Hoops Productions, Inc, in 2016. None of this would be possible without the support from my wife, Brenda. For more of Barry’s film credits: