Johel Rivera
Art Director & Visual Development
Johel loves collecting musical instruments from around the world and can even play some of them. He often dives into rabbit holes exploring the connections between music and color theory, with the dream of one day painting with chords and creating music with colors.
A Costa Rican artist and educator with over 14 years of experience in animation, concept art, and visual storytelling. He has contributed to numerous high-profile projects, including serving as Art Director for Marvel's What If...? and Marvel Zombies, Background Designer for Netflix's Emmy-winning series Carmen Sandiego and The Last Kids on Earth, and Compositor for My Little Pony: The Movie (2018). Johel’s work also includes environment and prop design for feature films like The Addams Family 2 and contributions to games, advertisements, and visual development for international clients.
In addition to his professional achievements, Johel has pitched original projects to Netflix and showcased his creative vision at festivals worldwide. He is currently working on his passion project, Lizards Have No Friends, a graphic novel about loneliness and solitude. His dedication to the arts also extends to fostering creative communities by organizing local drawing clubs and meetups to inspire collaboration and connection among artists.
Johel has taught at multiple universities across the Americas, sharing his industry knowledge and empowering students to develop their skills, build professional portfolios, and craft meaningful stories. He believes that sharing knowledge generates more knowledge.
-
Designing and developing concept art for characters, environments, and props that bring stories to life in animation, games, and comics.
-
Crafting compelling narratives through visuals, with a strong understanding of cinematographic language, color scripts, framing, and visual rhythm to enhance storytelling impact.
-
Creating dynamic and detailed backgrounds with a solid grasp of perspective, composition, and the effective use of color to set mood and atmosphere.
-
Guiding artists to build industry-ready portfolios tailored to their goals in animation, concept art, or games.
-
Assisting in creating presentations and visuals that effectively communicate creative projects to studios and festivals.
-
Mentoring in navigating both 2D and 3D workflows, including integration techniques, compositing, and optimizing production processes.
-
Helping mentees develop skills to lead creative teams, establish cohesive visual styles, and meet project goals with clear artistic vision and collaboration techniques.
Johel ’s AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Johel’s EXPERIENCE
-
Directed the visual development, including supervising backgrounds, character models, and matte paintings.
Ensured all final imagery met client expectations and maintained consistent artistic quality.
Stellar Creative Lab
-
Created concept art for characters, environments, and props for upcoming game projects.
Collaborated with the development team to align visuals with gameplay mechanics and narrative.
Fair PLay Labs
-
Designed environments and props, performed set breakdowns, and provided modeling and surfacing passes.
Contributed to the development of visually cohesive elements for the CG feature film.
Cinesite
-
Designed backgrounds in collaboration with directors to match the project’s stylistic needs.
Focused on creating visually engaging designs that supported storytelling.
Wildbrain
-
Managed a team of over 20 background artists, introducing techniques like CG-to-2D integration to improve efficiency.
Provided overseas approvals and held workshops to train and upskill the team.
Atomic Cartoons
BOOK A SESSION
Session Length: 45minutes
Pricing: $50/session
Cancellation Policy: 24-hour notice required for rescheduling or cancellations.
Just Some ways Johel CAN HELP YOU
ONe on One Mentorships
Work directly with Johel to refine your skills, develop your style, and gain industry insights. Whether you’re a student building your foundation or a young professional aiming to advance your career, these personalized sessions are designed to support your goals.
WORKSHOPS
Receive art direction and hands-on guidance as you develop new portfolio pieces. Johel will mentor you through the creative process, offering feedback and support on storytelling, composition, and technical execution to ensure your work stands out.
Bilingual Mentorships
Learn in your language! Johel offers mentorships in both English and Spanish, providing personalized guidance for artists across linguistic backgrounds.
CONNECT WITH johel
LEAVE A REVIEW
DISCLAIMER
Banana Pan connects learners with experienced mentors, but please note:
Independent Mentors: Mentors operate as independent professionals, not as employees or representatives of Banana Pan.
Direct Agreements: Payments, scheduling, cancellations, and other arrangements are handled directly between you and the mentor.
Platform Role: Banana Pan is a platform for connections and does not manage individual mentorship sessions or disputes.
Responsibility: While we vet mentors for their expertise, Banana Pan is not responsible for scheduling conflicts, missed sessions, or any issues arising from mentorship interactions.
Communication: For a smooth experience, communicate directly with your mentor about their terms and availability.
If you have questions about using the platform, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help!
Interested in financial assistance?
Like what we do?
Web Hosting & Maintenance: Keeping the platform running smoothly.
Scholarships: Making mentorship accessible to those who need it most.
Inclusivity: Ensuring affordable and inclusive learning opportunities for everyone.
Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Thank you for supporting the Banana Pan community!
Help us grow our learning community! Your donation supports: