Artist Testimony: Mel Rivera-Portrait and Comics Illustrator

Mel Rivera

1. Tell us who you are and what you do as an artist/designer:
My Name is Ismael Rivera, in the South I’m known as Mel a shorten version of Ismael (but I didn’t know that until I moved here-LOL!). Within the last three years I’ve returned to pencil drawing specifically portrait drawing.
2. Now tell us about your artistic/creative background:
Oh boy where do I begin…art has always been a part of my life.
I’m a third generation artist, grandson of a Sculptor and son of an oil painter. Drawing time was a part of the Rivera household like most watch TV today. We spent hours on the dining room table drawing from comic books while Dad would walk by and smile, offering pointers on anatomy and perspective.
I’m a native New Yorker, married with children. My beautiful wife Lillian, and Melissa Rivera daughter and Benjamin Mel Rivera my son (and legacy), now living in South Carolina (I have come a long way from the Bronx!)
Portrait drawing. I’ve never thought to pursue this type of art? But, since September of 2007 portrait drawing has changed me as well as challenged me to mature into a “fine art” artist.
It’s giving the seeds of art planted in my heart by my father and grandfather so long ago to come to fruition. I find a peace and relaxation at my drawing table followed by a deep smile when I finish a portrait knowing Papi and Abuelo are smiling too!

3. What role does God play in your life and in your work?  First I’d like to say Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, my best friend and the giver of my talent. Since 1990 I had made it a point to use the gift he had given. I launched myself into the pursuit of happiness through art, I started a comic strip which lead to publishing several comic book titles with my Brother Frencci (whom you’ve interviewed as well) Each of these had limited success, giving more notoriety then financial benefit. We tried different stuff back and forth over the years until my brother and I gave it one more try and made arrangements to go to the NY licensing show in 2004. After climbing a mountain like that surely this was going to be the big payoff in art we’ve longed for.
But the remainder of 2004 then 2005 brought no major development. I said to myself “I’ve had it with art!” And I sold or gave away all my art stuff table, pens, etc. I shutdown the voice and walked away.
Sadness slowly moved in very quietly almost unnoticed. Soon joy was gone and my passion for life could not be found. I heard myself crying out to God saying to him why do I feel this way? Almost a deep guilt for doing something really bad but not knowing what I did? I am ashamed to admit I lived like this for over a year and half!
But God in his merciful wisdom and his grace to forgive caught me off guard one August evening 2007. While watching an old movie about a guy who thought he missed his true calling in life (Mr. Holland’s Opus.) He nailed me, I was crying downstairs like a baby. A word came to my mine “Who told you to stop drawing?” I answered back “I did” and he said, “I want you to draw” I said, “ok what” he said nothing back. He didn’t need to. I got his message. So I tried to draw my first portrait for a friend, her son. It looked ok to me but to others it was amazing. So with a love for art only God could renew in me, I now draw to please him, myself then others.

4. What advice can you give the rest of us?
Never quit or stop and think that art is not so deeply connected to who you are. God fused art to the souls of his artist. Learn this simple lesson: I draw for God, then me, and then for others. It might not be proper English but I feel it’s his order.

5. What’s the latest project that you’re most excited about?
Oh I have several! Of course the portrait drawing at www.melrivera.com, but also the two web cartoons I’m involved with. “Legal Aliens” I do with Frencci. It a very funny look at Latino aliens from outer space. Check it out at www.dontarrestus.com . And a web comic I do with one of my best friends Gerald Haynes. It’s called “The Small Fries” it’s like a modern Little rascals “kinda/sorta?” www.thesmallfries.com.
Also I’m having fun with a new media “scratchboard.” It is really challenging and makes you re-think your light and dark valves.

6. I saw your work recently in a local comic book shop. Tell us about your connection and how you got them to carry your work. I did a portrait of the Joker as portrayed by Heath Ledger and many comic and super heroes fans went wild. I did another of Iron man and got great reviews and someone (I really don’t remember who) said I should take it to Richard’s Comics in Greenville, SC and let him see it. Well he loved it and I gave him a copy and he proudly displayed it. He told me I should go to the Greenville Comic Con and see a fellow by the name of Rob Young, so I went. Guess what? Rob remembered me from my comic book days and treated me like a celeb! And he invited me to be a guess at his next show and my Iron man was used on the flyer!

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share with fellow artist how good God is and how rewarding art can be.

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