Katherine Knapik Riveral
My Story
Katherine Knapik Riveral is an artist and designer with a passion for making people stop and smell the roses and finding beauty in the mundane.
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Growing up, Katherine got to spend a lot of time outside and traveling, and was overwhelmed by the beauty of nature and its intersection with the man-made world of architecture. She uses her skills now in painting and design to depict the everyday beauty of God's creation for generations of art lovers.
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Katherine was lucky enough to grow up near all of Orlando's most iconic themed entertainment, and exploring the magical walkthrough environments of the theme parks as a child gave her a curiosity for how they were made as an adult.
Moving to Savannah GA from 2019 to 2023, Katherine graduated summa cum laude from the Savannah College of Art and Design in March of '23 with her BFA in Production Design (set design) with a minor in Concept Design for Animation and Games. While working on her degree, she was able to grow her following and client base as an illustrator, surface designer, and mural artist. She was also able to work as a scenic designer for a mainstage musical production of All Shook Up at SCAD, and a scenic painting charge there as well. From 2022 through 2024, she worked as a scenic artist in Orlando, and was able to further her education outside of the classroom, working on projects for museums and the theme parks she loved so much as a child, creating more beautiful scenery for generations to come.
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Katherine started the next chapter of her career in 2024 by taking a position as a graphic designer for the Catholic Diocese of Orlando. She grew up in love with God's creation in nature and the people around her, and was eager to inspire and educate with design that is good, true, and beautiful. Her work with the diocese touched the hearts of hundreds of thousands of Catholics in Central Florida with designs for the 2024 Mass for Suicide Prevention and Remembrance and the Diocese's 2025 Our Catholic Appeal fundraising campaign.
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Katherine now lives in San Diego, California with her husband, Christopher, following their wedding in December of 2024. There, she operates full time as a fine-artist, with three animal assistants in her home studio: River, Gigi, and Ace.
My Vision
​"As the artist behind K Knapik Art, I am dedicated to timeless beauty through traditional techniques and values. I am not a faceless brand. I do business under my own name, and have built my reputation on the quality of my work and my materials. I value creating a beautiful world that glorifies our creator, and creating art that will last generations with proper care. I reject trends in favor of tradition, and strive to create artwork that will stay beautiful long after social media trends pass. I value faith, family, and freedom; using watercolor paints manufactured in the United States, and supporting art suppliers with the same values. I believe in the power of art to preserve memories and tell stories, and use timeless techniques to immortalize the stories of my experience and that of my clients. I believe in goodness, truth, and making the world more beautiful one painting at a time."
Press and Representation
Education & Skills
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
BFA Production Design 2023
Concept Design for Animation and Games
Illustration
Painting
Texture & Body Work
Carpentry
Drafting
Graphic Design
Photography
Adobe Photoshop CC
Adobe Ilustrator CC
Adobe After Effects CC
Adobe InDesign CC
Canva
Vectorworks
SketchUp
Microsoft Office
Leadership
Time Management
Customer Service
Public Speaking
Collaboration
Curriculum Vitae
Illustrator / Designer / Artist (2016 - )
Daytona Beach, FL & Savannah, GA
Self-employed artist & graphic designer; clients include author Jules Vaunaudo, Oil & Vinegar Daytona Beach, Oil & Vinegar USA, and Lotusens Hamstrar, as well as private collectors. Represented by Gallery500 in Daytona Beach, FL and SCAD Art Sales in Savannah, GA.
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Graphic Designer (2024)
Orlando, FL
Employed by the Catholic Diocese of Orlando; projects include designs for social media, newsletters, and print. Responsible for all illustrative and graphic elements for the 2024 Mass for Suicide Prevention and Remembrance, and for the 2025 Diocese of Orlando Our Catholic Appeal $17.7M fundraising campaign.
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Scenic Artist (2023 - 24)
Orlando, FL
Employed by Adirondack Studios; clients include theme parks and interactive entertainment venues around the United States. ​
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Scenic Artist (2023)
Orlando, FL
Employed by Nassal - a PCL Company; clients include theme parks, resorts, and aquariums around the United States.​
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Scenic Artist (2021 - 22)
Orlando, FL
Employed by SMART Inc. talent agency; clients include The Solomon Group and Universal Orlando Resort.​
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Scenic Painter / Carpenter (2021 - 22)
Savannah, GA
Employed by Savannah College of Art and Design; charge artist on three theatrical productions and scenic artist on multi-cam sitcom G.R.I.T.S.​
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Mural Artist (2020 - )
Daytona Beach, FL
Self-employed designer and painter for home and commercial wall artwork.
Selected Works
Diocese of Orlando Blue Mass - Photographer (2024)
Orlando, FL
Photographer during the 2024 Diocese of Orlando's celebration of "Blue Mass" to honor first responders. Photo credit in on the cover of the Florida Catholic Newspaper.
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Epic Universe - Scenic Artist (2023-24)
Orlando, FL
Scenic Artist for Universal Orlando Resort's theme park Epic Universe. One of two artists responsible for creating the scenic process used on the approximately 45-foot tall Dark Universe rock portal. Responsible for creating the scenic process used on all brick chimneys across Epic Universe's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
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All Shook Up - Set Designer (2021-22)
Savannah, GA
Set designer on SCAD's winter 2022 musical production of "All
Shook Up". Responsible for design, scale practical model, drafting of vehicles, and paint elevations.