Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rivers Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Rivers thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I believe great things come from the most meaningful projects. I had a very dear friend pass away volunteering as a medic in New York during Covid. His family couldn’t afford a gravestone. It broke my heart. I learned how to make stickers out of my art and sold stickers to help earn a gravestone for him. Luckily word got out and we were able to get him his stone fast. After he got his stone I thought I was done selling and my co-workers asked me to keep going with my art and the fun medical stickers. I wouldn’t of started my business without seeing a need for my frond needing a gravestone.

Rivers, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I went to school for media arts and animation. At the time I was in school I was working as a special needs nanny.middle of my junior year I was pulled into my councilors office. She told me I had to pick. Either choose art for my career or being a nanny. She said she saw a talent in me but felt I was not giving my art 100% because of my demanding job. I told her I couldn’t just leave my job a kiddo depended on me being their. The councilor shrugged her shoulders and I quit art school that day. I do not regret my decision. I went completely medical after that. I got my Medical assisting certification and moved on to EMT.

I was always doodling at work and sketching funny cartoons for people to make them smile. In 2020 I was working in a ER. It was a stressful time and I found my self drawing a lot. My co-workers started to notice my sketches more and more and stared asking me to decorate their badges. I loved it and it made them smile. People asserted paying me for my designs and I started to gain my confidence back with my art. My business without me realizing started to bloom.
We had to cover our hair and wear scrub caps in the ER. The only one I could find at the time was a pink one with pineapples. One of the security guards could never remember my name but knew my scrub hat and started calling me pineapple.
Fun fact I’m allergic to pineapple. I would leave orders in my locker so the staff could pick up their badges when I was not at work. To be funny a friend lit pineapple stickers all over my locker. I started telling people find the pineapple locker. That’s why my business is called pineapples locker.
Previous question explains how I got into stickers.
After a while and seeing how I was getting business I told my husband I was Burt out with medical and would like to try running my art as a business. He was very supportive. I miss the crews and my friends from the er but I’m much happier drawing for a living.
I learn as I go. Pineapples locker is a one stop shop for promotional merchandise and products. I design and put the images on products. You can come to me with a already made image or just an idea and I can get it done. A lot of stuff I can do in-house if I can I have built friendships with other small businesses and can get any job done.

I have also found a new passion. I started looking into what it take to be a children’s book illustrator. I am now published twice as a illustrator and have 3 more books set to publish this year.
I love sharing stories and seeing the happy look on kids and parents faces when they see my art.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It’s in my chemical makeup to help people. When my oldest son started school he had a hard time telling people his feelings. He could just say I’m mad or you’re making me sad. I sat done with him and asked him what color to you feel when your sad, mad, happy…….. he gave me the colors and I made a chart for him. When I showed it to him he said he would not use it because he didn’t want to be the only one. I sat down with him again and asked him what would help him feel better about using it. He asked me to make him a friend. So we came up with a cartoon pup. We took it to school and showed his teachers. Other kids liked the pup so much I ended up making a few charts. I think it’s awesome how my art was able to help my son with a rough time he was having and we were able to help a few more kiddos in the class.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I was introduced to business networking groups. They really helped me with my confidence and how to market myself. You learn a lot about yourself when your in a room filled with entrepreneurs.      

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Rivers-illustrations Pineapples_locker
• Facebook: Pineapples locker