Joel Fletcher
Fine Arts Painter | Former Animator
gallery@joelfletcher.net
Short Bio
Joel Fletcher is a Los Angeles–based visual artist whose career spans stop-motion animation, CGI, and fine art painting. He contributed to landmark projects such as The Nightmare Before Christmas, King Kong, and Disney"s Dinosaur, before transitioning into the world of fine art. His photography and short films have been exhibited in international museum shows, and his current painting practice blends cinematic sensibility with traditional techniques to explore themes of wonder, beauty, and transformation.
Fine Arts Career
FINE ART PAINTER 2010–present
Creating original canvas paintings grounded in imaginative realism and visual metaphor. The work draws from mythic symbolism, psychological archetypes, and philosphical questions. Subjects often inhabit surreal environments that suggest inner worlds and timeless narratives. Exhibition-ready portfolio available for gallery presentation.
Previous Creative Experience
CGI CHARACTER ANIMATOR & VISUAL EFFECTS ARTIST 1995–2020
Worked on major studio films, TV series, and AAA games, contributing expressive digital performances and cinematic storytelling.
Credits include: Disney’s Dinosaur, Fallout 4, King Kong, Ultimate Spider-man, Swamp Thing, Westworld, Lucifer, Charmed, Tomb Raider, The Spy Who Dumped Me, Gears of War 4, League of Legends, Kinect Star Wars, The Elder Scrolls, X-Men: The Last Stand
STOP-MOTION ANIMATOR 1987–1995
Specialized in character animation and miniature performance for film and television.
Highlights: The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Dark Eye, MuppetVision 3-D, Runaway Ralph, Frog and Toad Together, Magic Island, Pee Wee’s Christmas Special
CGI & STOP-MOTION FOR ADVERTISING 1991–2018
Brought life to characters and products through animation for national brands.
Clients include: Progressive, Klondike, Smokey Bear, Listerine, Pillsbury, Saab, Del Taco, Mattel, Hershey, AT&T, Coke
Published Photography
Photographs Featured In:
Life, People, Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly, LA Times, USA Today, Cinefex, Cinefantastique, Disney Adventures, Starlog, Time
Books:
The Art of Stop-Motion Animation (cover), The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Film The Art The Vision (frontispiece), Inside Pee-Wee's Playhouse, It Came From The Video Aisle, The Nightmare Before Christmas Visual Companion
Video Covers:
Runaway Ralph, Frog and Toad Together, The Nightmare Before Christmas
Exhibitions
Der Wanderer
National Museum of Contemporary Art, Bucharest, Romania — June–Nov. 2015
Independent short film presentation
Der Wanderer
Museum Of The Image, Breda, Netherlands — Sept.–Nov. 2014
Independent short film presentation
Hollywood Haunts
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis — Oct.–Nov. 2013
Photographic works featured
Skills & Media
Traditional Painting • Visual Storytelling • Character Design • Stop-Motion • CGI Animation • Art Photography • Sculpting • Cinematic Composition • Creative Direction