Today we’d like to introduce you to Jerron Chuck.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, I always struggled academically to find where I belonged in society. I often felt like a black sheep in my family, as I never excelled in reading, writing, or spelling. Throughout my school years, I consistently received D’s and F’s, with the exception of one B- in sixth grade. It wasn’t easy having three smart younger sisters, but I tried my best to be someone they could look up to. Unfortunately, the conventional work we did in school never stuck with me, and my mind would always wander elsewhere.
Despite my academic struggles, I discovered a love for the arts. Whether it was painting, sketching, or building things, I found joy in creating with my hands. When I drew or painted, I felt transported to another dimension where my mind and soul could roam free. Although I was never the best artist, I never let that stop me from pursuing my passion.
One day, my dad mentioned that his university was offering a two-year program in computer animation, which piqued my interest. I decided to enroll, and upon completing the program, I was unsure of what to do next. It was then that I heard about a US college called Savannah College of Art and Design, which was doing a South American tour. I took a chance, sent in my work, and was accepted.
Attending SCAD was like attending Hogwarts for me; it was magical. The school had everything I could have dreamed of, including world-class professors and equipment. Thanks to my parent’s sacrifices, I was able to attend SCAD for two years, which was the best two years of my life. I learned so much from my professors and peers, and the knowledge I gained helped me to land my first job in the visual effects industry as an Unreal Engine artist for Ingenuity Studios. I worked on a series for the History Channel called “Histories,” which involved Morgan Freeman, as well as a music video for Maroon 5’s “Beautiful Mistakes” ft. Megan Thee Stallion. Currently, I am an associate environment artist for Highmoon, a studio under the Activision Blizzard umbrella, working on the hit game “Call of Duty” now. This school had everything I could of dreamed of the equipment and world-class professional professors, I think I categorize the school as being the equivalent to Hogwarts for me cause it felt so magical. I owe everything and I mean everything to my parents and the sacrifices they made for me to go there as my mom told me she wants for all her children to have a career rather than a job and to love what we do.
Thankfully my two years at UTT helped me in transferring at least one year of credits, and on top of that, I did a year online which shorten my stay at SCAD from four years to two years, and those two years was the best two years of my life as I learned a lot from both my professors and peers, to which that knowledge helped me to get my first job in the visual effects industry for a studio called Ingenuity Studios where I worked as an unreal engine artist for about a year, I got to work on a series called Histories that involved Morgan freeman on the history channel as well as a music video for Maroon 5 – Beautiful Mistakes ft. Megan Thee Stallion and now I am currently now working on the hit game Call of Duty as an associate environment artist working for a studio called Highmoon which is also under the activision blizzard umbrella
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Despite my deep passion for the arts, graduating from college in 2020 was one of the most challenging times in my life. The pandemic made it extremely difficult to secure a job in the field, and as an international student, the pressure was even greater since I had a limited amount of time to find employment before my visa expired. I applied to over 50 companies that year, but it seemed like I was getting nowhere. The rejections left me feeling disheartened like I had failed my parents by not meeting their expectations.
However, my parents were my pillars of strength throughout the trying times. They were always there to support me and remind me of their goal for all their children – to pursue what we love and turn it into a career. My father’s wise words of “If you apply to five jobs one day, just apply to five more the next day and keep pushing,” encouraged me to keep moving forward. Finally, in January 2021, I found the job I had been searching for.
Although my journey was challenging, I am incredibly grateful for my family’s unwavering support. Their encouragement and faith in me gave me the strength to keep going and pursue my dreams. I owe everything to them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I specialize in 3D environment art, which involves creating the environments you see in 3D/CGI movies or video games. As an environment artist, my goal is to become a storyteller, using my art to convey a narrative. I am passionate about both organic and sci-fi art, drawing inspiration from films like Star Wars and video games such as Call of Duty, The Last of Us, and Halo.
I am most proud of my recent contribution to the new game map in Call of Duty Warzone, called “Ashika Island.” It was an honor to work with a team of highly talented artists to create this stunning map. My commitment to always improve and push myself to greater heights sets me apart from others in the industry. I believe in continually challenging myself and refining my skills to create even more impressive art.
Any big plans?
As a 3D environment artist, I am constantly inspired by the dynamic and ever-evolving world of technology. I am excited to see where my career in the industry takes me, and I look forward to learning from diverse professionals in various disciplines as I continue to grow as an artist. At this moment, my main focus is on honing my skills and refining my craft to become the best artist I can be.
One of my long-term goals is to contribute to the growth and development of the industry in my home country. As an artist, I am aware of the abundance of talent in my country, and I believe that with the right opportunities and resources, we can achieve great things. I hope to one day be a part of initiatives that enable talented artists to showcase their skills on a global scale and help to put our country on the map as a hub for creative innovation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artstation.com/jerronchuck
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artofjerron/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerron-chuck-a5687251/
- Other: https://jerronchuck1994.wixsite.com/jerronchuck
