We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zhanrui Jerry Liu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Zhanrui Jerry, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

Art has always been my passion, even from a young age when I used to doodle on my bedroom walls, I was lucky enough that my parents indulge my willfulness. Despite this love, pursuing a career in art felt like a distant dream. Growing up, I followed the conventional path through academic schooling, but I always felt a sense of unease. It was hard to find like-minded friends who shared my enthusiasm for creativity, and unfortunately, art classes were often sidelined in favor of subjects like math or chemistry, the school ignored the art subject so as I ignored my inner voice.

After graduating high school, I couldn’t imagine me seating in an office table to do accounting or any none-creative work, so I took a bold step to follow my passion. I decided to go abroad to study art and chose art as my focus, enrolling in San Francisco. Initially, I felt like a blank canvas, clueless about the vast world of art and its nuances. Starting my artistic journey was exhilarating yet challenging, as I struggled to pinpoint my specific area of interest.

Fortunately, fate intervened when I met a remarkable friend and mentor who introduced me to the captivating realm of animation. Through her guidance, I gained a profound understanding of the art of animation, finally discovering my true calling. So I focus on the subject of visual development.

I always doubted my readiness, so I kept my ambitions to myself and hesitated to pursue internships. It wasn’t until the day of my graduation that reality hit me, and I felt a rush of panic about my visa status and uncertain future. Being an international student, I had a mere three months to secure an internship.

Just when I was about to lose hope entirely, I miraculously landed an internship at Laika, one of my favorite animation studios. The moment felt surreal, almost magical. To this day, I find it hard to believe that I secured the role. The experience surpassed my wildest dreams and seemed too extraordinary to be real.

Zhanrui Jerry, 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 am a visual development artist with a diverse portfolio, having contributed to feature animation, TV animation, and animation commercials. My clients include Laika, DreamWorks TV, Sony, Bent Image, Home Depot, Tencent games, Lilith Games, and many others.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Animation is undeniably a collaborative effort, where visual development artists play a crucial role in translating textual concepts into captivating visuals. Every time a final work of mine gets approved and I witness my designs come to life in motion, it’s a truly gratifying experience. Despite the challenges and struggles faced during the work-in-progress stages, there’s a genuine transformation from initial doubts to moments of realization that, ‘Yes, this is turning out well.’ The journey from uncertainty to seeing the animatic come together makes every struggle entirely worth it.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

social media is a rabbit hole to a whole new world, social medias like instagram and twitter is full of wonders and magic. The artists I encounter on these platforms serve as a wellspring of inspiration for my own creative journey. Every scroll unveils a new masterpiece, a fresh perspective. Social media not only inspires me but also challenges me to evolve. It encourages me to embrace my artistic identity, celebrate my progress, most importantly, share my creations with the world.

However, I often find myself hesitating to post my artwork online. There’s a perpetual fear that the next drawing might be better, leading to self-doubt and hesitation. I’m still overcome that fear, however, I firmly believe that the key is to persist – to keep creating and sharing my work with the audience,

Contact Info:

• Website: www.surejerrysure.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/surejerrysure