JEDD CHEVRIER
Jedd talks his favourite artists and love for roleplaying games I really love building worlds that people can explore and escape into
Tell us a bit about yourself and your background as an artist. Where did you start, and what got you into it?
I am an art director, illustrator and concept artist. Over the course of my career, I have had the privilege of building worlds for games, film and TV, alongside some truly awesome creators.
I grew up in the great state of Michigan. Like a lot of artists, I’m sure, I started drawing the likes of robots, dragons, and spiky-haired muscle-dudes at a really young age.
I was lucky enough to have art mentorship from a young age that carried on through high school. When I graduated I had collection of drawings and paintings that thankfully got me a scholarship to College for Creative Studies in Detroit where, after realising it was possible to make a living painting monsters, I got my BFA in Illustration.
My most substantial artistic growth came when I began to work professionally. One of the best parts about painting is that it’s really a lifelong journey – you’re never done learning. Do you play D&D yourself, and if so what’s the appeal to you?
I do! My group has played weekly for just over six years. When our campaign began, we had a draft of pre-generated characters – which was really interesting because we needed to roleplay as a character we might not ordinarily choose. I play a Halfling Shadow Monk.
D&D is an incredible platform for selfexpression. Getting together with your favourite people on a regular basis to go on adventure and tell stories together is one of the most enjoyable things I do.
Roleplaying is a wonderful way to learn more about yourself, as well as build a deeper empathy with people who might have a starkly different point of view from your own. Empathising with your character’s needs and wants, especially when they differ from your own, is a healthy thing to do.
Shout out to all the hard-working DMS out there.
When working on an iconic project with such a rich history like Dungeons and Dragons, it’s important to be cognizant of both honouring its past as well as bringing a fresh perspective and modern ideas. D&D has taught me the importance of when to shoot for entirely new ideas as well as when to lean on the familiar for narrative impact.
There is an incredible legacy of artists who have contributed to D&D and have had an impact on me personally. It’s difficult to narrow down – but a few that come to mind are:
Keith Parkinson – one of my all-time favourite illustrators. His work epitomised a period of fantasy illustration that had a huge impact on me as a developing artist. The fearless and layered compositions and the sense of high adventure in his work is something I’ve always tried to emulate. Do you have any heroes that have worked on D&D projects? Who are they, and any key pieces that you particularly love? D&D has a long history for artists, as well as gamers. How has it shaped your creative process and aesthetics?