@alex247

Instagram: @alex247  

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

My name is Alex Asfour and I am a professional illustrator based in Miami, FL. I was born and raised on the island of St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

My style is vector based that incorporates subtle texture and bold color.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

Working on my computer with adobe illustrator. I used to paint traditionally with oil and besides taking forever to dry, it’s messy and the setup/clean up turns me off from even doing it. There is something very refreshing about firing up an adobe program and making anything you want instantly.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I used to sketch a lot but now I just jump straight into illustrator and make vector color roughs. Once I see the composition will work, I start redrawing everything cleanly. After that, I add some textures, tweak colors, and polish the design.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

Growing up in the Caribbean has heavily influenced my work, as well as having a mother who is an artist has inspired me and my work. To this day I can’t stop myself from adding sailboats to any body of water I am illustrating.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

Art is a big part of my life. My experiences in life influence my art and inspire me to create. Every time I see a beautiful sunset or an incredible mountain, I think to myself, how do I capture that look/feeling in my own work.

7. Where did you study?

I went to school at Barry University in Miami Shores, FL and I have a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art specializing in Graphic Design. I also took a lot of traditional art classes as I originally entered college as an Art major before switching to design.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully continuing to develop in my style and working on interesting jobs that allow me to collaborate with companies/brands/organizations that I admire.

9. What about in ten?

In ten? I’d like to be able to be very selective with my freelance work and hopefully working more in the fine art space.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

My hope is to be able to make a good living doing what I love. I feel very fortunate to do what I do for a living and not working a 9-5 that I hate. If I can keep this up and continue to grow and develop as an artist and person, that would be a great achievement. People admiring and connecting with my work is an awesome bonus.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

I’m a big fan of middle eastern food since my father is from Palestine. The food is very flavorful and healthy too. I grew up eating it often, so it holds a special place in my heart (and stomach).

12. Favourite book?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho was the first book I read that really engaged me and made me sit back and think after finishing it, it's a classic.

13. Favourite genre of music?

Growing up in the Caribbean, Reggae instantly puts me in a relaxed mood when I hear it. I also really like Bossa Nova and anything else with “chill” vibes.

14. What are your hobbies?

Besides my work which I love making, I enjoy going to the beach, craft beer, biking, going to museums, watching films, and traveling.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

Probably an architect, my dream is to one day design my own home and studio á la Eames.