Ástor Alexander Interview … turning gaming into fine-art!

Welcome to Impulse Gamer Ástor… can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself?

Just a little bit. I was born in 1988 and I grew up in Ensenada, Mexico, which is close to San Diego. I paint on my iMac for a living.

So tell us what ‘drew’ you to gaming?

It’s fun.

Good answer! So growing up, what were some of the games that you graviated too?

I got a SEGA Genesis for xmas when I was 6. Came with a “6-pack” cartridge: Sonic, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Revenge of Shinobi, Columns, and a moto-racing-game. I played Streets and Golden Axe co-op with my dad (he abandoned games when they went 3D. I think he plays Candy Crush now).

Then I got a Gameboy and played Final Fantasy Legends II, and III, which were my first games with a story, and I was amazed by it! Also liked Link’s Awakening. Then came the N64 with Ocarina, and Conker’s and other games. And then the GBA with another JRPG, Golden Sun, which I loved. (I haven’t played a JRPG in probably a decade. Not my thing anymore. But FF XV looks interesting.)

What game are you playing at the present?

None. Got a lot of work to do. Well… I play Smash Bros 3DS for a couple minutes when my computer is loading something. I suck at it. Might buy XCOM 1.

How did you decide to mix gaming with fine art?

You know that South Park episode where Cartman and Kenny discover the writers of Family Guy are manatees that pick “idea balls” at random? It’s like that in my head, except I just pick the best combinations.

Your art is amazing Ástor, what’s been your favourite pieces so far?

Usually the most recent pieces. The one with Ciri turned out pretty good.

Most challenging?

F***ing Baroque Zelda. For “Beast and The Princess” I had to repaint Zelda’s face many many times. Minda’s dress took a lot of time. Doing the cracked painting textures right for each piece took a lot of time too. … BUY BAROQUE ZELDA PRINTS!

Can you walk us through your design/creation process?

For most pieces I figure out the composition on a 3D app, then I take reference photos for the characters. I import the photo into the photoshop file and paint over it. For others, old ones, I don’t use photos. Like this one:

http://astoralexander.deviantart.com/art/The-Puppetmaster-PROCESS-553317617