Each year, the World Freestyle Round-Up chooses one of its own freestyle skates to design the contest t-shirt and belt buckle. Having a skater design the artwork brings together two important things: a passion for art and a love of freestyle skateboarding. Last year Jim Goodrich, who is much more than just a great photographer, designed our t-shirts and buckles. This year, that skater/designer is Alejandro Finy who is originally from Costa Rica but now calls Seattle, Washington him home.
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Alejandro Interview
How long have you been designing and illustrating?
I’ve been drawing since I was a kid, but when I started studying design I took it more seriously and I eventually made that my career, along with web development. I’ve been working in design for about 14 years now and have my own company based in Seattle, Washington.
What is your favourite type of art?
I have always had a passion for all kinds of art but really like art nouveau illustrations and designs that embrace parametric design and form. For some reason, I’ve always been creating things, like it is something that I already have inside me. From illustrating my versions of album covers from bands I liked, to doing street art, to doing illustrations for my grip tapes, what I like about it is that it takes me to different places when I’m totally concentrated doing it. I’m always trying new things and learning new techniques, connecting all the things that I like to do or create like skateboarding, music, scale models, photography, video games. Right now I’m into art with small details using techniques which keeps me thinking and makes me want to try and explore.
Have you had any formal training at art school or college?
Yea I attended a college for graphic design, but when I started working for a online games company creating graphics, animations and 3D graphics I found that what I had learned at school was outdated. So I decided from then on to always have a heavy focus on being self-taught. I just read tons and tons of information, watch videos, admire other people’s art and what every you don’t take me to a library or you’ll loose me there.
Have you shown your art at any shows?
While I was living overseas a few years ago, I participated in contests and public demos of street art and graffiti. Next year I plan on preparing for a grip tape illustration art show. Each one takes me about 15 hours, so it’s a lot of work to prepare a group of pieces for a show. Resisting the urge to use them on my boards is also hard!
Check out of my work on my Instagram.
How does your art relate to your skating?
I would say that since I was a teenager art and skating have been a big influence on each other for me. Almost a sort of war between the two worlds, because one keeps you sitting for a long time and the other keeps you very active, both extremes. More recently, I’ve been trying to find more balance, especially with work in the way as managing my multi-hundred dollar, one-person design/development business (ha! not multi-million dollar yet) in Seattle keeps me busy.
What are some of your other interests?
I love music too, I’ve been a bass player since 1992 and through the years I’ve had some fun band projects where I was singing too. Right now I’m setting up a little home studio-recording project, but it’s been years since I have created a single song. I’m hoping in the next few months to start working on some noise; my musical tastes range from noise to punk, hardcore metal to industrial, pop and instrumental. I have other interests but skateboarding for me is probably my longest lasting interest; it’s like walking because it’s been here my entire life. I can’t imagine my life without a board with wheels under my feet.
