Teefury

A word from wotto: Alva is an amazing artist. Don't believe me? Check out his recent subs and scores at threadless. He recently bagged a 3.84 score!!! He is a nice chap too who very often gets in touch with me for no other reason than to say hello. I like that. Nature is cool. Alva is cooler.

Tell us a little about this design.
Like in most of my designs and illustrations, this idea came out of the blue. I saw a pic of an old man smiling very close to the camera, and instantly imagined him made of branches and leafs (Like Arcimboldo's art but with a twist) I then started drawing the whole thing, always having as a goal to making this design very detailed and adding a very organic and naturalistic feel to it. I really enjoyed putting details on this one, because i have an obsession for making ultra detailed illustrations, full of textures and tiny things, so when the people look at the design can like the look of it, but when they start getting closer to the details, they can enjoy discovering more and more things they didn't see at the first glance.

Where in the world are you?
I'm in Viña del Mar, Chile, South America. It's a nice quiet city by the sea. Awesome weather, a very touristic place next to the amazing city of Valparaiso (some of you may have heard of it). The 2 best things of the city i live in is that is has a very relaxed feel to it, and it's near to the countryside on one hand, and to the Capital on the other.

What is your favourite medium?
I like working on ink and paper first, and then painting digitally. Drawing and inking by hand creates a very unique type of line that you can't get on the computer, even with some fancy tablet.

Which superhero power would you like the most and why?
For me, the power to travel in time would be the most badass superpower to have. It would kick ass to see the most famous events you have always seen in the books and experience it right in fornt of you. I don't care about the paradoxes, i could always turn to the point where i messed things up. You would be a millionaire too, because you could return from from the past with awesome stuff and sell them in the present. (baby dinasours for sell?....$$$$$).

Who is the best villain ever?
Hannibal Lecter is for me, the best one. First of all, he eats the rude people-and let's admit it- we all hate rude people and felt sympathy for him even if he was eating dudes.
And a villain who can commit his crimes while listening at Bach has my thumbs up!

What was the last song you listened to?
2266 Cambridge by Cut Chemist.

Favourite quote/lyric?
"Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by the force of some inner tide
At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed up world"

From the song "High Hopes" of Pink Floyd.

Who has been the best client you have designed for?
I'd have to say Microsoft. I designed two illustrations for their Zune players last year. It has been by far the most important client i've worked for. It was a great oportunity for me and it came completely out of the blue. The had seen my designs at Threadless and they picked me along other 12 designers all over the world. It certainly put me in the map ;). I'm deeply grateful for that.

Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I've always had the dream of working with Terry Gilliam. His unique and fantastical vision of things captured my imagination since i saw "The adventures of baron Munchausen" when i was like 9 years old. I'd love participating in one of his movies in the art department, and tell him that he really rules.

How many t-shirts do you own?
27 so far.

Which website do you go to everyday?
I know the obvious answer would be Teefury, but www.threadless.com is the website i visit the most.

Want to promote a website/someone/yourself?
Shameless self promotion is not that bad, so please check my site www.alvarejo.net. There you can find my work, some thoughts and my resume! (i want to be hired in USA this year and move there and work there, so if you, the owner of the most amazing agency is reading this, take note!