DESOLATE & BEAUTIFUL WORLD

We the players love airsoft, is our business. But there are disciplines like photography or illustration that is unavoidable that they cross on our way. Who doesn’t know the great photographers when seeing their sessions? That’s the same that happened with Alex Jessup, his illustrations had travelled all over the world of airsoft like a storm and have been converted on profile photos, Facebook headers, wallpapers … or being part of a folder called “Cool Images” that all of us have on our computers. Today we managed to steal from him an afternoon to meet this illustrator or “concept artist”

We don’t know if you are aware of how far your work has reached. In the beginning there were some images on a few places but now at the end is impossible to navigate without seeing a illustration from you. Are you aware of impact you have on the airsoft world?

I honestly had no idea that it's spread that much! I've seen my work around the military community, and within the games industry, but it sounds like more people appreciate it than I thought.

Seeing your portfolio we recall a lot of films and video games but we think of a potential airsofter inside you, have you ever played airsoft?

Absolutely. I first starting airsofting when I was around 12 years old. My first AEG was a TM M4, then I got a TM AK47, which to this day is one of my favorites that I've owned. I currently have a KWA G36 that I've done a bunch of stuff to, and I recently got a G&P Magpul M4, and a TM P90. Got all the Magpul parts I wanted since they'll become harder to get soon. Work has been busy lately but I try to airsoft at least once every 2 weeks when I have the time! My preference are outdoor fields since I enjoy getting outside and being in forests.

On your designs there are renewed weapon lines and new models that we like, have you ever thought about presenting them to any airsoft manufacturer? A lot of players would love it (some even thought they were real when they saw it).

I haven't given it any serious thought. I few people have emailed me with questions about my designs since they are building their own versions of them. It's a super cool feeling to see people enjoy my designs enough to put that much time, money and effort into making actual airsoft guns. I would LOVE to see my G56 as an airsoft rifle though.

In fact, one of these models, the HK 56 (fruit of a “future” collaboration between HK and KRISS) which have been 3D modeled by a friend of yours. Are you sure you are not going to launch your own replica brand?

As much fun as that would be, and as much as I would love to maybe do that someday, I'm not working on that now. There would likely be a lot of legal issues to go through since the design is so heavily inspired by existing designs. When I did that design, I had no idea it would become so popular. Maybe some of the newer designs I've done would work better though...

You were working on Sledgehammer Games, a video game studio that had been working with Infinity Ward in the “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3”. How does a gamer become a game developer?

I've played the Call of Duty games since the first one, back when I was a kid. Always loved them. I never thought to become a developer though, until I spent a couple years working a corporate job that I didn't enjoy. After hunting around looking into different job fields, I stumbled across concept art as a profession. I hadn't done much drawing or anything but 

I knew that was what I wanted to do. Almost immediately after discovering this, I went to FZD School of Design in Singapore for 2 years. By the time I graduated, I guess my work had gotten to a point where people wanted to pay me for it. 

All the work on my blog was done while I was in school. It's just about working your ass off.

Although you are american you spent some time in Singapore studying in one of the best (and high demanding!!) design schools: the FZD School of Design. And as we know you took it like the SEAL aspirants, is there much competition in that school?

FZD was an extremely challenging school. I entered the program with next to no drawing ability. Literally had trouble drawing anything other than stick figures. 

Some of my classmates had already gone through other art schools, or were working in the games industry doing animation, or doing freelance illustration. I realized that the only way I could catch up was by working longer and harder than everyone else. Also, I always had the mentality of an empty cup, ready to be filled with knowledge. There were plenty of tough points where I stumbled, but in the end I guess I was stubborn enough and came out the other side being able to design. It was worth every minute.

In fact, it was there where you created “Daybreak, the last city”, with its scenarios, vehicles, characters … that we were able to see in one of your blogs. Tell us, what does this project consist of?

“Daybreak” is a project I worked on by myself for 4 months at FZD. I had instructors guiding me and giving me advice, but I had the freedom of creating the entire world, setting and story myself. It's one of my favorite things I've worked on. I've always loved post-apocalyptic settings, and I really tried to create a world that was both desolate and beautiful. 

In your main blog, we can see a lot of future soldiers, it seems you are on all market tendencies but tell us, how many are real prototypes and how many are imagined designs?

I do a lot of research while designing. Actually, I do a lot of research the rest of the time as well. It's crucial to understand the subject you are designing. My designs almost always have a lot of existing, new technology in them. What I focus on is how to make it better at what it does. Or, I just find ways to combine awesome technology in a way that looks awesome and makes sense.

Also we see the AK-337, a renewed AK version, or the HK G56 series we were talking about before, are they examples of the models you would like to play with?

YES. I would be insanely excited to see someone make an actual airsoft version of the G56. 

Alex, we could continue for hours asking questions about a lot of matters and asking you to show us more of your drawings but we prefer leaving you creating those great works. Thank you very much and the last lines are for you to say goodbye you our readers.

Thank you very much for the kind words and for loving my work! I had no idea I had so many fans in the airsoft community, and I'm truly honored. Hopefully I can continue to inspire others with my designs!