Meet Alexander Uithoven | Artist and Game Dev

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexander Uithoven and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexander, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For as long as I can remember I have had an overactive imagination. As a child I could focus on shadows in my room and make them dance at night. I would have vivid and life-like dreams that seemed so real when I would wake up. My mind was always running, thinking, creating, and yearning for adventure.

I think being introduced to video games at an early age had a massive influence on my ability to think and imagine this way. I was never satisfied with the regular happenings of existence. Gossiping at school, playing sports, drama, all these things were boring to me – I wanted to be in the fantastic worlds of the games I was playing. There my imagination could shine and I could lose myself within the stories and characters of those places.

As I became older, the need to be a part of these worlds diminished. But the want and need to CREATE them grew.

I began creating my own little games with my brother during game jams – and even started work on my own game called Deathly. Though I was never able to finish Deathly ( yet ) , it taught me to be a better artist and cultivated the confidence to continue my artistic career. I realized that what was most important to me was the joy and inspiration art can bring to others, in all its forms.

Just as the artists and designers behind the video games I played lit a flame inside my mind, I wanted my art to do the same for someone else. Every time someone smiles, or laughs, or is genuinely excited when picking up a piece of my art, that creative part of me is fulfilled.

I may not be the most talented artist, but the act of creating something out of pure imagination is the greatest feeling I have ever felt, and that is why I pursue this risky but fulfilling career

I can’t make shadows dance anymore, but I can do something even more powerful.

I can shape them.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am primarily a digital artist – though I have created some physical works in the past. The theme for most of my art is based around eldritch and creepy imagery. This includes things like tentacles, eyeballs, monsters, etc. Because my background comes from creating art for video games, my work tends to lean more cartoonish. This gives a unique blend of creepiness without being overtly gross. I do want to eventually create some pieces that are more adult themed, but all of my art now can be enjoyed by all ages.

I am always learning and striving to be a better artist, and something I wish I knew at the very beginning of my journey is this:

Consistency beats talent.

There is no magic technique, or knowledge you will acquire that will transform you into an amazing artist over night. It takes years of consistent work and effort to refine your craft. The more you put in, the more you will get out.

There is no separation between myself and my brand – Alex Uithoven Art – and I promise to any fans I have that I will continue to improve and refine my art to be the best it can be.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Phoenix and it’s outlying cities have an eclectic selection to choose from.

We have some of the best Mexican food restaurants you can find in the country. There are beautiful mountains to hike from the Superstitions to the red rocks of Sedona. We have great downtown art walks in Chandler, Gilbert and in Tempe ( Such as First Friday ). And in those downtown locations we have amazing local breweries such as OHSO, Four Peaks, and Huss Brewing Co.

A week full of activities would be easy to fill, especially in autumn when it’s nice and cool. Just don’t come visit in the summer, especially if you want to be outside.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I am grateful to say that I have several people in my life that I, and I will never be able to express this enough, owe so much gratitude and appreciation to for helping me get to where I am today:

Thomas Uithoven – My Father. He supported me every step of the way when I first began my journey into art and game development. His confidence in me and my brother never waivered, and he was the first to say, and truly mean, that he believed we could do anything we put our minds to.

Kyle Uithoven – My Brother. I could not have begun this journey without Kyle. He was there at the beginning, putting hours and hours of work into making our dreams come true. He put up with me during the most difficult times, and was the only one who could have helped manifest my crazy imagination into something real.

Chris Goettl – My Friend. Chris and I have been friends for a long, long time. He has been a voice of reason in my life and a hard, but fair, critique of my unruly ambition. It was he who gave me my first real illustration job, creating chapter art for his books, and in so giving me the confidence to do art professionally. He has always been there to give me opportunities to succeed, and I will forever be grateful for that.

Courtni Tran – My Partner. I first met Courtni right after my father passed away. Unbeknownst to her, she was enlisting herself as the backbone of my creative pursuits. She has been at every event I have worked, is a master at calming me when disaster strikes, and yields no criticism when it is needed. I am grateful to have such a supportive and caring partner.

Kat Loetterle ( Kat The Goblin ) – I met Kat by chance at an art market and saw she was selling art similar to the kinds I was looking to create. This was at the very beginning of starting my business and I asked her for advice on how to get things rolling. Since then, she has been a wealth of information, support, and introduced me to this website! I appreciate all the help Kat.

Website: https://alexuithovenartshop.etsy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex.uithoven.art/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbstraktGames/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MostlyJustAlex

Image Credits
Just me 🙂