Vincent Schwenk Enhances the Everyday with Abstract 3D Art
Vincent Schwenk Enhances the Everyday with Abstract 3D Art
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
GERMAN Artist of the week - Vincent Schwenk
Name:
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
GERMAN Artist of the week - Vincent Schwenk
Photography:
Vincent Schwenk
Words:
Erica Nichols
There’s a lot of moving parts to Vincent Schwenk’s creative process. The 3D artist from Hamburg plays with the playful, letting each element interact in ways that may seem weird at first, but ultimately create a cohesive whole. Schwenk finds inspiration from the ordinary, crafting seemingly simple textures or photos into abstract, eye-catching sculptures and animations. Discover more about his 3D work below and what he created for our DELSEY Paris collaboration.
What first drew you to pursue 3D design and animation?
Vincent Schwenk: Being in motion was always a crucial point when growing up – not only on the PC. Besides doing lots of sports, I started doing stop-motion videos as a kid. But what led me 3D was actually an internship at a Motion Design company when I was studying Graphic Design. After that I bought myself a very expensive first computer and watched lots of tutorials.
What’s your creative process like when you first get an idea for a project?
Mostly I’m starting right away on my PC: No sketches, no mood board. Just exploring different techniques, testing technical possibilities and limits. What I’m using quite often are reference photos on my phone from my travels: A mixture of different textures or unintentional public art installations – you might be surprised how weird my vacation pictures look.
How did you develop your style?
Making and doing. Over time, it has evolved organically, after spending lots of hours behind the PC. I often quote the sentence: Overnight success takes about 10 years.
Your work balances color, texture, abstract compositions — how do you find a balance between all these different elements?
It’s an intuitive process for me. I’m letting them interact in ways that might seem a bit weird but ultimately create a cohesive whole. I start by focusing on one aspect – a bold color, shape or a texture I want to try out – and then build around it, allowing the composition to unfold naturally.
Are there any local places that inspire or influence your work?
We just moved to a new city, so everything is kind of new and interesting. But I get inspiration from the ordinary: Could be a wall with an interesting texture, beautiful color-schemes in a restaurant or just how the light comes in. But cinema has always been a great inspiration: DoP or editing would have probably been my second career choice.
What’s the key to staying fresh and challenged as an artist?
It’s difficult to always stay updated and as everything is developing and moving so fast these days. As soon as you’ve found your style, you tend to repeat yourself. Walking around with open eyes and trying to stay curious is key. Also connecting with other artists through collaborations helps, going to design festivals and most importantly: I try to experiment with new techniques, software, etc.
“I often quote the sentence: Overnight success takes about 10 years.”
What do you think people would be most surprised to learn about your discipline?
People might be surprised by the amount of technical knowledge and problem-solving required in 3D. It’s not just about making things look cool; it involves an understanding of software, physics, and sometimes even coding. There's also a lot of trial and error involved, as well as patience, since some renderings can take hours or even days to complete.
How does travel influence your worldview as an artist?
Travel opens up a whole new world of inspiration. Seeing how different cultures use color, design and space influences my work. One memorable trip was (of course) to Japan, where we were having lots of delicious food. Out of that I created a digital ramen soup. The textures, colors, and the details of the food and the environment really stuck with me.
Looking back, what are some projects that you’re most proud of?
Of course, there are the projects with big tech clients like Apple, Microsoft and Google – opportunities my 18-year-old self could only have dreamed of. But what I’m most proud of is that my daily artwork project has evolved into a Patreon channel, which has become my main source of income.
Talk to us about what you’re creating for DELSEY.
For DELSEY, I’m working on two playful concepts. The first is a pool scene filled with abstract pool inflatables – imagine bold, colorful forms floating around in unexpected ways. The idea is to capture a sense of fun and relaxation, while adding a surreal twist to an everyday setting. The second piece is a room installation featuring dynamic straps combined with fun animations.
What’s in your DELSEY? Name 3-5 items you can’t go anywhere without when traveling.
In my DELSEY, you’ll always find my sketchbook and a pencil for capturing ideas on the go, a camera to document inspiration, noise-canceling headphones to zone out and focus.
