Vincent Schwenk about his abstract and colorful 3D creations that bring joy and fun to this world. His journey started as a 2D designer and evolved into more than just a 3D artist. He combines many 3D programs to create even more abstract artworks that also have a certain naturalness and also lets the whole world learn with him. With Patreon he has found a platform to share his knowledge and expertise.
How did you get into 3D and what fascinates you most about it?
3D really fascinates me because I can really do anything that comes to mind. I’m not limited by anything visual. Anything I think of, I can create. What I also really love is that I can combine these abstract images that don’t exist in the real world. I do that with realistic materials and textures. So I have an interesting combination of abstraction and reality.
What do you think is crucial for developing your own brand?
I think it’s really hard to develop your own brand. Because you have to work in so many different areas to do that. You have to be able to create a certain style that can be recognizable and recognized by other people and artists. Another point is that there are so many different designs and things already existing that it’s really hard to find and create something new. But of course, if you manage to find a niche, I think it’s important to develop that design root, but also how you represent yourself as a brand. You have to advertise yourself, be active on social media platforms, and you should always try to be consistent and constantly present. That way people will remember your name and you will be on their radar.
Your art thrives on a multidisciplinary approach to design and 3D work, digital sculpture and moving image. What combination of animation techniques do you usually use – and which do you like best?
My career as a designer/artist is really long, I started with graphic design and created 2D images. After that I moved to After Effects and continued to work as a 2D artist at that time. Sometimes those 2D works of mine still influence my 3D works. Nowadays, I mainly work with Cinema 4D, which is a 3D program. I also use a lot of other design tools like Marvelousdesigner, Substance or Clo and a bit of Houdini.
So I try to combine every 3D program available and create the animation I have in my mind. I have to say that Cinema 4D is my main program and for rendering I use redshift.
Seeing artworks for the first time is the most satisfying part of any process – because its often unplanned and new for us.
What made you start the VSK.WORLD channel on Patreon and share your 3D knowledge with your community? What can people expect when they support you on Patreon?
I try to divide my focus between two parts. On one side I’m seen as an artist, that’s the Vincent Schwenk part, and on the other side I have this platform called VSK.World-Chanel, which is short for Vincent Schwenk World. That’s where I collect all the information where you can learn 3D stuff. This website is connected to Patreon, where you can subscribe for two different and new videos a month. I’ve been doing this for three years now and have a huge database of videos. I think through these videos you can really learn Cinema 4D. Not only do I focus on teaching the program itself, but I also try to help artists become a better version of themselves by explaining design principles, business decisions, and how to deal with clients, for example. It’s really a great thing to have artists and support artists you can learn a lot from. So check it out and join me on Patreon.
What is special about Patreon as a platform that supports you and your art? And how does the platform help you to maintain the relationship with your community, to communicate with it and to expand it?
I think the main difference between Patreon and the other platforms is the mindset. They are really focused on helping artists and their payment system is really fair. Patreon has a lot of great tools and especially the people who work there are very supportive and help me where they can.
I tried different platforms and was invited to collaborate with other platforms, but in the end I have to say that they really only care about their own revenue, so my payment wasn’t really good. That’s why I’m more than happy to be with Patreon.
In general, how would you describe the mission of your work? What drives you?
I would really love to have a bigger mission for my artworks, but I have to say that I have none. I would like my work to have an impact on the environment, like a concept to improve the world. I often feel down, tired or sad about all this bad news and information. So I try not to go too deep down that rabbit hole. I try to focus more on the things I create, like creating something colorful, vibrant, fun that brings me joy, and when I look at my work and someone else sees it and feels the same, I am more than happy. In summary, I would say the mission behind my work is to bring joy.
Your most recent creations, “Mind Mingle” and “Parzelle 64,” are alive with an all-absorbing, infectious vibe. Tell us about your workflow, from concept development to the realization of these specific projects.
It’s quite difficult to explain my workflow, because it varies from time to time. Sometimes I have an idea and draw it in my sketchbook, sometimes I have a very specific idea of how an object might move. Sometimes I take pictures of the environment and its objects that really inspire me, and then I design something new based on those pictures.
Once I’m done with my initial thoughts, I start working in Cinema 4D. When I do that, I try to follow my vision because design in this field is so technical and specific. Sometimes I play a little ping pong with the computer because I have to recreate the image in my head. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t work the way I envisioned, and sometimes it works differently. Sometimes the “other” part is even more interesting than what I had in my head, and then I try to follow the new root, and in this matter I go back and forth with the computer, trying to always find the most interesting result.
This year you will participate in the Bangkok Biennale. This explores the binary opposites of chaos and tranquility and aims to make us reflect on our confusing reality of life. Art here is meant to give hope above all. Which works did you choose for this and why?
It is a real pleasure and honor for me to be part of the Bangkok Biennale. The piece I am showing there is a mix of digital fashion and dancing pieces.
Here is a little piece of the artworks description:
I started “When K Hits” , a digital fashion series, in 2021. Dancing has always been an expression of the artist’s inner self. Moving through space and time has always been a break-free-moment: releasing energy, giving and sharing moments, feeling the joy of life until we‘re cocooning inwards again.
Within a digital space, ‘garments’ are no longer restricted by the demands of the human body. Instead they are liberated, limitless in the forms that they might take. Schwenk’s digital fashion transcends the body, and in doing so, broadens our limited definition of fashion by abstracting its essential components. Without the human being, fashion becomes an elevated interaction between cloth and motion, form and ideology.
What direction would you like to approach next?
I want to focus on my own creative ideas, such as my 3D digital artwork, and I don’t want to be dependent on commercial commissions. I plan to do some in the future, but as I said in the previous questions, I’m very lucky to have Patreon and thus have the freedom to choose which job I want to do and which I don’t. So basically I will do the same as before and now.
To be honest, I’m pretty happy with the style I have. Maybe I will try to minimize my style and work on a graphic direction with typographic elements. Personally, I want to draw more again in the future and we’ll see if that translates into my 3D style.
Vincent Schwenk presented by Patreon is one of our key speakers at Forward Festival Berlin this year.
He will speak at the Forward Festival Berlin in September. Next to them, you will be able to hear Creatives like Wade & Leta, Looping Lovers, Builders Club and many more.