@dennisfandango

Instagram: @dennisfandango

1. What’s your story? Where are you from?

My name is Dennis Zeevat. I am a 22-year-old 3D artist based in the Netherlands. I started out doing illustrations when I was about 14 years old. I did this for a couple of years but about 3 years ago I decided to jump into the 3D world. In the first year, I mainly focused on learning the software. This was a huge growing period for me because when I finally felt comfortable using Cinema 4D I moved on to the next phase, creating an art style for myself. Ever since then, I have been experiencing with different styles but I think I really honed in on the style that I think really fits me as a person this last year. 

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I usually describe my art as surrealistic elements based on realistic environments. I like to play around with bright colors but lately, I have been focusing more on realism. 

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I can’t even draw, let alone for example paint. So my preference will go to digital art. Having the CTRL+Z option is a must for me. NFT’s also really helped solidify the position of digital art as a serious art form in the past year, I feel like this is just the beginning of that movement and I am really excited to see where it goes next!

4. What is your artistic process like?

I usually start out with the focal point of my artwork. Once I have decided what the main focus of the artwork is I usually build an environment around this. The environment is usually inspired by the main focus of the piece.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work? 

I mainly get inspired by nature, movies, video games and music. If I’m experiencing a creative block I usually play a game or walk my dog in a nearby forest while listening to some music. Next to this, I get inspired by other artists. I love to talk about ideas and execution with other artists too. I have had talks with artists like colourature.renders(go check him out!) that changed the way I approached color for example. Talking with other artists is a major part of my learning process because there are so many different techniques to be used.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

I personally think images can tell certain stories that words could never do. There is so much emotion that you can put in a piece of art and there are so many artists that use this as a way of communicating messages that transcend language. That’s one of the reasons why I love art and why it plays such a huge role in my life.  

7. Where did you study?

I’m currently studying Communication & Multimedia Design at Hanze University of applied sciences.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Over the next couple of years, I want to focus on growing as an artist. I started doing freelance this year so I can’t wait for all the amazing projects that will cross my path in the coming years.

9. What about in ten?

One of my long-term goals is to create a studio where I can work together with different talented artists all around the world. There are so many possibilities in AR and VR that are going to change the way we live in the coming years and I would love to grow further is this space as well.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

In the long term, I hope to inspire other people to do what they love. But it’s just as valuable to me if I can just put a smile on someone’s face if they have had a shitty day. 

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

That’s a difficult one… I have been eating a lot of Birria Quesa taco’s lately so I would have to say those.

12. Favourite book?

I’m not really much of a reader but I have to go with the generic Harry Potter series. Simply because this is one of the only book series that I have read in its entirety.

13. Favourite genre of music? 

I’m an absolute sucker for Hip-Hop and 80’s soul & funk.

14. What are your hobbies? 

I love cooking and sometimes every once in a while I get sucked into a video game.

15. If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

I love solving problems so if I had the brain for it I would probably be working in IT or be something like an electrical engineer.