TIME recently introduced seven artists to “the coolest new tool in virtual reality painting” — Google’s Tilt Brush, a program that allows users to create art in a three-dimensional virtual space using the HTC vive virtual reality headset and controllers. An interactive page, produced by Josh Raab, an associate photo editor at TIME, allows visitors to experience each of the artists creating a single piece of 3-D art.
The artists all spent between one and two hours immersed in Tilt Brush. “Using a powerful computer, two controllers and two cameras set up in opposite corners of the room, the artists’ movements were tracked to create the virtual drawings. In Tilt Brush, each controller offered different functions: the right controller functions as a paintbrush where the thickness of the brush can be adjusted with the swipe of the thumb; the left controller offers a dynamic pallet, letting the user select not only paint styles and colors, but also whether to draw in paint or fire, among many other functions,” Raab explains in a post on Time.com.
“This is only the beginning. With the HTC and Tilt Brush now available to the public, artists will begin to get comfortable with the app. We expect incredible creations to begin coming from the app from professional and amateur artists alike. A time will come when the full experience of this show will be available in virtual reality to the masses, but for now we hope we have succeeded in portraying the unique experience of creating and viewing art in an entirely new dimension,” Raab adds.
The seven VR artists included
- Tim O’Brien, Painter: O’Brien’s work has been commissioned by the U.S. Postal Service, Esquire, Rolling Stone and TIME. His TIME covers are in the National Portrait Gallery.
- Jade Lo, Eighth Grader: Lo is a winner of the 2016 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She is 13 years old.
- Barry Blitt, Illustrator: Blitt is known for his iconic New Yorker covers. His work has also been featured in Vanity Fair, The New York Times and Rolling Stone.
- Sheryo, Street Artist: Sheryo’s mural and sculpture work has been seen around the world.
- Chip Kidd, Designer: Kidd is known for his striking book jacket designs for Alfred A. Knopf.
- Karen Caldicott, Sculptor: Caldicott’s work has appeared in TIME, The New Yorker, Wired and Fortune.
- Brandon Cruz, Muralist: Cruz’s clients include Madison Square Garden, NY Knicks and the Royalton Hotel 44.
Visit the full interactive page to see the 3-D works the artists created brought to life with some help from TIME’s international art director, Victor Williams, and the magazine’s development team.
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