Exploring virtual reality painting technology and its potential for artistic purposes

With new and emerging technologies, art is becoming more fluid and taking on a myriad of novel and innovative forms. Multidimensional technologies such as virtual reality (VR) have opened up new opportunities and facilitated complex and inventive ways of creating, illustrating, and immersively experiencing art. Since 2016, with the introduction of consumer headsets, virtual reality has been on the rise for artists and creators (Kim, 2016). Virtual reality painting and modelling apps, such as Google’s Tilt Brush, have enabled users to paint visual imagery in three-dimensional space using a handheld controller that mimics painting movement, along with a range of tools, brushes, and paint effects. Once virtual reality painting allowed for 3D spatial experiences, the artistic process has significantly been impacted. This thesis discusses the practical effect of virtual reality painting technology on new media artists who have previously worked with digital media, but have since expanded their practice into virtual reality. The research scope investigates how this new medium of virtual reality affects the creative processes of artists, and aims to understand the creative potential of virtual reality technology as an artistic medium.