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[Exclusive] Visionary Artist Uses VR Paint to Make Amazing Mushroom Forests

Who needs hallucinogens when there's James R. Eads' hand-drawn virtual reality universe?

@james.r.eads.art

Impressionistic windows to painterly dreamworlds are LA-based visionary artist James R. Eads' specialty, but with a new tool he pulls viewers into his Van Gogh-inspired imagination. On a whim, Eads began experimenting with Tiltbrush, VR's answer to Microsoft Paint, and began producing trees, waterfalls, mountains, and natural magic that envelops the viewer in a scintillating 3D world.

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"Never before was I able to pick up a new medium so quickly," Eads tells The Creators Project. He recently teamed up with GIF artist The Glich to animate his cosmic artwork with the mesmerizing Redhawk effect, and Eads' Tiltbrush drawings have a similar heartbeat. One of the program's coolest features allows for lines to be infused with music, shimmering to the beat over time. "Music has always been the main proponent in inspiring my art, so it's exciting to be able to paint in three dimensions, and then take it a step further and bring the fourth dimension into the mix," he continues.

To fuel his exploration of the medium, which artists like Rachel Rossin, Stuart Campbell, Glen Keane, and Dustin Yellin are already pioneering, Eads builds a multiverse he describes as "the gap between places." Over the course of six days, he laid the groundwork for seven gateways, each leading to a new universe. Eads teases the sights inside his interdimensional archipelago, including "a shimmering capsule that reminds you of fragility of the heart," "a singular black hole that expands your understanding of time and space," and a "fuzzy green sub portal" that lets you "dive into the collective unconscious." Tour these and more in a video premiering exclusively on The Creators Project below.

Since creating his seven-portal world, Eads has continued to experiment with Tiltbrush and posts the results on Instagram. There are Tiltbrush versions of his original work, as well as mushroom forests, floating islands, and stunning otherworldly architecture.

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Check them out in the Instagrams below:

the eye of a lovely idea painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush |  idealove by reignbeau

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 20, 2016 at 7:34pm PST

the first forms emerge, as consciousness develops they question their purpose. they do not understand that there is nothing to be understood, life is enough. painted in @tiltbrush | @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 8, 2016 at 4:57pm PST

in the gap between places the first portal of the new year presents itself: it flows with a natural magic that draws its warmth from the earth. ________________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush | @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 26, 2016 at 4:31pm PST

the second portal opens: its cold beauty is alluring and it draws you in. deep inside is a shimmering capsule that reminds you of the fragility of the heart. _______________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush / @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 26, 2016 at 7:59pm PST

a third portal appears, its purpose is unclear, but inside the orb you find here is a singular black hole, it expands your understanding of space and time. ________________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush | @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 27, 2016 at 1:51pm PST

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you return to the gap between places, with your concept of space and time altered you can now see the positions of future portals. you enter the fourth one and inside you are met with a field of black holes that lead to other dimensions. _______________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 28, 2016 at 12:06pm PST

a fuzzy green subportal appears, you submerge yourself and dive into the collective unconscious. ______________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush | @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 28, 2016 at 6:49pm PST

you discover the sixth portal and it takes you to the land with the red moon. the gravitational pull is different here and as you enter its orbit you begin to float above yourself. _______________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush | @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 29, 2016 at 2:26pm PST

as you leave the land with the red moon you drift upwards and notice the seventh portal. it's been here all along. as you enter a familiar feeling rushes through you. you have arrived, you are home. ______________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush @seaneads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Dec 30, 2016 at 12:58pm PST

sneaking into the river spirit's hidden underwater synchronicity portal. _______________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush moonlight mind by high water

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Jan 3, 2017 at 12:34pm PST

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in your heart there is a river song. _______________________ painted in @tiltbrush black and white by shy layers

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Jan 5, 2017 at 4:59pm PST

twenty eight days of portals, pt. 1. I put together a short compilation video of my first month painting in virtual reality with @tiltbrush. music by @seaneads. view the whole thing on vimeo.com/jamesreads

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Jan 7, 2017 at 2:42pm PST

the thousandth year of life _______________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush flatiron by Suzanne kraft

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Jan 12, 2017 at 12:34pm PST

ice cold beauty. ________________________ playing around with painting 3D models in @tiltbrush lost it to trying by son lux, castle model by herminio nieves

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Jan 14, 2017 at 1:37pm PST

at dusk the truth of day is shed, letting the magic in and lifting us up again. ____________________ painted in virtual reality with @tiltbrush nari by beGun

A video posted by James R. Eads (@james.r.eads.art) on

Jan 15, 2017 at 3:53pm PST

Follow James R. Eads here, and visit his website here. Check The Creators Project Instagram feed to find your next favorite artist.

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