Since my first class in virtual reality (VR) last fall, I’ve had the pleasure to lead multiple VR workshops in both Columbus and Kentucky. My interest in VR and mixed reality (XR) has grown a lot over the last year and I am realizing that I want to make it my career. I love the infinite possibilities of XR and know that it’s going to change the world. The industry is growing at a rapid pace and is virtually unrecognizable from its early launch in the 90’s. The development of hardware is especially impressive. Compare 2014’s Google Cardboard to the Oculus Quest, which came out this year. In just five years, we went from putting cell phones into recyclables to full blown wireless headsets (with hand tracking in 2020). Amazing! If you’re interested in learning about the origins of VR, check out this video on history of Virtual Reality, which surprisingly has its origins back in 1838.
On October 8th, I had the pleasure of presenting alongside some other artists working in VR at VR Columbus. I started attending the Meetup around last year and have met some really awesome people interested in the technology! I shared my mixed media work as well as some of my newer immersive illustrations from the series Other Realms. One of the artists I presented with is Jeanne Dunlap. She creates beautiful animations and shared a project she’s been working on that combines storytelling and meditation in a VR experience.
On the 22nd, I hosted a VR workshop at the Boone Youth Drop-In and Safe Space. We explored Cartoon Network Journeys VR and Late Night Cafe on HTC Vive as well as played Virtual Virtual Reality on the Oculus Go. I also demo-ed how to create 2D illustrations for VR.
On November 3rd, I taught a workshop at the Wexner Center for the Arts teaching students how to create immersive artworks by creating 2D images and converting them into a sphere using a headset. The results were really awesome! Check them out in the YouTube video below.
