Watching this artist drag an easel into Half-Life: Alyx makes me want to be a VR painter too

pcgamer.com:

Of all the VR painting apps around, Vermillion(opens in new tab) is the one we've got our eye on right now. It brings the joy of painting with realistic, analog colour mixing into VR games, and one artist has been taking full advantage of its features in Half-Life: Alyx.

Liz Edwards is a Senior Character Artist working on Apex Legends. Just recently, she's been diving into City 17 to create gorgeous oil paintings of the characters(opens in new tab) (via Mixed(opens in new tab)), and her surroundings. When used as an application overlay in VR games, this comprehensive oil painting sim is giving artists the tools to capture gorgeous gamescapes that are far beyond what a simple screenshot can accomplish.

Designed on a whim by Thomas van den Berge (support the creator(opens in new tab)) in under a week, Vermillion's beta overlay mode allows artists to whip out their easel in any Steam VR game they see fit, to have a go at painting in portrait or landscape, small-scale or humungous. 

Not only does Vermillion simulate wet-on-wet paint techniques, it even includes an integrated web browser so you can look up the odd tutorial from the man, the meme, Mr. Bob Ross himself when you get stuck. Imagine, taking a break from the post-apocalyptic hellscape around you to paint some happy little clouds in a moment of pure, expressionist serenity. 

Painting Russell's portrait inside Half-Life: Alyx using Vermillion ✨ pic.twitter.com/lBP4LgThTeFebruary 11, 2023

Best VR headset(opens in new tab): which kit should you choose?Best graphics card(opens in new tab): you need serious GPU power for VRBest gaming laptop(opens in new tab): don't get tied to your desktop in VR

As our Jeremy says, «It looks like a welcome break from guns, guns, guns.»