Fusing Science and Art
“What if Leonardo da Vinci was alive today and wanted to combine his love of machinery with his passion for art? What might that look like?”
As true collaborative partners, Dulcinea and Paul Kirby fuse art with science in harmony, to create one-of-a-kind paintings. Layer upon layer of brushtrokes make up a painting, but what appears on the canvas represents hundreds of thousands of custom lines of code and unbound creative passion that demonstrates the power of fusioneering.
“Is a painting painted by a robot really art? On the other hand, is that question even of concern when immersed in the beauty and enjoyment of the creative fusioneering process?”
— Paul Kirby
Meet Dulcinea
Paul Kirby set out to build a machine capable of creating classically elegant paint brushtrokes. Dulcinea captures the best of human art and machine-powered capabilities. With a fully flexible hand that mimics the movements of a human wrist,
Dulcinea can do anything your hand can do – and more. Over the years, Dulcinea’s brushstrokes have only become more and more elaborate and evolved, allowing her and Paul to push the limits of the imagination.
How Does Dulcinea Work?
Standing about 10 feet tall and 10 feet wide, Dulcinea is fully automated and is powered by 7 motors and runs several programs concurrently. “Artificial intelligence” doesn’t begin to cover it – Dulcinea’s complex and layered programming includes several forms of AI and adaptive systems to bring original artwork to life.
Make elegant brushstrokes with different sizes and shapes
Change paint colors
Wash brushes between colors
Store and manage dozens of paint colors
Use large canvases as big as 8' by 24'
Create paintings unattended, often overnight
Sign her own signature on each painting
Power herself down upon completion
“After a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well.”
— Albert Einstein
Step Into the Studio to Experience Dulcinea’s Creations
At Paul Kirby’s Virtual Art Gallery and Robotics Studio, you can immerse yourself in the fusioneering of art and science.
Process
Creating Dulcinea.
The Early Stages.
Automating the painting robot’s wrist
Learn about Dulcinea’s ability to mimic the motions of a human wrist to create magnificent brushstrokes
Dulcinea’s control computer
Watch Dulcinea’s control computer in action, from brush washing to paint storing
Who washes the brush?
See how Dulcinea’s brush washer makes her completely self-sufficient
How a Painting Robot Automated Brush Washing
Learn how Paul and Dulcinea collaborate to create one-of-a-kind paintings
The Journey to Build a Painting Robot
Find out how Paul’s vision for Dulcinea came to be
