New Adobe Program Lets You Take Part in Edvard Munch's Artistic Genius

Suffice it to say Norwegian painter Edvard Munch has left behind an impactful legacy — The Scream remains one of art history’s most recognizable masterpieces. But for decades following Munch’s death in 1944, his paint brushes idled in the Munch Museum’s archives. Thanks to a recent partnership between the museum and Adobe, Munch’s prized tools have been digitally resurrected for public use.
The software company that brought us Photoshop has embarked on a collaborative venture with the Oslo-based museum dedicated to Edvard Munch’s work. Thanks to their pioneering new project, The Hidden Treasures of Creativity, seven of Munch’s paint brushes are now available for free to those with Photoshop CC and Sketch.

While you may never hold Munch’s original brushes in your hand, Adobe’s new software program is the next best thing. Acclaimed illustrator and Photoshop brush maker Kyle T. Webster has adapted each individual brush’s qualities for the screen; from the smooth marks of the Filbert brush to the grainy texture of the Round Ratty.

The selection of these particular brushes was anything but arbitrary. In fact, “it was a long, laborious transformation,” Artsy reported. The museum’s conservation team had to go through each of Munch’s paintbrushes to discern those that best represented the artist’s aesthetic, and which remained in favorable condition.

“Munch’s artistic style and brushwork was closely analysed by art historians, and combined with data about the brushes’ attributes, including physical properties such as flexibility and bristle type,” Adobe’s press release explains. But there was a caveat; the brushes could not be removed from the archive, and Webster’s studio is in North Carolina.

To combat the logistics of distance, experts from the museum, alongside representatives from Adobe and an external production company, photographed “each individual brush in 360 degrees using ultra-high-resolution cameras to document all angles and details to create an accurate three dimensional representation,” the press release continues.

Upon completion, the gathered data and photographs were sent to Webster, who got to work on his digital renderings, which precisely replicate the shape and texture of each brush “in minute detail.” The user’s subsequent pressure and angle accurately alter the qualities of the brushstroke.

The result? Adobe users, while they aren’t expected to bring Munch-level genius to the screen, can effectively employ Munch’s signature brushstrokes for themselves, ideally via tablet. That’s not to say exceptional talent will go unrecognized—the software company launched a #MunchContest (which ended on July 14) for the best digital rendering of The Scream. The winner, announced on July 28, will see their rendition exhibited at the Munch Museum, and will also win a cash prize plus a trip to Las Vegas.

To help get you started, Adobe has released a series of tutorials on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BLnp_y_QvA
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.