How I Turned a Travel Story Into an Interactive Painting
- javier65973
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
When Art Meets Travel and Comes to Life
When my travel industry friends, Jeff and Stacey first reached out and asked me to create something that blended my style with her and Jeff’s love for travel, I was instantly excited. Honestly, this was the first time I truly felt like I could bring together the two things I’m most passionate about in one piece. Art and travel.
That’s when I knew this couldn’t be just another painting. It had to be an experience.
The first idea that came to mind was simple but powerful. I wanted to create something that would take them back. Back to the places they’ve explored, the memories they’ve made, and the stories they carry from each destination.
So I asked Stacey to send me a list of places they’ve traveled to along with photos from their adventures. Once I started looking through them, the vision really began to take shape.
From Map to Movement
At first, I imagined the painting as a kind of abstract map. Not a literal one, but something that guided you visually. I began adding symbols that represented their travels. The Eiffel Tower for Paris. The Leaning Tower of Pisa. A temple to bring them back to Thailand.
As the painting evolved, something interesting happened.
The map slowly transformed into more of a street-view scene. Buildings started to emerge. Movement. Energy. Activity. The kind of place where something is always happening. The closer you look, the more you see. Every stroke turns into something different depending on who’s looking at it. That’s one of my favorite parts of creating this way. This is when I created an area and symbol for each destination.
Bringing the Painting to Life
Once the painting was finished, the next layer began.
I took the photos Stacey sent and turned them into short videos. Those videos became the heart of each augmented reality experience connected to the destinations inside the painting.
Here’s the simple version of how it works:
Download the EyeJack App
Scan the QR code created specifically for this painting
Hover over the different symbols on the artwork
As you move around the painting, the experiences automatically appear and play. There’s no need to rescan the QR code. Each destination reveals itself as you explore different areas of the piece.
On my end, the process gets pretty detailed. After photographing the finished painting, I use video editing software to build layered scenes using transparent overlays. The travel photos become animated moments within each destination. Some scenes include 20 or more overlays working together to create movement and depth.
Then I use the back end of the EyeJack platform to connect everything. The painting becomes the target. The layered video becomes the asset. When the app recognizes the painting, the experience comes to life right on top of it.
Turning the Painting Into a Scavenger Hunt
My next thought was engagement.
How do I get people to really slow down and explore the piece?
That’s when the idea of a scavenger hunt came in. I created a set of clues that guide you through the painting, encouraging discovery and interaction. Each clue nudges you toward a destination, a symbol, or a hidden detail, turning the artwork into an adventure instead of something you just look at.
Why This Piece Means So Much
I have to say, this has been one of the most exciting art experiences I’ve created so far. It pushed me creatively and gave me the chance to build something deeply personal. Something that doesn’t just hang on a wall, but invites you in and takes you on a journey.
That immediate connection is what I’m always chasing with my work.
Thank you, Stacey and Jeff, for trusting me with your story and giving me the opportunity to create something truly special. This piece was an absolute joy to bring to life.
Curious to see how it works? Visit my Augmented Reality page to explore sample experiences and learn more.
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