The author sets out to create a painterly shader for web graphics using the Kuwahara filter, inspired by other talented artists and their work. The Kuwahara filter, originally used for medical images, is uniquely capable of maintaining edge sharpness while transforming input into a painterly style. By implementing the filter in a post-processing pass, the author achieves impressive results, but later refines the technique with circular kernels and Gaussian weighting for more natural transitions and improved performance. Ultimately, the author successfully creates a real-time 3D painting effect in a web browser, sharing the process and results in detail for others to replicate.
https://blog.maximeheckel.com/posts/on-crafting-painterly-shaders/