What is a Camera Lucida:

The Camera Lucida is an optical device that reflects a “ghost” image of the scene in front of you down onto your canvas or paper, so you can draw right over the reflected image.

This makes drawing and painting realistically quick and easy: with correct perspective, foreshortening, proportion, position, overlap, shape… leaving you more time to develop your art the way you want it: without being frustrated by the technical elements.

The Camera Lucida has been used by the Great Masters of fine arts since it was invented, by William Hyde Wollaston, in 1807.  It was later improved by Alexander Alexander in 1830; also known as mirror type camera lucida or Graphic Mirror. Today over two centuries later, you are able to purchase this same tool fine tuned by LUCID-Art.

Camera Lucidas are what inspired William Henry Fox Talbot to invent photography on paper, so they are great for teaching the history of art and photography, but they are primarily very practical drawing tools and interesting optical devices.

About the LUCI Camera Lucida:

This sturdy hand crafted Mahogany Camera Lucida...

• Built with solid Mahogany hardwood with natural oil filish
• Reflects a relatively large image up to 18in X 18in (46x46 cm)
• Is light and neatly folds together for storage and transportation (see picture on below).
• Easily changes back and forth from right-handed to left handed
• Comes with attached Drawing Board, so you can work anywhere
• The optics are made with acrylic glass (plexi-glass) for strength and safety.
• Lever abjusts optics to reflect the image right where you need it
• Stands about 18 in ( 46 cm) tall and drawing board is 18 x 18 in (46 x 46 cm).
• No assembly required.  
• Helpful instruction included
• Hand crafted with attention to detail in the USA  

The LUCI Camera Lucida a simple yet effective art tool that is affordable and beautiful.  With the low price you get one main drawback: the image with the LUCI, while bright and clear, is up-side-down and inverted like a mirror image (see picture to the Below).

But drawing a picture up-side down weakens the influence of the generic symbol assigning left side of the brain, which will help you draw less distorted more realistic pictures. The left side of the brain thinks that a wheel is always a circle; an eye is almond shaped, etc. So when you’re drawing something you draw what you think it should look like—not what it actually looks like—which will distort the image. But drawing a picture up-side down helps you not recognize the subject and draw what you see instead of what you think you should see. 

 

That’s way many beginning art students are told to draw pictures up-side-down and it is a trick that any level artist can use to improve their drawing.

 

Plus, the image being up-side-down is not a huge problem; after your done drawing, just flip the canvas back around and problem solved.

Unlike an Opaque projector or art projector, our Camera Lucidas require no electricity, and you are not limited to just copying pictures. You can reflect anything onto paper or canvas: pictures, paintings, landscapes, portraits, figures, still lifes. And you can reflect the image onto white or dark paper or canvas or anything else you want to: dishes, crafts, rocks, t-shirts, your arm.

    

Plus, knowing that you’re using the same kind of tool that the Old Masters use to make their Masterpieces makes drawing with one of our Camera Lucidas that much more exciting.

Whether you are a Modern Master or just an Art Enthusiast who wants to paint like a professional, this is a very useful tool for any artists; because, this is a tool not a toy, it is not recommended for small children.

How to use your LUCI:

The User Manual will teach you how everything works and how to use your LUCI, but the concept is very simple. You will be able to get image reflected right over your drawing surface. You simply trace over the image to get an accurate sketch quickly and easily.

You don't have to worry about getting everything. Leave out what you don't want and keeping what you like. Then after you have your sketch, flip the drawing around and finish it with traditional drawing or painting techniques. It takes a little practice, but it's as easy as it sounds.

For paintings you do not have to start with a pencil sketch, you can also paint right over the reflected image with oils, acrylics or water paints. You can use any medium you want: pencil, paint, pastels, charcoal, ink or almost anything else.