The LUCY Drawing Tool: Most Versatile Camera Lucida Ever
Created by Les Cookson & Ken Higginson
LUCY Drawing and Painting Tool Inspired by the Old Masters' Secret Techniques—Designed for Today's Artists! Now You Can Draw Anything!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Obscura v Lucida: Dawn of Art Tools
over 8 years ago
– Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 05:45:45 AM
Hello Everyone!
I want to give a much more in depth answer to a question I've been asked a lot. And in honor of the release of Batman v Superman this weekend, I'll title my answer: Obscura v Lucida: Dawn of Art Tools.
The question I get is some variation of 'what's the difference between a camera obscura and a camera lucida?'
The short answer: A camera lucida, like the LUCY, is a device used to reflect an image over your drawing surface, so you can sketch out the subject. A camera obscura is a device that projects an image onto a screen to help artists with perspective, tonal rendering, composition, handling of light, and getting a classic 'Vermeer look' to their paintings. The camera obscura can also be very useful for photographers.
Now here's the detailed video answer with images and diagrams:
And on a total tangent while we're talking about camera obscuras, you need to see this Vermeer sketch I made a couple of years ago. Just watch the first part—it's a funny way to look at some of the controversy around the camera obscura:
That's all for now. The project continues to move along with new people joining everyday—thank you so much! I look forward to giving you an inside look into production as we really get going after this campaign ends in about two weeks.
Thanks,
Les
Again, I've backed a lot of projects on Kickstarter and love watching the videos. I stay connected with other project creators and we work together to help each other out because we understand what it takes and want to see each other succeed. Here are a couple more great projects from some awesome people that you can back right now. Please take a look...
Here is a great compliment to your LUCY. The Timber Twist Bullet Pencil. It's a modern take on vintage bullet pencils and even comes with the Blackwing 602 pencil. You even the choice of three different wood casings and you don't have to worry about your pencil point breaking. Check it out here http://bit.ly/timbertwist
EDC Pocket Bolt Pen · Auto-Locking Bolt Action Pens
Check out this new line of compact pens with a cool new auto-locking bolt action feature. These pens are rugged and ready to go with you anywhere. They fully funded in only nine hours, so be sure to head over before all the discounted rewards are gone. Check it out: http://kck.st/22CpVx8
Patented dorm room idea fixes 150yr design flaw. Create 48 shoeboxes of new space by swapping your hangers. Works with collared shirts. Check it out here: http://fnd.to/bc/higherhangers
t-shirt making with your LUCY
over 8 years ago
– Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 10:17:52 AM
Hey Everyone!
This project continues to chug along, and I am so grateful that you chose to be a part of it! We got selected as a BackerKit Staff Favorites, check that out HERE
I filmed a tutorial yesterday to show in more detail one of the less common uses for the LUCY, which was mentioned in passing in the campaign video. Making a t-shirt with your LUCY. In this video, I show one way to take a live object (one of my Zoetropes) and put it on a t-shirt. It's kinda long, but it shows you everything you need to know.
I've made a bunch of stamps like this one in the video over the years. I've used them for t-shirts, package labels, on DVDs, printmaking, and on image on a retail box. Very useful and fun. Start thinking about what you want to do when you get your LUCY!
Thanks,
Les
On a side note, I've backed 28 projects and counting on Kickstarter and love looking through the website. I stay connected with other project creators and we work together to help each other out because we understand what it takes and want to see other succeed. Here are a few great projects from some awesome people that you can back right now. Please take a look...
Dinosaur Eggs - A fun, creative project, the folks over at Dinosaur Egg Farm are helping take a jab at animal extinction with their cool product. Dinosaur eggs, straight from the depths of the Patagonia, delivered to you for the first time ever. The only catch? They take 6 million years to hatch. Hatch your eggs too early, and a cute little surprise awaits you in the egg. The perfect gift for any animal lover, at any age. We highly recommend that you take a few minutes to see what they’re all about: http://kck.st/1R56I55
SENS - the most minimalistic pen. This minimalistic pen was designed for thinkers, solvers, and creators - for those, who are changing this world and drawing with their LUCY! Check it out: http://kck.st/1QQtsFK
The Havit Smart Cable: A Better Built Charging Cable - For anyone looking for a sexy looking charging cable that does EVERYTHING you could imagine, then check out this all-in-one multi-functional cable that can connect to a keyboard, mouse, game controller or printer, smartphone, or even charge a second phone via quick inter-charge. Check it out: http://bit.ly/havitcable
TURBO - A footstool for correct toilet posture (squatting)
and massage, in an elegant design that you will love to keep in your
bathroom and look forward to using it everyday. Best value for LASTING
WELLNESS! Check it out: http://kck.st/1KrKMZv
Tidashi, a titanium mini knife - A traditional Japanese tool reimagined in Titanium. This elegant, simple knife is the portable solution to your everyday cutting needs. Check it out: http://kck.st/1Y1ZpKV
THANKS! & a Look at the Light and Dark Sides of the Art Tool Force
over 8 years ago
– Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 06:44:22 PM
Hey Everyone!
It's been just over a week, and wow what a week. We flew past our goal the first day, and have continued to grow each day—we got our 300th backer yesterday. Thank you so much for your support! Because of you the new LUCY will be built, and you will be one of the first to get one.
We still have about 29 days to go with this Kickstarter, so please remember to share this with your friends. Here is the project link: http://kck.st/1WTcO6X
I hate talking about myself, but I want to introduce myself a little better. My name is Les Cookson, I live with my wife and kids in California, and I'm a full-time inventor. I'm still not completely comfortable calling myself an inventor—even though as a kid that's what I wanted to be when I grew up. It's just that in most people's minds 'I'm an inventor' means one of two things: 1. super rich and does nothing but collect royalty checks, or 2. some crazy guy building wacky stuff in the garage. I'm much closer to #2 then I am to #1, but I'm glad I followed my childhood dream because I love my job.
Towards the bottom of the LUCY campaign page in the 'My Story' section, I posted a video about the long invention process that lead to the new LUCY. Now I want to fill you in on a few of the other things I've done along the way.
Shortly after I started building and selling camera lucidas from my garage, I branched out to camera obscuras. It seemed like a natural fit: they were both devices used by artists for hundreds of years, both had the same magical simplicity that fascinated me, and both started with 'camera' and ended with an exotic sounding Latin word. Camera is Latin for 'room' or 'chamber'. Obscura is Latin for 'dark', and lucida is Latin for 'light'. It is no coincidence that the names sound similar, it's a play on words to juxtapose the way each functions. A camera lucida reflects light to make an image, and a camera obscura projects an image into darkness—they're basally like the light and dark sides of the Force for artist Jedi.
I've built many many different types of camera obscuras over the years, and I've done two camera obscura Kickstarters. My camera obscuras have been in movies and films, in lots of museums and schools all over the world—including 30 camera obscuras used in the National Gallery of Art's Vermeer workshop. I have one camera obscura model that I am currently selling. You can find out more here: http://www.ancientmagicarttools.com/camera-obscura/
Later I started building zoetropes. This animation device stays with the 18th century gadget theme, but as always, it was the simple magic of this toy that got me hooked. Here's a quick video that explains what this device is:
My zoetropes have been in TV shows and moves like Gotham and The Lone Ranger. They were also supposed to be in Saving Mr. Banks and Sleepy Hollow, but they didn't make the final cut. Francis Ford Coppola sells my zoetropes in his winery and gives them out at some of his events. So I guess you could say my zoetropes are kinda a big deal, but really I just have the advantage of being the only person on the continent that makes them.
With all of these devices what I've tried to do is take some interesting piece of history and make it better than ever and useful and fun for today. I'm just that crazy guy in his garage reinventing the obsolete, but because awesome people like you buy my stuff and back my projects, I'm able to keep creating. And for that I am truly grateful.
