Camera Lucidas

Could it be that such master artists as Da Vinci and Michelangelo used an optical device to capture their subjects in such amazing realistic and accurate detail? Whether they did or not, some artists today rely on the camera lucidas to do exactly the same thing.

Nearly 200 years ago, William Wollaston patented an optical device that enabled users to create a drawing by viewing the scene or subject superimposed on paper. Camera lucidas available today at various prices, use a small glass prism held in a fixed position over the drawing surface by an adjustable support. Rays of light from the scene are reflected twice within the prism before reaching the eye. Since there are two reflections, the user can look down into the prism and see the reflection (not inverted) of the scene or object in front of him or her.

The viewer’s eye must take in both scenes at the same time, which can be difficult. However, a half silver (semi-transparent) mirror is used to capture one of the two reflections, so the user can view both as if it were plain glass.

The Camera Lucida Company currently has camera lucidas for sale at £98 pounds including delivery and VAT in the United Kingdom. For sales in the United States and Canada, the cost is £107 British pounds including delivery, which seems to be a more than reasonable price.

Artists can also build their own camera lucida very cheaply. You will need a small mirror about 5 cm X 7.5 cm or less and a similar sized piece of glass or clear plastic, paper and pencil, protractor, modeling clay, tape, Epoxy glue, a dowel piece or knitting needle for the shaft, something similar to a wine bottle filled with sand or water and a wine cork.

First, use the protractor to draw two lines at 135 degrees to one another on a piece of paper. Then put the glass and mirror along these two lines so the long edges are touching. Use the modeling clay to stick them firmly in round their bases and glue the two touching edges together. You will likely have to wait for this to dry.

You will then need to fix a shaft along the glued edge bearing in mind which hand you draw with. If you draw with your right hand, place the bottle on the left, so the shaft is out to the left or vice versa. Secure the shaft with tape and glue. Use the wine bottle with its cork sticking out of the top to mount the camera on a stand. Make a hole in the cork and push the shaft into it. Be sure the bottle is weighed down with sand or water first.

To begin drawing, place a piece of white paper under the camera lucida and begin tracing the image. Try to stay focused on the image rather than the paper. Experiment with light conditions as well, since you can’t control this with the camera lucida.