Through the Artist's Lens

Some students began the unit using the camera obscura, observing how a pinhole projects the outside world upside-down onto a darkened surface. Others experimented with the camera lucida, a device that uses a prism to overlay an image of a subject directly onto paper. Mastering this tool required a test of careful coordination, as they aligned their sight with their hand to map out accurate proportions.

Another group explored Dürer’s grid by applying a mathematical lens to the human figure. By observing the subject through a physical wire frame, students were able to break down complex, three-dimensional poses into measurable units. 

Through the use of these devices, the class investigated how perception is mediated by technology, before moving into contemporary digital media to create their own images. Students explored colour and perception theories, the use of geometry and proportion, and historical period styles, integrating concepts from physics, math and humanities courses. This interdisciplinary approach challenged students to consider how optics, history and “ways of knowing” shape the images we create.