Lucy Drawing Tool Shark Tank Update: Is It Still In Business?

The LUCY Drawing Tool is a unique, highly popular artistic device that captured national attention after appearing on Season 13 of the hit American television show Shark Tank.

Created by inventor Les Cookson, the device is a modern, improved version of the classic camera lucida, an optical tool used heavily by artists in the 19th century.

The tool allows a painter or sketcher to see a reflection of a subject directly on a drawing board or canvas. This completely eliminates the need for artists to constantly look back and forth between the object they are trying to draw and the paper they are drawing on.

In a modern world that is increasingly dominated by digital art and artificial intelligence, the LUCY Drawing Tool provides a hands-on, traditional way for creators to build their skills, practice complex proportions, and produce highly accurate artwork.

This complete update explores the fascinating history of the product, the details of the Shark Tank pitch, the current product lineup, and the ongoing financial success of the business.

What Is the LUCY Drawing Tool?

The LUCY Drawing Tool is a specialized optical drawing aid designed to help artists accurately reproduce images onto paper, canvas, wood, or fabric.

It relies on a very simple but incredibly effective system of mirrors and shatterproof optics to project a virtual “ghost” image of a real-life subject directly onto a drawing surface.

To use the device, the artist simply looks through a viewing portal. The mirrors inside the tool reflect the scene in front of them down onto their paper.

The artist then uses a pencil, pen, or paintbrush to trace the lines of the projected image. This allows the user to achieve perfect perspective, proportion, and foreshortening without needing years of advanced artistic training.

One of the biggest advantages of the tool is its pure simplicity. The device does not require electricity, computers, batteries, or light bulbs to function.

It is highly portable, meaning an artist can take it outside to paint a landscape or set it up easily in a studio to paint a live portrait.

The tool is manufactured entirely in the United States using durable, fiberglass-infused polycarbonate and a solid aluminum clamp to keep it steady while you work.

The History: Based on the Tools of the Old Masters

While the LUCY Drawing Tool uses modern shatterproof materials, the science behind it is hundreds of years old. The concept is based on the camera lucida, which was officially patented by an English physician named William Wollaston in 1806.

For years, historians and art experts have debated how the “Old Masters” of the art world, famous painters like Johannes Vermeer and Caravaggio, were able to paint with such incredible, photorealistic accuracy.

The famous artist David Hockney once caused a massive controversy when he published a book suggesting that these legendary painters heavily relied on optical drawing aids like the camera lucida and the camera obscura to create their masterpieces.

Whether you view it as a clever shortcut or a brilliant use of science, the fact remains that optical tools have been a part of art history for centuries.

The LUCY Drawing Tool simply takes this ancient secret and makes it affordable and accessible for everyday Americans.

Who Is the Founder of the LUCY Drawing Tool?

Les Cookson is the founder and CEO of LUCIDArt, the company that manufactures and sells the LUCY Drawing Tool.

Cookson is an inventor with a deep, lifelong passion for historical optics and the tools used by classic painters. Cookson spent over ten years building, researching, and designing different optical toys and tools in his garage.

However, Cookson’s journey to success was not easy. He first attempted to secure funding on Shark Tank way back in the second season of the show. During that appearance, the inventor pitched a completely different product called the “Carsik Bib”.

It was essentially a wearable vomit bag designed for children who suffer from motion sickness in cars. The investors found the product gross and impractical, and Cookson was laughed out of the room without a deal.

Despite that highly public failure, the inventor refused to give up. Cookson spent the next eleven years studying successful business pitches on the show and breaking down the lessons he could apply to his own life.

He went back to his true passion for art and spent four years developing the LUCY Drawing Tool.

By modernizing the camera lucida, Cookson built a highly profitable business from the ground up, originally selling handcrafted wooden inventions on eBay before scaling up his own website through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign in 2016.

LUCY Drawing Tool Shark Tank Pitch That Changed Everything

Les Cookson returned to the television screen in Season 13, Episode 19 of Shark Tank, pitching the LUCY Drawing Tool to the panel of wealthy investors.

This time, his presentation was polished, professional, and backed by absolutely incredible financial data. Cookson asked the panel for $300,000 in exchange for a 10 percent equity stake in his company.

During the pitch, the inventor demonstrated exactly how the tool works by having investor Kevin O’Leary trace an image of a shark. O’Leary drew a beautiful pencil rendition and admitted that the tool was very cool and easy to use.

The true highlight of the presentation was the company’s sales figures. Cookson revealed that LUCIDArt had achieved a staggering $10 million in lifetime sales up to that point.

In the 12 months just prior to the pitch, the company had generated $3.7 million in sales and brought in an impressive $2.3 million in pure profit.

Cookson noted that his customer base was very diverse: 20 percent were absolute beginners, 20 percent were professional working artists, and 60 percent were amateur hobbyists looking to improve their skills.

However, Cookson admitted to a major weakness in his business model. He was spending roughly $70,000 every single month on advertising to acquire new customers.

Once a customer bought the drawing tool, they rarely came back to buy anything else, meaning he was giving up half of his profit just to find new buyers. He needed a Shark to help him fix his customer acquisition strategy.

Despite the massive profits, several investors dropped out. Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec stated they were simply not passionate about the art market.

Lori Greiner felt the business was already highly successful on its own and did not need an investor’s help.

Kevin O’Leary passed on the opportunity because he felt the specific art tool market was too narrow of a niche.

Daymond John was the only remaining investor. John recognized the immense value of the brand and the massive database of 70,000 customer emails that Cookson had collected over the years.

John told Cookson that having a list of 70,000 emails was incredibly valuable, and he initially offered $300,000 for 20 percent equity. Cookson countered with 12 percent, and John replied with 17.5 percent.

Finally, the two businessmen agreed on a final deal of $300,000 for a 15 percent stake in the business.

Did the Deal Close? The Current Update

Many deals made on television fall apart during the final paperwork phase, but that was not the case here.

After the episode aired, the deal between Les Cookson and Daymond John successfully closed. Immediately following the broadcast, both men took to social media to publicly celebrate their official partnership.

The investment provided Cookson with the strategic guidance he needed to lower his advertising costs and build a recurring revenue stream.

The television appearance caused massive spikes in website traffic, allowing LUCIDArt to expand its product line and fix the exact weaknesses that were discussed during the pitch.

The partnership with Daymond John remains very strong. John is widely known for actively supporting blue-collar entrepreneurs and small business owners.

His marketing expertise has helped the art supply company continue to grow years after the original episode aired.

Key Features of the LUCY Drawing Tool Models

As of today, LUCIDArt offers three distinct versions of the drawing tool to fit different budgets and project sizes.

The company significantly adjusted its pricing structure over the years to make the tools more affordable for everyday Americans.

The following table outlines the current models, their best features, and their prices.

Model Name	Sale Price	Product Details and Best Features
LUCY mini	$69.00	The most compact and affordable version. Ideal for beginners, children, or artists who travel frequently. It provides a bright image up to 12 x 18 inches and is very easy to store.
LUCY flex	$99.00	The mid-tier option featuring a flexible, durable steel arm. It is perfect for drawing while sitting, standing, or using a large easel. It includes optical filters for adjusting brightness and produces a large, stable image up to 19 x 27 inches.
LUCY pro	$275.00	The largest and highest-quality model designed specifically for professional artists. It creates the largest image size, measuring up to 20 x 37 inches, and includes premium components for ultimate stability.

Data sourced directly from the product catalog.

In addition to the core devices, the company sells several helpful accessories. Users can purchase a Photo Enlarger and carrying bag for $22, which helps project existing physical photographs down onto a canvas.

The brand also sells a massive 71-piece drawing kit and an art mannequin for $37 to help absolute beginners get started immediately. Every single tool comes with a 30-day return policy and a full one-year warranty, ensuring the products are safe to try.

The Launch of the LUCY Learning Hub

To solve the problem of customers buying the tool once and never returning, Les Cookson completely overhauled his educational offerings.

Originally, the company sold a flat-rate drawing course for around $90. Currently, the business operates the “LUCY Learning Hub”.

This is a modern subscription service that costs just $9.99 a month after a seven-day free trial. By subscribing, users gain access to hundreds of video lessons, step-by-step drawing tutorials, and an online community forum that is fully supported by professional art teachers.

This brilliant pivot provides the company with reliable, continuous income every month and helps artists stay engaged with their new drawing tool for years to come.

What Is the Net Worth of the LUCY Drawing Tool Today?

The net worth of the LUCY Drawing Tool company is estimated to be around $3 million. During the original television pitch, the accepted deal of $300,000 for 15 percent equity placed the company’s exact valuation at $2 million.

Since that time, the company has grown significantly. Recent data indicates the business earned over $2.3 million in profit in just a 12-month period following the television appearance, proving that the physical product remains highly profitable.

By maintaining a strong profit margin and introducing the monthly subscription model, Les Cookson has built a highly successful and financially secure enterprise.

Lucy Drawing Tool vs. The Competition

The optical drawing tool market has expanded recently, providing consumers with several options. Currently, the primary competitors to the LUCY Drawing Tool are the NeoLucida and the Vermirror Comparator Mirror.

The NeoLucida was originally launched through a university project back in 2014. It is much smaller than the LUCY models and uses a different style of prism.

While the NeoLucida is highly portable and cheap, many users find the LUCY flex and LUCY pro offer a much larger, brighter, and more stable image area to work from, making the LUCY easier for beginners.

The Vermirror Comparator Mirror is another historical drawing aid that focuses heavily on matching exact paint colors alongside proportions.

While the Vermirror is highly praised by advanced oil painters looking to create photorealistic portraits, the LUCY Drawing Tool remains the much more versatile option for general sketching, charcoal drawing, and casual tracing.

Traditional Art in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Perhaps the greatest competitor to traditional artists is the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. Computer programs that can generate stunning images instantly with a simple text prompt have forced many creators to rethink their artistic processes and value.

The LUCY Drawing Tool positions itself as the perfect bridge between the past and the future. By utilizing ancient optical technology, the tool allows human artists to work faster and much more accurately.

It helps human creators maintain their fundamental skills and ensures that the unique, human touch of traditional art remains relevant and highly competitive in a digital age.

Real Customer Reviews of LUCY Drawing Tool: Is It Worth It?

Customer reviews remain generally positive across the board. On Amazon, the tool holds an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars based on hundreds of reviews.

Users frequently praise the device for helping them master difficult artistic concepts like foreshortening and facial proportions.

Beginners report that the tool completely removes the frustration of learning to draw, allowing them to create beautiful art on their very first try. Professionals also appreciate the speed and extreme accuracy it provides for complex, paid commissions.

However, some users note that there is a slight learning curve when first setting up the tool. The most common complaint is that the user must find the perfect lighting conditions in the room for the reflection to be clearly visible.

If the room is too dark, the “ghost” image can be hard to see. Thankfully, the inclusion of optical brightness filters in the newer models and the helpful instructional videos in the Learning Hub help solve most of these lighting challenges.

Final Verdict

The success story of Les Cookson and the LUCY Drawing Tool serves as an incredibly inspiring example of American entrepreneurial resilience.

After failing in spectacular fashion on national television, the inventor spent a full decade refining his product, proving his concept in the real market, and returning to claim a massive victory.

With updated, highly affordable pricing options, a thriving subscription community, and the ongoing, powerful backing of investor Daymond John, the LUCY Drawing Tool continues to empower artists of all ages and skill levels across the globe.

Whether you are looking to learn a new hobby or speed up your professional painting process, this modern take on an ancient secret is a fantastic investment.