74
Technology: Engineering Our World
Sometimes you will want to add a piece. For example, you could make
a sketch of a box with a small block added to one side. This method of
isometric sketching may be used to draw a simplified house.
1. Lightly construct an isometric box eight squares long, four squares
wide, and six squares high, as shown in Figure 3-16.
2. Construct the basic shape of the house by removing a corner of the
box. Add lines for the roof. See Figure 3-17.
3. Add details, including windows and doors, as shown in Figure 3-18.
4. Complete the line work by removing unnecessary construction
lines. Darken the remaining lines to form the building’s shape. Add
color if desired. See Figure 3-19.
While isometric paper makes sketching easy, it has one disadvantage.
It leaves grid lines on the final drawing. These could confuse someone
looking at your drawing. Designers often prefer to sketch on plain paper.
To make a freehand isometric sketch of a rectangular block on plain paper,
use the method shown in Figure 3-20.
Perspective Sketching
Look at the photograph of the railroad tracks in Figure 3-21. Notice
that the parallel lines of the tracks appear to converge. The columns on the
station platform that are farther away appear shorter, and the platform
seems narrower at a distance. Of course, railroad tracks don’t converge,
columns don’t get shorter, and platforms don’t become narrower.
gure 3-16. To draw a house, make a box on an
isometric grid.
gure 3-17. Add and remove lines to shape the
house. See how points on the grid are used to draw
the roof lines.