Drawing skills

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isometric

Designs drawn in isometric projection are normally drawn precisely using drawing equipment. However, designers find ‘free hand’ sketching in isometric projection useful.

The mobile phone / music player opposite, has been sketched in free hand isometric projection. It allows the designer to draw in 3D quickly and with a reasonable degree of accuracy. The design is still drawn at a 30 degree angle, although this is estimated, rather than drawn with graphics equipment.

1 point perspective

Perspective drawing is a good style to use when drawing in 3D. There are different styles including single point and two point perspective. The basic example below shows how to construct a simple single point perspective drawing of a cube. Using the same skills more complex drawings/designs can be drawn, after a little practice.

1. Draw one side of the cube and select a vanishing point (marked with an 'X').

2. Draw very faint lines from each corner to the vanishing point.

3. Draw horizontal and vertical lines for the 'back of the cube.

4. Go over the faint perspective of the cube so that the lines that make up the cube are dark and sharp.

exploded

Exploded views are useful because detail can be seen, parts are not hidden behind other parts.

3D exploded

Exploded drawings are extremely useful when explaining a design / idea. The drawing opposite has been drawn with all the parts disassembled.

It is important when drawing an exploded view that all the parts line up with each other when disassembled. The vertical guidelines clearly show how the various parts are in line with each other.

Exploded drawing type

exploded drawing type slideshow

veiw the slideshow for an explanation on how exploded drawings work

rendering

curved surfaces

Using the same colour and shading from dark to light, this gives the effect of a curved surface. Part of the cylinder is not shaded at all and this is where most light is reflected.

Rendering with texture

Draw the object faintly using an ordinary pencil (for example, a 2H pencil).

Use a light brown coloured pencil to go round the outline of the drawing

Draw on the grain of the wood with the same coloured pencil. A very simple grain such as shown in the example opposite is all that is needed. Remember, wood has end grain - do not miss this out.

Finally, add shade using the same light brown coloured pencil. Often it is a good idea to shade inwards from the sides and leave an area in the centre without shade. This gives the effect of light reflecting from the surface of the wood.