Uploaded February 2013 | Updated September 2026, 23 minutes ago
Many objects have symmetry. Develop symmetry by determining a center-line needs to be determined.
Box shapes
1. Identify lines of symmetry. 2. Construct the center lines of symmetry of a box. 3. Use the center line to accurately sketch a milk carton. 4. Start layout with light lines and darken with black pen. 5. Apply line weights 6. Use handout to trace onto marker paper. 7. Use Verithin or Col-erase pencils to draw the layout. 8. Mark midpoint of surfaces by using diagonals drawn from the corners. 9. Mark center lines through the midpoint along the axis of the triangle. 10. Draw the triangular portion of the milk carton with the pointed end along the center line. 11. Repeat the triangle placement in different locations on the other boxes using the centerline technique. 12. Use felt tip pen or black prismacolor to finish the lines. Apply 3rd line weight. Based in part on work by Prof. Robert Natata, San Francisco State University.
Round shapes (ellipses)
1. Identify the major and minor axis of ellipses. 2. Use arm alignment techniques to freehand sketch ellipses. 3. Sketch ellipses using arm alignment. 4. Fill up half the sheet. 5. Mark the major and minor axis correctly on several ellipses. 6. Shade half of a few ellipses along the major axis to check symmetry. 7. Shade half of a few ellipses along the minor axis to check symmetry.
Cones
1. Carefully draw cones to make your sketches look professional. 2. Identify the major and minor axis of the base of the cone: ellipses. 3. Use arm alignment techniques to freehand sketch cones and ellipses. 4. Sketch ellipses using arm alignment for the base of your cones. Connect the base to the tip of the cone. 5. Mark the major and minor axis of the base and the vertical axis of the cone. 6. Shade a few cones to identify core shadow, highlight, and reflected light.
Cylinders
1. Carefully drawn cylinders to make your sketches look professional. 2. Identify the major and minor axis of the base of the cylinder. 3. Sketch ellipses using arm alignment for the base and the top of your cylinders. Connect the base to the top. Fill up half the sheet. 4. Mark the major and minor axis of the base and the vertical axis of the cylinder. 3. Shade a few cylinders to identify core shadow, highlight, and reflected light.
Many objects have symmetry. Develop symmetry by determining a center-line needs to be determined.
Box shapes
1. Identify lines of symmetry. 2. Construct the center lines of symmetry of a box. 3. Use the center line to accurately sketch a milk carton. 4. Start layout with light lines and darken with black pen. 5. Apply line weights 6. Use handout to trace onto marker paper. 7. Use Verithin or Col-erase pencils to draw the layout. 8. Mark midpoint of surfaces by using diagonals drawn from the corners. 9. Mark center lines through the midpoint along the axis of the triangle. 10. Draw the triangular portion of the milk carton with the pointed end along the center line. 11. Repeat the triangle placement in different locations on the other boxes using the centerline technique. 12. Use felt tip pen or black prismacolor to finish the lines. Apply 3rd line weight. Based in part on work by Prof. Robert Natata, San Francisco State University.
Round shapes (ellipses)
1. Identify the major and minor axis of ellipses. 2. Use arm alignment techniques to freehand sketch ellipses. 3. Sketch ellipses using arm alignment. 4. Fill up half the sheet. 5. Mark the major and minor axis correctly on several ellipses. 6. Shade half of a few ellipses along the major axis to check symmetry. 7. Shade half of a few ellipses along the minor axis to check symmetry.
Cones
1. Carefully draw cones to make your sketches look professional. 2. Identify the major and minor axis of the base of the cone: ellipses. 3. Use arm alignment techniques to freehand sketch cones and ellipses. 4. Sketch ellipses using arm alignment for the base of your cones. Connect the base to the tip of the cone. 5. Mark the major and minor axis of the base and the vertical axis of the cone. 6. Shade a few cones to identify core shadow, highlight, and reflected light.
Cylinders
1. Carefully drawn cylinders to make your sketches look professional. 2. Identify the major and minor axis of the base of the cylinder. 3. Sketch ellipses using arm alignment for the base and the top of your cylinders. Connect the base to the top. Fill up half the sheet. 4. Mark the major and minor axis of the base and the vertical axis of the cylinder. 3. Shade a few cylinders to identify core shadow, highlight, and reflected light.
