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Isometric Cubes

White paper covered in a spaced grid of black hexagon-based shapes, each with inner edge lines and hatching giving the appearance of isometric cubes to the hexagons
Print Date
Print Duration
1 hour, 6 minutes, 49 seconds
Paper Size
223×211 mm
Distance Drawn
39.75 m

This mini-series is the first output from a new hexagon-based grid layout system. The grid came together pretty quickly, so I also invested time in a reusable hatched isometric cube component with plenty of options.

The image above is part of a 176 hexagon grid, using over 5000 light-grey lines to complete the hatching. I love the thickness of the outer border which frames the cubes well, but also draws attention to the patterns in the negative space.

The same pattern as before but with simplified hatching, without the spacing between the grid items
A first-attempt at using the grid — all black, without the spacing

Pens used

  • uni PIN Fine Line

    — 0.1mm
    Dark Grey, PIN 01-200 DARK GREY, Archival ink

  • uni PIN Fine Line

    — 0.5mm
    Black, PIN 05-200 BLACK, Archival ink

  • uni PIN Fine Line

    — 1.2mm
    Black, PIN 12-200 BLACK, Archival ink

For a later iteration, I tried introducing colour whilst also adding variation to each item. This piece has four options for each of the visible cube faces: empty, cross-hatched, or two variations of single direction hatching. Each cube is unique and the piece should (hopefully) contain all possible permutations across the 64 cubes.

Each isometric cube has a random-looking combination of yellow, magenta, or cyan hatching
My pen alignment needs attention — I overlooked the change of pen brand when starting the final black layer

Pens used

  • uni PIN Fine Line

    — 1.2mm
    Black, PIN 12-200 BLACK, Archival ink

  • Staedtler Pigment Liner

    — 0.5mm
    Black, 308 05-9, Archival ink

  • Staedtler Pigment Liner

    — 0.5mm
    Yellow, 308 05-10, Archival ink

  • Staedtler Pigment Liner

    — 0.5mm
    Light Blue, 308 05-30, Archival ink

  • Staedtler Pigment Liner

    — 0.5mm
    Fuchsia, 308 05-61, Archival ink