How To Draw The Never Ending Triangle

1

Sketch an inverted equilateral triangle. This will be the center of your triangle.
2

Lightly sketch two parallel lines outside one side of the triangle. The lines should be equally spaced. Take caution that your lines are drawn straight.

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3

Do this for each of the other two sides. Your sketch should look like three triangles nested together.
4

Choose one side of the "center" triangle. Extend one end of that straight line until it reaches the "middle" triangle.
5

Find the same side of the "middle" triangle. Extend one end of that straight line, in the same direction as before, until it reaches the "outside" triangle.
6

Repeat steps for the other two sides of the triangle.
7

Erase short segments so that the triangle begins to look three-dimensional rather than flat. Each edge of this "3-D" shape should look like a reverse "L".
8

Add short segments at an angle in the corners. These short segments will finish off the outside points.
9

Cleanup your drawing by erasing the points outside of the short segments drawn in the previous step.
10

Add shading if desired.

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1

Draw a triangle and extend the ends of the lines past where they join.
2

Draw lines from these tips, extending them beyond the corners of the inner triangle.
3

Draw in the 'corners'.
4

Draw in the final long lines to connect the corners.
5

Finished.

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1

Draw a hexagon. Three sides should be long and three short, alternating short and long sides. This can easily be done by constructing an equilateral triangle and "chopping" off the corners.
2

Put a smaller, equilateral triangle in the middle of the hexagon.
3

Draw a line from a corner of the triangle to a corner of the hexagon, as seen in the above picture.
4

Repeat this process for the other two sides.
5

Finished. Shade or colour if desired.

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Add New Question

Question

Who made the triangle?

The Penrose triangle, also known as the Penrose tribar, or the impossible triangle, was first created by the Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd in 1934.
Question

What other things is Oscar Reutersvard famous for?

Oscar Reutersvard is famous for inventing 'impossible figures', which are 3D objects that cannot be feasibly constructed.
Question

Is this type of optical illusion found in other shapes as well?

Yes, optical illusions like this have been done with all kinds of shapes.
Question

Can you do similiar things with other shapes like pentagons?

Eviscerated

Community Answer

Yes, but notice that, in the end, the main shape is actually a hexagon. So if you want to make it pentagonal, you need twice as many sides. In your case, 10.
Question

What's an impossible square?

Basically a square version of the impossible triangle. An optical illusion as great as this one.
Question

What is an impossible triangle made for?

Just for fun. It's an optical illusion.
Question

Can I make an infinity square?

Yes. Draw two squares and connect them to make a cube. Erase the lines where the two squares overlap.
Question

Can I make a star of David with two of triangles like this?

Screwball InSaNiTy

Community Answer

You probably can.
Question

How do I draw an impossible nonagon?

You can follow the steps, but make a nonagon instead of a triangle.
Question

What colors work best with the triangle?

You may use any colors you wish!

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After you learn this basic optical illusion, you can experiment with more complex arrangements.
Try to outline it with a sharpie to make it look sharp.
Practice shading techniques. Shading is a technique to provide depth in two-dimensional images.
Always sketch first because you might get it wrong. Also, do it on an old scrap piece of paper first so you don't waste new paper.
Practice before you make your final copy.
Make sure the shading is well done to give it the "Wow!" effect.
A protractor might be a good idea as well.

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

Draw an impossible triangle by drawing an equilateral triangle and chopping off its corners. This will leave you with a hexagon with three long, and three short sides. Draw a smaller equilateral triangle in the middle of that hexagon. Then draw a line from one corner of the hexagon until it just passes the small triangle. Extend one side of that triangle to meet the other line and repeat for the other two sides. When you are done, it should look like there are three L's fitted together to form a 3D triangle with a triangular hole in the middle. If you want to learn how to start your drawing with an inverted triangle, keep reading the article!

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