In the past I have shown you how to make labyrinths that are classical, circular, square and octagonal. Today I add one more version of the labyrinth, the hexagonal labyrinth. I will start with how to draw a hexagon and then expand that out to a full digital hexagonal labyrinth. Here are the sections to guide you (with jumps if you want to go directly to a section).
PART 1 - HOW TO DRAW A HEXAGON
PART 2 - HOW TO DRAW A 5 CIRCUIT HEXAGONAL LABYRINTH
PART 3 - HOW TO DRAW AN 11 CIRCUIT HEXAGONAL LABYRINTH
PART 4 - DISCUSSION OF TURNBACKS AND ORIENTATIONS
PART 5 - REAL WORLD LABYRINTH EXAMPLES
PART 1 - HOW TO DRAW A HEXAGON
If you want to draw an hexagon with equal lengths here is the method I would use.
Step 1 Draw a straight line
Step 2 Rotate the line 60 degrees
Obviously this is a digital method where you can copy and paste then rotate, but it also works if you are hand drawing. Use a pencil and protractor and ensure you use the same length of line.
Step 3 Rotate the line 60 degrees again
This will create what looks like a widely spaced asterisk.
Step 1 Draw a line
Step 2 Rotate 60 degrees
Step 3 Rotate 60 degrees again
Step 4 Connect the ends of the lines
This will create outer walls of the hexagon that are the same length.
Connect the ends of the lines
Step 5 (both are optional) Delete the original lines and rotate the hexagon
You can delete the guidelines to create your final hexagon, but you may not want to. Why ? Because when you create a labyrinth using this template the guidelines you used also guide you on when you turn the lines (or alternatively embed the hexagon) for your next layer of the labyrinth. You also have the option to rotate the hexagon to have a wall parallel to the bottom of the page/screen, but I did not do this in my example.
Hexagon
I wanted to draw a hexagonal labyrinth with the walls and pathways of equal width at an equal width apart (similar to a standard equal maze if you are familiar with that construction). I think it looks best visually. If you are not concerned with that aesthetic you should be able to eyeball your labyrinth together much easier. Here is a standard equal labyrinth that I made that has 4 sections (4 internal turn-back locations).
4 section hexagonal labyrinth
If you are eyeballing the drawing of this type of labyrinth, I suggest you start with the center goal portion and work your way out in layers. Could you design in the opposite direction, from the outside in ? Of course you can ! BUT, you may run out of room for your center goal ! If you go inside out, you only run out of room if you are using a piece of paper that is too small (and digitally you would never run out of room) !!
Also I want you to notice where the walls of the labyrinth make their turns. I have highlighted them below in blue - if you made your Hexagon using my method above and you did not delete the guidelines here you can see that each turn happens at these guides.
PART 2 - HOW TO DRAW A 5 CIRCUIT HEXAGONAL LABYRINTH
Note that this method is for digital creation and involves drawing and cutting (erasing).
Step 1 Draw 6 concentric hexagons
Now that you know how to draw a good hexagon let’s get started drawing our labyrinth by drawing 6 of them ! I always use a standard equal construction, meaning that the width of the walls equals the width of the pathways in between them. For this version I have rotated the hexagon so that bottom is parallel to the bottom of the page.
PROTIP: Start your drawing with the center goal so you do not run out of room !
Step 1 - Draw 6 concentric hexagons
Step 2 Draw the internal sections
In this step we draw our internal turnaround points which create sections for the labyrinth. In our example we have 4 sections. At 9, 12, and 3 o’clock draw straight lines that cut off all but 1 pathway. At 12 this is the outside path and at 3, and 9 it is the most internal pathway. Finally create what will become the final pathway to the goal by adding 2 walls centered at 6 o’ clock. The left wall of those 2 walls should not cover the outside pathway.
Step 3 Break the walls into pathways
Each section will need 4 ‘cuts’ to make the pathways wind thru the section. Also cut the final walkway to the goal and the entrance just to the right of that.
A note about size. You can add additional steps if you would like, just continually adding internal sections until you are ready to finish the labyrinth by adding a final edge with an entrance.
PART 3 - HOW TO DRAW AN 11 CIRCUIT HEXAGONAL LABYRINTH
I have combined this into an abbreviated how -to with a gallery and relevant notes. You van build the labyrinth in the small gallery by using the next controls.
Step 1 Draw 12 concentric hexagons
Now that you know how to draw a good hexagon let’s get started drawing our labyrinth by drawing 12 of them. I always use a standard equal construction, meaning that the width of the walls equals the width of the pathways in between them. For this version I have rotated the hexagon so that bottom is parallel to the bottom of the page.
PROTIP: To create a hexagon of x# of different circuits, you just need to draw x+1# of hexagons. So a 23 circuit labyrinth needs 24 hexagons, etc.
PROTIP: Start your drawing with the center goal so you do not run out of room !
Step 2 Draw the internal sections - as above for 5 circuits
Step 3 Break the walls into pathways - as above for 5 circuits
PART 4 - DISCUSSION OF TURNBACKS AND ORIENTATIONS
A note about turn-backs. My example above has 4 sections. But you can also draw the same labyrinth with more or less turn-backs (sections). Below I have a 1 section, 2 section, 4 section (the one we just made) and a 6 section version of hexagonal labyrinths. If you imagine walking these, the more sections, or turn-backs, the more back and forth walking you will do.
A note about labyrinth orientation. I also wanted to show you how the labyrinth would look if we had not rotated it to start. In this version the entrance and final pathway to the goal lead from a corner instead of center on a flat portion of the outer edge. This is all about your personal preference. Here are how the 4 sectioned labyrinths look:
And let’s compare the standard 4 section versions in more detail because we can adjust our steps above to make another version. Step 1 is the same except for the orientation of the hexagons you draw. Step 2 is actually the same as far as where the lines are drawn and what pathways are left open. And Step 3 is also the same since you cut the pathways in the same place ! So essentially the steps are pretty much the same !
PART 5 - REAL WORLD LABYRINTH EXAMPLES
We just learned how to draw hexagonal labyrinths, but if you want to see some in the real world, I have pulled a few together you could actually walk !
This indoor canvas version is available by appointment and is from Moderndaedalus in Lynnwood, WA. Check out the photo gallery on their website for many unique styles !
This 6 circuit hexagonal labyrinth from Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Los Angeles, CA is beautiful ! Made with wonderful French tiles it has a unique look.
Additional posts you might like (maze artwork):
