For making a perfect sketch and drawing of human figure, either from a model or by imagination, sense of creativity is essential. The human body, with its varied beauty of construction, character and action, is so complex that it is necessary for the student of Fine Art and artist not only to have a clear knowledge of its complicated forms, but a comprehensive understanding, through knowledge of techniques and a habit of simple treatment in order to apply his knowledge to its artistic end. The artist is concerned with the external and apparent form of the human body. He expresses its nature by line, colour, tone, texture, light and shade. Continuous practice makes him perfect to depict the true drawings of the human figure.
In Indian painting, line drawing is of supreme importance which is expressed by the artist in his drawings with his inner feelings, memory and continuous practice mixed with experience. Indian artists possess a vast treasure of experience of line-drawing which has gone a long way in praiseworthy recognition of the paintings of classic period of Indian Art. Accordingly, the practice of realistic sketches is very much necessary along with classical line drawing. It is quite in the fitness of things to mention here the rules and directions laid down to build up the human figure in drawing, painting or image, by the author of the treatise 'VISHNU DHARMOTTARPURANA'. This treatise compiled probably between the IVth and Vth century. Adhyayas 35 to 42 of the third part (kanda) in Purana are called 'Chitrasutram' where the discussions are made of the matter concerned. The treatise first mentions five kinds of male bodies i.e. Hamsa, Bhadra, Malavya, Ruchaka and the fifth Shashaka. Hamsa type male body is there considered to be standard, with accordance to that others may easily be painted or drawn.
The write of Chitrasutram has explained the measurement of Hamsa type of men as follows-
The height of the feet up to the ankles is three angulas and above it joint to ankle three angulas, the complete leg up to the knee 2 talas, the same is the height of thigh that is two talas (up to the male genital organ). From naval to penis, the measure is one tala. the same is the measure from naval to chest centre to the neck root that is one tala each. Length of the neck 4 angulas, the length of the face 1 tala and from the forehead to the head (crown to the boundary of the hair) two angulas, painting should be painted acordingly. The penis should e drawn in the middle of entire length of the figure. The palm measures one tala and the pper arm (above the elbow) 17 angulas and the fore arm just as much. Measurement of thers should be worked accordingly.
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