Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c77.120

v2.c77.120

The painter draws an outline in yellow and red colours as a rule. Both Viṣṇudharmottara and Bharata's Nāṭyaśāstra concur in their view (cf. ibid p. 17) that “the painter should think of the proportionate size of the thing to be painted, and think of it as having been put on the wall. Then calculating its size in his mind, he should draw the outline making all the limbs. It should be bright in prominent places and dark in depressed places. It may be drawn in a single colour where comparative distinction is required. If depressed places are required to be bright, jet black should be used.”