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Beginning DrawingTraditionally drawing the Buddha face is the beginning of learning thangka painting. If you would like to do the Buddha face drawing exercise scroll down and complete the exercise, then you can scan your drawing and email it to me. I can correct it and offer tips on improvements. Once I see any interest I will add the drawings of the Buddha body and a clothed Buddha followed by each class of deity. I am organizing the drawing text and images for this section. When the drawing section is complete, then the painting stages will be added with video tutorials.
Terms of units of measure in the Tibetan system
1. 12 sor = 1 cha chen ( large measure) This is the measure of the face and the key to the iconography. 2. 1 sor - cha chung ( small measure) know as the finger width.
Generally these measurements are used in constructing the figure in any size. The span from the hairline to the chin is known as a thal. mo or 12 sor. Further divided into 3 parts, 4 sor each. 1. hairline to eyebrows 2. eyebrows to tip of the nose 3 tip of the noise to the chin
The 6 Proportional classes of iconography are: 1. Buddhas 125 sor 2. Peaceful Bodhisattvas 120 sor 3. Female Buddhas 108 sor 4. Tall wrathful protectors 96 sor 5. Short wrathful protectors 72 sor 6. Humans 96 sor
These grids are from the late thangka master Gega Lama's book. "Principals of Tibetan Art" Buddha's Head Lesson One
Instructions for drawing the Buddha's head
We Begin by drawing the Buddha's head. These grids were developed over many centuries from both sutra and tantra traditions. Because in Buddhist sacred art, correct measurements are very important, thus the sacred geometry is the most i mportant. A person who sees a perfect Buddha, has the seed of Enlightenment placed in his heart. This in Tibetan is called Thongdrol, or Liberation by Sight. There is no hurry, take your time and as well as drawing, concentrate on your breath, make this a meditation practice.
Making the sor ruler A sor is the measure of the width of a finger, it can be any size, depending on what size you would like to make your drawing. To the right of the Buddhas face example is a yellow ruler. Copy this in the size you would like to make your Buddha head. This will be your ruler. To begin a clean sheet of paper, a pencil, eraser and a straight edge are needed.
Beginning First draw the center line ( known as the Brahma Line), then draw the top horizon line making a T. Using the sor ruler make marks on both sides of the center line from the top down at 2 sor (top jewell), 4 sor (top knot), 4 sor (hair), 4 sor (forehead to eye brow line), 1 sor (top of eye), 1 sor(bottom of eye), 2 sor (to bottom of nose), 4 sor (bottom of chin), 4 sor (chin to neck line) With the straight edge draw in the grid lines.
The vertical lines to each side of the center line mark a 6 sor, top and bottom. Last a 2 sor line on the outside of the ears. Connect these using a straight edge. Bottom of chin line mark 2 sor each side, then from the center top forehead line connect these lines. Do the same on the opposite side.
Now you have a grid for centering your drawing, remember to sketch each side exactly the same so the face is balanced.
Practice makes perfect  |
