Artistic manner in using the brush and colours is known as:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
Varnika Bhang is the correct principle because it directly translates to the masterful 'artistic manner in using the brush and colours.' As the fourth limb of the *Shadanga* (Six Limbs of Indian Painting), *Varnika Bhang* represents the technical skill of the artist in color application, mixing, blending (shading or *varna*), and the finesse of the brushwork (*bhang*). It is the criterion that judges the quality of the medium and the dexterity of the painter's hands in translating their vision through pigment and stroke. Mastery of this limb is essential for achieving a painting's desired visual texture, depth, and overall surface finish.

The incorrect option is 1:
Bhava refers to the emotional expression, sentiment, or feeling depicted in a painting. Its purpose is to convey the inner state or psychological mood of the subject to the viewer, which is directly linked to the experience of *Rasa* (aesthetic flavour). While a successful use of brush and color is necessary to render *Bhava* effectively, *Bhava* itself is the emotional content, not the technical application process. It addresses the 'what' (the feeling), not the 'how' (the technique of color and brushwork).

The incorrect option is 2:
Pramana is the principle of proper measure, proportion, and structure. It deals with the correct anatomical rendering, geometry, and composition of figures and objects within the artwork. Its function is to ensure dimensional accuracy and verisimilitude in scale. Therefore, *Pramana* governs accuracy and perspective but has no direct link to the painter’s technique of handling the brush and colors themselves.

The incorrect option is 4:
Sadrishya means similitude or likeness, focusing on how accurately the painted form resembles the object or subject it is meant to represent. This principle relates to the visual truth or approximation of the appearance of the subject. It is the artistic goal of visual resemblance. While the brush and colors are used to achieve *Sadrishya*, the term itself refers to the concept of resemblance, not the method of applying the medium.