Page:Drawing for Beginners.djvu/80

 of the foot (this is always the widest section), and its sharp descent to the toes. Seen from the rear these toes present a blunted and rather flattened curve. Trace the flat under-surface of the foot, the tread and balance first, afterward the curves of the heel, and the space between the instep and the ground, remembering, always, the foot within the shoe.

The sole of the foot is a flattened surface on the outside edge. This you can see for yourself in the two sketches which show both the inside and the outside of the foot. Moreover, if you take off your shoe, you can pass your finger under the inner side of the foot, but on the outer edge there is no space at all.

Walking, kicking, dancing, stamping, swimming&mdash;here we have an immense variety of poses. Dancing, the foot rises at a steep angle, the heel clear of the ground, the ball of the foot and the toes resting lightly. (I do not refer to ballet-dancing, which is more or less of a gymnastic feat; the shoes are heavily padded at the toes, and on these pads the ballet-girl rests.)

Stamping, the foot comes down with an all-over flat action, heel and toe held level. Kicking, the foot thrusts out, toes upraised. The kicking position shows us the sole of the foot and the sole is a curious shape&mdash;one that we should not neglect. Should we draw one of our brothers sitting by the fire leaning back in a chair, it is highly probable that he will cross his legs and put up his feet to warm. Shorn of heel and thick leather soles, the sole of a foot is a flat elongated shape. The human foot has the padded soft flesh beneath the tread, with wrinkles on the inner side, and a small firm smooth heel, something like the outline of an elongated pear.

The shape of the modern shoe worn by the small child gives us, as it claims to do, the natural shape of the sole.

Turn it over and observe it well.

The general shape of the five toes resembles the general shape of the four fingers. When you doff your shoe and stocking look at your toes. Then put up your hand and observe the back and tips of the fingers. Fan-shaped&mdash;are they not? So are your toes.