INDIAN INFLUENCES

G D Paulraj - Shrine under the big tree

2012-02-02T10:51:00.000Z

This is a nice painting of a shrine under a Banyan tree by G D Paulraj, in the background you can see some people working in the fields.

It is owned by the same lady as the last Paul raj I posted, she went to school in Kodaikanal many years ago and her parents purchased the painting then.

G D Paulraj - Carts and Hills

2012-01-26T15:21:00.000Z

This is a painting recently added to the "Raj" Facebook site by a lady that went to school in Kodaikanal which is the original home of Paulraj. So the painting has the usual cart convoy but what is different is that it has hills in the background. It looks a very nice painting.

The cattle have been very well painted, hope you like this one.

G D Arulraj - Classic Road Scene

2012-01-19T23:36:00.000Z

This is a painting by Arulraj that still remains with his family. I think it is a pretty good painting and his cows are really great.

Pretty good painting, it is still growing on me.

G D Pankajam Paulraj - Greeting Card 2

2012-01-05T19:56:00.000Z

This is a second greeting card painted by Paulraj's wife Pankajam, It is about 6 x 4 inches I understand.

G D Thyagaraj - Selling Vegetables

2012-01-01T16:56:00.000Z

This is a painting by G D Thyagaraj of three ladies selling vegetables at the side of the road. The colours appear a bit muted but this is due to it being under glass and there has been some reflection as a result.

The signature is visible on the painting. I do not think I have added this one before.

Pankajam Paulraj (Mrs) - Greeting Card 1

2011-12-29T13:21:00.000Z

This is a small postcard size painting by Paulraj's wife Pankajam it shows two women with water pots.

This painting belongs to one of his daughters.

G D Arulraj - Temple Scene

2011-12-28T11:33:00.000Z

This is a painting by G D Arulraj depicting a temple in the background with a pond or tank in the foreground.

There are two cows in the foreground under the shade of the tree almost in silhouette. This might belong to his family in the USA.

G D Thyagaraj - Watercarriers in front of a temple

2011-12-13T18:13:00.000Z

Today I am adding a painting by Thyagaraj, it shows a shows ladies collecting water from a river bank or a water tank next to a temple? It think it has lost some colour in the photo, might be better in the real thing.

G D Paulraj - Covered Cart

2011-12-11T18:09:00.000Z

This is a painting by G D Paulraj of a covered Cart one of his favourite themes. It is a shame that it is only a small low resolution photo as it looks like a very nice painting.

G D Paulraj- Refreshments under the Banyan Trees

2011-11-21T20:37:00.000Z

Today I am adding another painting currently for sale in the UK on Ebay. The seller "infanteyes" has agreed for me to add details of the painting to the blog. THe painting shows a refreshment stall on a road in the shade of a row of Banyan trees. The painting is listed on Ebay under item number 270854748376 with a starting price of £400.00 with postage of £30.00.

I understand the painting is being sold framed and it has an interesting label on the reverse. This has Paul Raj's address as being Diamond Cottage, in Kodaikanal. It shows the price is rupees as being R/s. 95, this could make it quite and early painting with the price being so low, I guess it could be late 1950,s. I quite like this painting and it reminds me of several that I own myself. (I have no room on my walls for any more, what a shame.) You can see a lady taking a drink from coconut. The auction ends on 26 November so if you want to bid you will need to be quick.

Thanks to "infanteyes " for letting me add this to the blog.

G D Arulraj - Village Street

2011-11-20T23:02:00.000Z

The third painting being sold on Ebay by "lor1etta" in November 2011. It is one of Arul's village street scenes. Being sold under item number 200677332795 starting price is $185 which is £117.17 with postage of $30. Sale ends on 25 November 2011 and the seller is in Salem, Ohio, USA.

Once again to the seller for allowing me to add the painting to my blog. You will need to bid quick if you like these paintings.

G D Arulraj - Temple Scene

2011-11-20T22:53:00.000Z

Another painting by Arulraj being sold on Ebay by the seller "lor1etta" under item number 200677332711 ending on 25 November 2011. Starting price is $185 which is around £117.17 postage $30.00. The seller is located in Salem, Ohio, USA.

This is probably my favourite of the three paintings being sold by this seller on Abay at the moment, again I think it is unframed. Many thanks to the seller for allowing me to add this to my blog.

G D Arulraj - Dusk

2011-11-20T22:45:00.001Z

There is a painting by Arul Raj on Ebay at the moment from a seller called "lor1etta" it is one of his setting sun paintings with everyone shown in silhouette. The auction ends on 23 November 2011 so if you want to bid on the is painting you will need to be quick. It can be found under item number 200676509561. The seller is located in Salem, Ohio, USA.

It looks like it is unframed but will be very nice once it has been reframed. The starting price is $140.00 which is around £88.67 which is very reasonable. Postage is around $30.00. Many thanks to the seller for allowing me to add the painting to this blog. The seller has another two which I will add next.

G D Paulraj - Beach Scene

2011-11-03T18:14:00.002Z

I came across this painting for sale on Ebay back in September along with a second unsigned painting might could be by Paul Raj. It is a beach scene, I have not come across one of these before but I have heard that he did some. His first initial is behind the border, at least I think it is. The pair of painting are smaller than normal measuring only 12 x 8.75 inches.

I think is is by Paul Raj as to the size it could be he has used some old paper. As the second painting which I will add another day does have an outline of a temple on the back (unfinished) so may be did not want to waste the paper. There are no dates or titles. Hope you like it. I think it cost me around £50.00 including postage.

Pankajam Paulraj

2011-09-27T19:39:00.003+01:00

This painting was added to the Facebook site earlier this summer it is by Paulraj's wife Pankajam, it is owned by a lady in the USA.

G D Paulraj - Ploughing

2011-09-07T11:59:00.000+01:00

Painting by G D Paulraj showing a man ploughing his fields. Looks like a wet and windy day.

The Calcutta Swimming Club

2011-08-31T19:47:00.002+01:00

My family were members of the Calcutta Swimming Club while were lived there and my father became President one year around 1967. The following pictures were taken at the Friday night races and prize giving. The first photo shows my mother and father, sister and myself at the prize table along with the club secretary a Mrs Ray.

The next photo shows the diving boards at the indoor pool, I can remember the water feeling really cold but it was still around 78 degrees F.

Not all the races were serious and many involved fun, the one above seems to involve wearing an item of clothing?

In the photo above the children seem to be racing while holding a burning candle.

G D Paulraj - Old Man with White Hair

2011-08-29T20:23:00.002+01:00

This is an unusual portrait by G D Paulraj of an old man with white hair. It was shared on the Raj Brothers Facebook site recently by a gentleman in the USA. We do not see many portraits by Paul Raj.

Ballygunge Calcutta

2011-08-28T23:13:00.000+01:00

Scanned a couple of photos of the house where I lived as a child in Calcutta between 1957 to 1975. Probably in the late 1960s or early 1970s a 20 storey block of apartments was built across the road from our house and it was called Tivoli Court. One of the photos taken from our upstairs verandah shows the corner of the flats and our front gate. The little house near the gate is where the guards or 'Derwans' lived.

The second photo is taken from the gate looking back at the house, I lived in the upper right corner and the offices for the Hooghly Ink Company were the entire ground floor.

The two colour photos were probably taken in the 1970s and the next photo in black and white was probably taken in the 1960s.

Houseboat - The Cutty Sark - Kashmir

2011-08-28T11:44:00.001+01:00

I was looking through a box of old photographs that my sister gave me the other day and I have found several that are worth scanning and adding to the blog. The first is of a Houseboat I stayed in around 1972 while the family did a four week tour of India. It was called the Cutty Sark and was on the the main lake in Kashmir.

It was a really pleasant stay and to get to the houseboat you had to be transported on a small boat called a Shakari, not sure if that is the correct spelling. I am told it is a Shikari.

G D Thyagaraj - Holy Man

2011-08-26T22:25:00.000+01:00

This is a painting by G D Thyagaraj and it is slightly unusual as it is a portrait of a holy man. It is quite a dark painting, I am not sure if I like it. It is currently for sale with an art dealer in California. I will add a link to the site in the next few days once I can find it again.

G D Arulraj - Cart Procession

2011-08-22T18:57:00.000+01:00

Today I am adding a painting by G D Arulraj, I was contacted by Craig in the USA whos says he acquired it earlier this year from an estate sale. The owner who was an artist themselves purchased it around 20 years ago in the USA. I think this is a high quality painting by Arul and in some ways looks more like that of his brother Paul. I think Craig has got himself a nice painting.

The sky looks very moody in the painting, I have also added a close up of the signature below.

Thank you Craig for letting me add the painting to the Blog.

G D Paulraj - Women of India

2011-08-14T19:34:00.001+01:00

Just spotted a new listing on Ebay of a painting by G D Paulraj the auction ends on 18 August 2011. It is a street scene showing several ladies carrying large pots stacked on their heads. Quite a nice painting. I contacted the seller 'shakespeareroad' and he said it was okay to add the painting to my blog.

The painting is for sale in La Habra, California, USA under item number 110728815965 with a starting price of $199.95 which is around £122.86. This is a very realistic price and I think it should sell. It was obtained from an estate sale in Whittier, California. Hope you like, it if you do why not buy it. The signature from the painting follows below.

Thanks 'shakespeareroad' for letting me add this painting to the blog. It sold for $199.95 in August 2011.

G D Thyagaraj - Dusty Road and Paddy Fields

2011-08-14T16:24:00.002+01:00

While I was away on vacation in Florida I was contacted by email by John M who was selling two paintings by G D Thyagaraj on Ebay. He had found my blog site and emailed me some photos. He said it was okay to add them to my blog. I have searched Ebay today Sunday 14 August and have not found his paintings. I am unsure whether his auction has already ended or not? The first painting is of a group of women working in the paddy fields.

We have seen a very similar painting like this before. There are some notes on the rear saying it was purchased from the artist in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1969, I assume he was visiting Nepal.

The second painting is of one of his famous dusty road compositions.

This painting also has Thyaga's address Jaipur as well. In 1969 he would probably be around aged 47 years as we think he was born in 1922. I think the dust road one is my favourite of the two. Thanks John I hope you sell your paintings.

First Day Cover - Conquest of Everest 29-5-53

2011-07-20T21:23:00.000+01:00

Another First Day Cover and quite a special one commemorating the Conquest of Everest on 29 May 1953. This was addressed to my father's colleague at the Hooghly Ink Company in Calcutta. Mr Birkett was Managing Director the Company for a few years.

Again it is likely that the ink used to print the stamps came from the Hooghly Ink Company.

First Day Cover - Nehru 12 June 1964

2011-07-13T22:12:00.000+01:00

I thought I would do something different today but still relevant to the Blog Title. My father worked for the Hooghly Ink Company manufacturing printing ink. Some ink was sold to be used in Indian bank notes and also in the printing of postage stamps. As a result he got given stamps over the years and collected stamps. Today I am adding a First Day Cover from 1964 commemorating Jawaharlal Nehru.

I will add a variety of other covers in the coming weeks as well as the usual variety of posts as well. Any stamp collectors out there? Hope you like it.

G D Arulraj - Fetching Water from the River

2011-07-10T08:48:00.000+01:00

Painting by Arulraj today which was for sale on Ebay several years ago, not sure if it sold or not at hat time. Shows two ladies collecting water from the banks of the river?

ALso shows one of the usual big trees.

L M Ghose - Boat at Sunset

2011-07-08T19:08:00.000+01:00

Another photo of a painting by L M Ghose, a sunset scene with pinks and violets.

His signature is clearly visible in the bottom right hand corner.

G D Thyagaraj - Carts with bare trees

2011-07-05T22:47:00.000+01:00

Came across this painting by G D Thyagaraj a little while ago for sale in an auction. Unfortunately I did not keep a record of where it was being sold or what price it went for.

Might be an early one as he is still struggling with the length of the cows necks! Still interesting all the same.

Henry Brown - Photograph taken in Bombay

2011-07-03T21:54:00.001+01:00

Slight variation today, I have been doing a lot of family tree research over the last few years and my wife and I own two old photo albums one from each family. While looking at the photos in her album we came across a couple that were taken in Bombay in the 1890's. The photo is of her Great Grandmothers brother Henry Brown who was born in 1867 in Sunderland, in Northern England. It seems he might have become a missionary and spent a few years in India.

It was taken at a photographers in Kalbadevi Road, Bombay. Fortunately the photos is dated on the back as being taken on 20th May 1892 when he was aged 24 years.

The photographers appear to have been a firm called Gomes and De Lair. I wonder if anyone knows if Kalbadevi Road still exists? I thought it would be interesting to share this photo so show the family connection to India on my wife's side of the family as well. Henry eventually moved to Canada and we know he was living in Prince Edward Island by 1911. The family loast touch with Henry Brown after he moved to Canada.

P B Surendranath - Village Street

2011-06-30T12:07:00.001+01:00

This is the photo of the second painting by Surendranath titled "Village Street" might have been originally priced at Rs 30/-. Nice painting similar to the one I own.

This was on Ebay and month ago along with the previous painting.
UPDATE Still for Sale: The owner of this painting and the second has contacted me at the start of September 2011. She lives in the USA and is still looking to sell both paintings. If you are interested in buying one or both of them just email me and I will pass on your details to her.

P B Surendranath - People By The River

2011-06-28T18:29:00.001+01:00

This painting was for sale recently on Ebay, I am not sure whether it sold or not. The seller was asking around $1000 maybe for two paintings. I think this painting might have a price pencilled on the rear showing Rs 30/-, if correct this was quite cheap for the time.

He ended up being Principal, at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kumbakonam. I think he died in 2010 and the following picture of the artist might have been taken in 2007. I believe this is the same college that Paul Raj studied at but some years before Surendranath.

UPDATE Still for Sale: The owner of this painting and the second has contacted me at the start of September 2011. She lives in the USA and is still looking to sell both paintings. If you are interested in buying one or both of them just email me and I will pass on your details to her.

L M Ghose - Boat at Sunset

2011-06-26T19:46:00.000+01:00

This is an photo of an L M Ghose painting that I have received by email. I have covered some of his painting in this past but I still know very little about him.

Some of his paintings that I own are dated between 1910 and 1918, this one does not have a visible date.

Tablecloth - Snake Charmer

2011-06-23T18:49:00.000+01:00

This is the last photo from the tablecloth series and it depicts the only male on the cloth who is a snake charmer.

G D Thyagaraj - Temple and Flame in the Forest Tree

2011-06-22T23:17:00.000+01:00

This painting is by G D Thyagaraj and was found by Kashinath on his travels around India.

Interestingly this painting has very little green in it, a lot of brown, orange and red with some blue sky. I find it a bright and cheerful painting. Thanks Kashinath for sharing.

G D Arulraj - Stages in creating Gold Moher

2011-06-20T20:00:00.000+01:00

Four photos follow showing the development of the Gold Moher painting.

1) Pencil Sketch.

2) Second photo

3) Third photo

4) Fourth photo

G D Arulraj - Gold Moher

2011-06-19T18:11:00.000+01:00

Today I am adding one of Arul's paintings that was in the Walter Foster "From India' book.

Tablecloth - Woman Carrying a Bundle

2011-06-18T14:08:00.000+01:00

Another photo from the tablecloth series, this shows a woman carrying a bundle of plants tied in a cloth on her head.

G D Paulraj - From The Fields

2011-06-12T20:45:00.000+01:00

I have been alerted by an Ebay seller with the use name of "Objectquality' to the sale of a painting by G D Paulraj called "To the Fields". It is a buy it now priced at $495 which is around £310 at the current exchange rate of $1.60 to the £1.00. I have been given permission to add some photos to the blog in case are viewers are interested in buying the painting.

It is for sale in Los Angeles in the USA under Ebay item number 3305 7582 2201 you can also make an offer if you are interested. There is a label on the reverse showing it was owned by a college in 31 May 1995, Westmont College.

It is slightly different to his normal works as it does not have any hay carts but instead the workers are carrying loads on their heads.

Tablecloth - Woman collecting water

2011-06-08T18:34:00.000+01:00

Yet another from the tablecloth series, might only be one left after this one. It shows a woman collecting water from a stream.

G D Paulraj - Chai Wallah

2011-06-07T21:26:00.003+01:00

Painting by G D Paulraj that seems to be called "Chai Wallah", which I assume means tea seller or tea shop.

This is the second painting of this name I have now added both being slightly different. There is also a nice name on the rear showing the price of Rs. 275/-. It has been suggested due to the address on the back that this painting was done between 1967 and 1978, an eleven year time span, but still helpful.

I think it was for sale in the USA during 2010, I do not think that I have added this one before. It has a framers stamp on the back and it was called the "Happy Dragon" in California.

Tablecloth - Woman carrying flowers

2011-06-06T19:27:00.000+01:00

Another photograph from the tablecloth series this time it shows a woman carrying some flowers in a basket.

She is also carrying a 'chatti' I think that is how you spell it a mud water container.

From India - G D Arulraj

2011-06-03T22:17:00.003+01:00

Not long ago a member of Arul Raj's family posted a painting on the Facebook site that appears to show a work in progress. This painting still belongs to his family and a copy of it appears in his publication "From India".

It was a great idea to show the various stages of a painting which was the whole purpose of the book by Walter Foster.

Thanks to Arul's daughter in the USA for sharing this painting. I have just noticed that someone is selling a signed copy of Arul's book on Ebay today 4 June 2011 in the USA under the Buy-It -Now scheme for $50.

Tablecloth - Woman at the stream

2011-05-30T20:03:00.000+01:00

Another character from the tablecloth seems to show a woman at the edge of a stream.

Tablecloth - Woman weaving a basket

2011-05-28T13:45:00.000+01:00

Yet another photograph from the tablecloth series this time of a woman weaving a wicker basket.

Tablecloth - Woman carrying a flame

2011-05-27T18:18:00.001+01:00

Another photo from the tablecloth border of a woman carrying a flame.

G D Paulraj - Delhi Street Scene

2011-05-26T08:16:00.002+01:00

I tracked this painting on Ebay for a few months and it was not selling. The vendor was slowly reducing the price and when it came down to what I thought was a realistic price I made him and offer, which he accepted. The painting is by G D Paulraj and depicts a Delhi Street Scene.

It included a frame but was shipped from California without the glass in case it broke in transit. I did have to pay a small amount of UK tax on arrival not just on the purchase price of $160 but also the potage costs of $55, this seemed a bit unfair of the UK tax authorities. I decided to replace the mount and add new non-relective glass and it looks very presentable now. Finally I gave it to my sister at the end of April 2011 as a birthday present. The painting has faded as when I removed the old mount you could see the stronger blue of the sky under the edge of the mount where it had not faded. Hope you like this one. This was framed by a firm called the 'Paris Picture House' at 30 Ewing Road Chowk, Nila Gumbad, Lahore.

I am back - G D Arulraj - Violet Sunset

2011-05-23T23:18:00.000+01:00

Just returned home after five weeks away looking after my daughter who has been in hospital in London. Came across this while I was away it was for sale on Ebay in the USA, I do not think it sold for the asking price so it might be re-listed in due course.

It is by G D Arulraj and is one of his many sunset or is it sunrise paintings, this being a violet version rather than the common turquoise.

Currently away from my PC

2011-04-30T11:50:00.000+01:00

Sorry unable to access any paintings at the moment as looking after my daughter for a few weeks. I will get back to normal in a week or two.

G D Paulraj - Pond

2011-04-17T15:29:00.000+01:00

Another painting found by Kashinath, it shows a pond with two cows bathing. It is a little unusual as the foreground has a very dark tree and you are looking through the shade towards the pond which is in the bright sunshine.

There is also a man with the cows maybe he is washing them down? It is another nice painting.

G D Paulraj - Village Fair, Kerala

2011-04-12T18:10:00.001+01:00

Today I am adding another Paul Raj painting which has been found by Kashinath. It was the title of 'Village fair, Kerala'. It is a nice vibrant painting with a lot of activity.

I am not sure of the age of this painting but it is from a period where he was doing a number of scenes with someone in the foreground where you can see their facial features. I like this painting. Thanks again Kashinath.

Tablecloth - Woman carrying tea

2011-04-11T17:30:00.001+01:00

Another photo of the tablecloth today, might show a woman with a basket on her back, could she be a tea picker?

Unless anyone has any better thoughts?

G D Paulraj - Mid-day Rest

2011-04-10T10:21:00.002+01:00

Today I am adding a GD Paulraj painting that has come up for sale on Ebay with the sellers permission (iconsign4cash). It is a very nice watercolour and has been very well framed maybe in 1975. There appears to be a date on the framers label on the reverse of the painting. Might indicate when it was last framed could be when it was purchased?

I think this is a nice painting which is very realistically priced under the Buy-it-now arrangement for $399.00 US dollars which is around £243.53. The item is for sale in Maryland which I think is on the East Coast of the USA and the item number is 190521178516.

The label shows it was framed in New Delhi and I am aware that Paul did many scenes in and around Delhi, the date is 11-XII-75.

A second photo showing the frame, thank you to 'iconsign4cash' for letting me add this painting to the blog.

Tablecloth - Lady with Basket

2011-04-08T20:29:00.000+01:00

Another character from the muslin tablecloth, depicts a lady with a basket, I am not sure what is in it?

Another bright colourful scene. Spring or is it summer has arrived in the UK this week, all the flowers are starting to open and the leaves are growing again on the trees, it has been a nice warm sunny week.

Muslin Tablecloth - Carrying Firewood

2011-04-07T19:00:00.000+01:00

My wife found a large white muslin tablecloth the other day in her linen drawer and remembered that it was given to her by my mother. The cloth would sit eight persons at a table and it was embroidered by nuns. I think she may have got this when she lived in southern India. I have taken a number of photos of the main characters and thought they might make a series of posts for the blog.

The cloth and the figures look almost new, the colours have not faded at all. Hope you like the variation as the blog is called 'Indian Influences'.

G D Thyagaraj - Udaypur Temple

2011-04-06T23:00:00.000+01:00

Another painting sent to me by Kashinath by G D Thyagaraj of a Temple in Udaypur. Quite a busy street scene.

G D Thyagaraj - Fields

2011-04-05T18:09:00.000+01:00

Another painting sent to me by my friend Kashinath that he has come across while travelling in India. This is by G D Thyagaraj and is of 'Fields'.

Quite a nice scene very similar to some by his brother Paul. Thank you Kashinath, please remember to check out his own paintings as well.

G D Paulraj - Carts Under Trees

2011-04-03T12:48:00.000+01:00

This is a nice scene by G D Paulraj that I think is owned now by one of the Raj Facebook followers. It is a nice painting with one of his typical compositions.

The cart in the foreground gets a little lost with the very large tree, but I like it. I think it sold on Ebay during 2010.

The Company Driver 'Das' and myself in 1967

2011-03-29T19:30:00.000+01:00

Today I am adding a photograph taken in 1967 in Calcutta I am aged 10 years. I am stood next to the company driver who was called Das. Not sure if that is how you spell his name?

Das had a great influence on me as a young boy as I would often spend time with him while my mother went in a shop or the market. We would talk and he would try and teach me a little Hindi some of which I can still remember. In the background is one of the company cars which was called an Ambassador. I remember that it had a large bench seat in the front instead of two single seats as you tend to have today.

G D Paulraj - Planting Rice - Oil Painting

2011-03-26T00:16:00.001Z

Today I am posting details of a Paulraj painting that is on Ebay at the moment. It is an oil painting by Paul (these are far more rare than his water colours) the vendor "I Buy Art" has agreed for me to add a photo on the blog (many thanks).

It appears to be in a contemporary frame and it is quite a moody painting showing some women working in the paddy fields planting rice. If you want a closer look search Ebay for Item number 250792228230, it is priced at $695.00 Us Dollars on a 'Buy It Now' basis which is around £430 UK pounds. I have also added a copy of his signature in oil.

G D Paulraj - Under the Giant Tree

2011-03-20T18:52:00.000Z

This painting shows a lady moving baskets under a giant tree, not sure what she has been doing but it is quite an interesting painting but fairly dark. You can see the sun shining through the canopy of trees. It is currently for a sale with a fine art dealer in the USA called VanderMolen Fine Art

No price is given so if anyone is interested you will have to approach the dealer directly. He has it listed under Californian Artists, but it was Arul Raj and not Paul Raj who worked in the USA.

G D Paulraj - Note book Pages 1 August 1960 Bombay

2011-03-19T17:02:00.001Z

Today I am adding a couple of pages from Paul Raj's notebook in which he kept records of his paintings that he sent to customers on approval. These two pages refer to a customer in Bombay in August 1960. It seems he sold 6 out of the 12 paintings.

The prices can help us date his paintings as I have seen information on the back of paintings I own, the name of the painting and its price, but until now I did not know a year. The second page follows below.

Paul must have been aged 46 years at the time he painted these paintings. They give an amazing insight into how he can create tiny sketches of his painting with a minimal number of lines. I think they are an amazing record.

G D Thyagaraj - City Gate

2011-03-14T23:05:00.000Z

Today I am adding a photo of a painting I have been sent by Graham M from the USA. It is bt G D Thyagaraj and shows some city gates.

Graham came across my blog and we exchanged emails and he has kindly agree for me to adda copy of the painting to the blog. He purchased it from a retired missionary who worked in Northern India (which is where we understand that Thyagaraj moved to and lived). The missionary had been living on the outskirts of Los Angeles in the USA.

G D Paulraj - Cart Convoy with large tree

2011-03-09T22:14:00.001Z

Today I am adding a photo of a painting by G D Paulraj which I have been kindly sent by James M from Welwyn Garden City in the UK. He tells me it belonged to his Aunt who worked in India as a nurse missionary until 1974 when she returned to the UK. It is a really light painting showing a cart convoy passing a large tree, very nice painting.

It measures 19.5 inches by 13.5 inches and appears to be in great condition. James inherited the painting after his aunt died a number of years ago. James many thanks for sharing this beautiful painting.

I have just noticed that this is similar to a painting I added to the blog on 22 September 2009. It is the same image but it has matured and improved with age. The painting above is definitely the better of the two.

G D Thyagaraj - Cattle in the Shade

2011-03-04T17:53:00.000Z

Today I am adding a painting by G D Thyagaraj which has been found by Kashinath on his travels. The central tree of huge proportions and has lots and lots of cows under the shade.

I like the colours on this painting as well. Hope you like it as well.

G D Paulraj - Colourful Street Scene

2011-02-24T18:19:00.000Z

This is by G DPaulraj and was found by Kashinath on his travels around India I believe. It is a very pleasant and colourful street scene, seems to be a good quality painting.

Unusually for Paul Raj there are no trees, but his still has several cows resting maybe they were pulling the carts? I think this is a very nice painting.

G D Paulraj - All of Kodai

2011-02-21T22:16:00.000Z

Today we have another painting by G D Paulraj of the same lake in Kodaikanal. It has been found by Kashinath and contributed to the Facebook page. It is not so faded as the last one and shows more buildings.

Th colours are great and his style has changed, I assume this is a lot later, hope you like this, thanks Kashinath, can you tell me where you found this painting?

G D Paulraj - Mist over the Lake

2011-02-14T19:45:00.004Z

Today I am adding a painting that is currently for sale of Ebay in the UK in case anyone is interested in it. It is listed under item number 1605 4384 5594 asking £495 or 'Make an offer'. It is slightly different to most other paintings I have seen in that it is purely a landscape with no people visible. The colours look a bit faded which is a shame.

Latest news the view has been identified as being Kodaikanal which is where the Raj family lived in southern India. Mark has added a photo which I think he took on a visit to Kodaikanal of the same lake from the same vantage point. I do not think he will mind me adding it next to the painting for comparison.

You can clearly see the similarities with some artistic licence.

Photos of the Three Brothers

2011-02-07T23:16:00.002Z

Today I am pleased to be able to add three photos of Paul, Thyaga and Arul all taken as young men. These have been obtained by mark direct from his wife's family in Chennai. The first is of Paulraj I do not know when it was taken.

The second is of Thyagaraj aged around 22 years, this is the first time I have ever seen a photo of him.

Finally a photograph of Arulraj as a young man taken in 1946 when he was serving with the army in Malaya. He looks very much like his brother Thyaga I think.

G D Thyagaraj - Market Day

2011-02-02T19:31:00.000Z

This was sent to me by email last November by Kashinath he says it is by Thyagaraj, but the signature seems to be out of site. I thought it looked more like a Paul Raj.

It is a nice bright painting, I wish he would tell me where he finds them.

G D Thyagaraj - Boats

2011-01-30T11:23:00.001Z

This is painting that has been emailed to me by Kashinath one of many he has come across on his travels around India. It is by G D Thyagaraj of a pair of boats.

It is quite dark painting so I am unsure whether it is early evening or whether a storm is brewing? Hope you like it.

G D Paulraj - Dancers

2011-01-29T09:47:00.001Z

I think this is by G D Paulraj but due to the low quality of the photograph it is hard to read the signature. It is a different kind of scene rather than being a landscape it is more a study of a group of dancers.

I do not think I have added this one before, I like it. A sweet little girl is sitting on the edge of the pond which the ladies are dancing around.

G D Paulraj - Chai Wallah

2011-01-26T23:07:00.002Z

This is a photo of a painting which has just sold at Burstow and Hewett Auction House in the UK. The pre sale estimate was for £150 to £200 and it sold for £140 which is around $217 US dollars based on $1.55 equals £1.00.

It was framed and signed and depicts a street scene with two people sitting outside of a shop drinking a glass of tea. hence the name 'Chai Wallah'. It has also been found in Paul Raj's record books, which indicate that it was for a client living in New Delhi in 1975. I thought is was quite a nice painting in good condition but sold at a fairly moderate price.

G D Paulraj - Feeding the chickens

2011-01-23T17:38:00.000Z

Watercolour by G D Paulraj of a lady sitting outside of her house, it looks like she might be feeding her chickens.

Quite a lot of shade in this painting but a nice composition all the same.

Facebook Tribute site to the three Raj Brothers

2011-01-22T16:10:00.000Z

Lots of new stuff appearing on the Facebook tribute site to the three Raj brothers, very well worth a look if you have not been before. Raj brothers on Facebook

G D Arulraj - Indian Village

2011-01-20T23:41:00.001Z

Today I am posting another painting by Arulraj it is an Indian street scene.

Also I have noticed on the Raj Brothers Facebook page are some photos of a sketch book by G D Paulraj, this could be really interesting. I will let you know how this develops and add a link to the Facebook page next time I add something to the Blog. Just noticed the link to the Facebook page I added last year is not working so I will need to fix that as well.

G D Arulraj- Indian Village

2011-01-15T18:08:00.001Z

This is a painting on a Village scene in India by G D Arulraj, I think I first say it for sale on Ebay. I do not remember if it sold.

I think the colours have faded a bit as the signature which is normally in red paint looked a bit grey in a separate close up. The shadows are good.

G D Arulraj - Hand Painted Greeting Card

2011-01-12T23:29:00.000Z

Today I am adding a photo of a hand painted greeting card painted by Arulraj. It sold on Ebay a while back and was a small painting folded with an inscription inside.

It is a bright scene of a sunset, maybe done as a birthday of holiday celebration to a friend, it is signed by Arul on the inside.

G D Thyagaraj - Street Market and Tree in Blossom

2011-01-08T15:26:00.000Z

Painting by G D Thyagaraj of a busy street market and a tree in blossom, this is yet another good work by Thyagaraj. He seems to have been very prolific and I have probably come across more works by him than Paul or Arul.

His paintings seem to turn up all over the world so I imagine they were purchased by people on holiday in northern India and then taken home as souvenirs.

G D Arulraj - Carts in Village

2011-01-06T18:23:00.000Z

This is a small photo so the quality is not that good of a painting by G D Arulraj, however as the photo is so small the signature is not readable.

G D Thyagaraj - Field Worker

2011-01-03T14:02:00.000Z

For the first post of 2011 I am adding another painting by G D Thyagaraj which was found by my friend Kashinath on his travels in India.

The tree in very dominate in the painting but non the less it is a painting that I like. You can see the fields going away into the distance.

G D Thyagaraj - Winter Morning

2010-12-30T15:56:00.000Z

Painting provided by my friend Kashinath, it is by G D Thyagaraj called 'Winter Morning'. It is a loverly bright painting and can cheer you up. We are having very dull gloomy grey days in the UK at the moment. The snow has melted and everything is dirty under the snow. We will need some rain to clean the paths.

I hope you like this one, I have another to add which I will do in a few days time once we get into 2011. I will take the opportunity to wish every one who has visited the blog this year a very Happy New Year for 2011. I hope I can keep adding more paintings but they are getting harder to find.

Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year

2010-12-25T10:54:00.002Z

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

We have had a few more inches of snow just before Christmas, very cold at the moment. Hope you like the photo I took it down on the field near my house a few days ago.

G D Paulraj - Evening

2010-12-21T23:11:00.000Z

This is the second painting that sold at an auction in the USA recently it is meant to be titled "Evening".

It sold for $280 on the 4 December 2010 which is around £187 using the current exchange rates.

G D Paulraj - Feeding The Bulls

2010-12-19T11:39:00.001Z

This is a painting by G D Paulraj which sold at auction in the USA on 4 December 2010 it sold for $325 around £217. I think it is the best painting I have seen sell at an auction this year by Paulraj.

I now wish I have bid 0n this one I like it a lot. A second painting by Paulraj sold at the same auction , I will post that in a few days time, but this one is still my favourite of the two. Hope you like it.

G D Paulraj - Water Carriers (in Oil Paint)

2010-12-12T19:41:00.001Z

I thought I had added this painting previously but looking through the index I have not found it. Sorry if you have seen it before. It is a street scene of several women carrying water pots. What is unusual is that it is an oil painting.

This was the first painting I had every seen by Paulraj using oils. I have since seen several others. I prefer his water colours. However, this is an interesting painting especially as it is rarer.

G D Thyagaraj - After the Rains

2010-12-05T11:54:00.000Z

Another painting provided by Kashinath by G D Thyagaraj called 'After the Rains'.

Norman Ellison - Indian Village

2010-12-04T19:19:00.001Z

Another painting by Norman Ellison of an Indian village painted in 1944.

G D Thyagaraj - Boat with Sail

2010-12-03T20:30:00.000Z

I was contacted this week by Shawn who has sent me a photo of a painting he purchased directly from Thyagaraj in the early 1960's when he has living in Delhi, when he was a young boy

Shawn could you send me a higher quality photo so I can add that in place of this one? His brother owns a couple and he is going to try and see if he can get photos of those as well. Many thanks Shawn, much appreciated. It looks a great painting.

Movie - Meeting an elephant on the way to Agra.

2010-12-01T22:28:00.002Z

I am having a go at adding a small video file to my blog. Last time I tried I failed, either it was too large a file size or of the wrong format. It was taken around 1967 and is only of a very low quality. That is me on the elephant. My family was driving to Agra to see the Taj Mahal and we came across a man riding his elephant on the way to a wedding. You can see a lorry go thundering past me at one point. Eventually we get to see the Taj Mahal. Hope you like it.

Photos from 1962 - Taken from a Cine Film

2010-12-01T17:15:00.001Z

I have managed to capture several frames from an 8mm cine film. Unfortunately the quality is low with the film size being so small, but they might be interesting.

The Shell Stall

2010-11-30T20:33:00.000Z

A few posts ago I added a photo of a shell I bought in 1962. Today I have found a cine film of the visit and I have captured a still of the shell stall.

I am standing with my mother looking at the shells for sale.

G D Paulraj - Busy Street

2010-11-27T19:05:00.000Z

I think this was on Ebay a while ago, looks like it is a nice painting, however the photo is only very small and low quality so it is a little difficult to appreciate it.

It is hard to remember if I have added this before?

G D Arulraj - Men under Tree

2010-11-25T18:22:00.000Z

A painting by G D Arulraj that sold on Ebay a while ago showing a couple of men under a tree. It seems to be relatively simple painting compared with others.

It is pretty horrid in the UK this week with some very early snow, we have had about four inches today and more is forecast over the next few days. Not sure if I have seen many paintings by the Raj brothers showing any snow?

G D Thyagaraj - Carts passing a grave

2010-11-18T19:08:00.000Z

Nice watercolour by G D Thyagaraj in the foreground it could possibly be a grave?

G D Paulraj - Sorting the Catch

2010-11-16T19:36:00.001Z

Painting by G D Paulraj recently added to the Raj Brothers Facebook site depicting some fishermen sorting through their catch. The pointed hats caught my eye as I have a woven palm frond hat which I got from Puri in India in 1967.

It is a nice painting with the steely grey sky and greeny blue sea with some colour from the ladies clothes.

The hat is not identical to that worn by the men in the painting, their hats seem to have a wide rim. My hat was in the attic and the palm fronds are still remarkably supple after 43 years.

Riding on an Elephant on the Road to Agra 1967

2010-11-14T10:23:00.000Z

Managed to grab a frame from a cine film from 1967 it shows me riding on an elephant on the road to Agra taken around 1967. We were driving from Delhi (I think) to Agra and we passed a man taking his elephant to a wedding and we stopped and asked if I could have a ride. On the cine you can see lorries driving past as I am sitting on the elephant. Hope you like it.

G D Paulraj - Mahablipuram

2010-11-13T00:23:00.000Z

This is a great scene by Paul Raj sent to my by my friend Kashinath who is a great artist as well. The scene of the temples at Mahablipuram in Southern India. I have found shell I purchased back in 1962 when I was a young boy, the shell has the name and date carved on it.

I think you can see one of the seven pagodas in the back ground down on the beach. I have an old cine film taken in 1962. I will try and convert it and see if I can add it too the blog. A photo of the shell follows.

G D Paulraj - Bathing in the Stream

2010-11-10T19:53:00.000Z

Currently for sale in the USA a painting by G D Paulraj of people bathing in a stream.

He has captured the man's cloth which he seems to be drying in the breeze.

100th Posting!!!!! G D Thyagaraj - Road Scene

2010-11-08T20:14:00.000Z

Today to celebrate my 100th posting to the blog I am adding a painting by G D Thyagaraj of a cart convoy stopped at the side of the road.

The drivers are sitting around a fire with smoke billowing into the trees. There are a lot of trees in this painting.