Posted 4 years ago
kwqd
(1189 items)
My artist of the month for April, a bit early. I have been thinking about doing a post for this artist for some time. I really like his use of light, shadow and color.
Gideon D. Arul Raj was born 2 August 1925 in Kodiakanal, India. He studied art at the Government School of Arts and Crafts in India. He later attended art school in Madras, South India, where he studied the art of watercolor painting. After the end of WWII he moved to Laguna Beach, CA. In California he painted and exhibited his watercolors of India and California.
The Walter Foster Company published a book that described his painting techniques in the 1960s. I have a copy of this book. It is a paperback, 31 pages, 11" x 17", with dozens of images of Raj's watercolors at various stages of completeness. It is really a "How to paint like Raj" book. The book also contains samples of the color palette that Raj used. I think his work is interesting, but he is not well listed, appearing only in California Watercolors by McClelland and Last. I have a few other paintings by him, but the composition and colors are pretty similar. I think that more biographical information is now available for him since I published my brief biography over ten years ago. I has been a while since I did any new research on this artist.
Raj died in June of 1975.
unnamed, G. D. Arul Raj, 8" x 11.75", watercolor on heavy paper
unnamed, G. D. Arul Raj, 18" x 24", watercolor on artist board
unnamed, G. D. Arul Raj, 8" x 11.75", watercolor on heavy textured paper
unnamed, G. D. Arul Raj, 8" x 11.75", watercolor on heavy paper
Really nice summery colours here, I love the way the soft shadows and light look, they're so well done!
Great collection of watercolours.
They're all lovely, I esp like the one with the cowherd
Thanks LaurenRedmond! Arul Raj was pretty good.
Thanks Kevin! I've always liked his work.
Thanks Jenni! I like that one, too.
Thanks Jenni, Kevin, Radegunder, aura, Watchsearcher and dav2no1!
I absolutely LOVE these! Watercolor is my favorite. His use of shadow is indeed superb!
It's almost like he painted the actual heat of India!
Thanks for your comments Celiene! He was very effective at conveying the moment in the scenes that he painted. I bought these years ago and was a bit surprised to see what they are selling for now. I have a few more in my collection but I don't think I made images of them and all of them are in storage. He was pretty prolific so it is not difficult to find his work. I vaguely recall corresponding with one of his sons a few times.
Thanks for loving my Arul Raj watercolors fortapache, ho2cultcha, Celiene and jscott0363!
nice love the style..of the work...nice collection ..
Thanks for your comments, Eileen. For a color junkie, like me, these were irresistible. Arul Raj definitely knew his subject matter, too!
Thanks for your comments, Theonlyone! I really like artists who have a distinctive style who I can recognize without looking at the signature on their work.
Thanks for loving my G. D. Arul Raj watercolors Theonlyone, Alfie21, Thomas and Eileen!
yes ( Thanks for your comments, Theonlyone! I really like artists who have a distinctive style who I can recognize without looking at the signature on their work. ) I feel the same way once you do a study on them ,I enjoy Cobelle's art which I only have one but its one I like,.. but he was a crazy guy and you had to catch him and his art on a good day like most artist I guess or you end up with their junk..smiling,... enjoy the day ...
Thanks for loving my Arul Raj watercolors Vynil33rpm and plein-air-painter!
Thank you delfslb!
I just found one of his paintings last week, and found your post through a google search. Thanks so much for the info! Off to look up more about him (and his equally talented brothers!)!
The !s for commenting colleenamarenna! Congrats on your new painting. If you go to my profile, there is a link to my art collection web site. Arul Raj is on my California page.
Thanks artfoot!
Thanks SEAN68!
Thank you Daisy1000!
Thanks vcal!
Thank you BonaFide!
Could you list the title of the book you mentioned published by The Walter Foster Company. I could not find it on their website. I did find the California Watercolors by McClelland and Last on Amazon. I am interested in learning more about this artist. I have one original that I am told is by him.
Hi aSwift. Well, I have no idea where that book is, but I will take a look for it.
Thanks. My mother left me four slides of paintings and a note saying they were painted by Raj. The original I have is 21" x 18". I'm new to this web site so don't know how I share photos but when I figure it out I will post a photo.