Gangatharan’s hands move with great ease as he opens a tube of paint to start his next work on a large canvas as he was talking to me over a cup of coffee at Singanallur.

The artist, orginally from Kumbakonam, gets very passionate when he talks about art. “Its been my passion since childhood,”he says.

A large portrait of Garudalvar of Sri Rangam temple adorns the entrance wall of the house, while another of seven horses hangs in a wall in the office of his late patron Naren Rajan.

He works mostly comprise real life subjects. “I go to the location just sketch the subject in my note and then give it life on the canvas. One such work is the picture of Pandavadooota Perumal of Tirupadagam near Kancheepuram. The original deity is 25 feet tall. Atmosphere adds life to the pictures,” he adds.

The artist has an emotional bond with Coimbatore as many of my works are on display at various places. “Kurroor Amma with the little Guruvayoorappan is an example.” His another masterpiece is on display at Swaminathaswamy temple.

“Art is a gift and preserving that is an art. If properly done any piece of work can stay for even 1000 or more years,” says the artist who is willing to use his expertise in guiding the people on how to protect the works.