Abdulrahim Appabhai Almelkar (10th October, 1920 - 12th December, 1982) was born in in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He began painting at the young age of seven. He trained at Nutan Kala Mandir (Mumbai) between 1935 and 1940 under G. S. Dandavatimath, the revered mentor from North Karnataka. Almelkar later joined Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai to pursue his passion. His early works were influenced by the oeuvre of Walter Langhammer and N.S. Bendre.

However, from 1955 onwards, he evolved his own style. While Almelkars contemporaries were adherents of the Progressive School, he remained rooted to the traditional style of art, even though his art was often termed as clichéd. He often painted on cardboard applying colours with his bare fingers instead of the brush.

He did not desist from using jute, cotton rags, discarded combs and toothbrushes for applying colours. The final touch was in the form of fine lines of black waterproof ink. He was a recipient of several awards such as the Gold Medal of Bombay Art Society and the Lalit Kala Academy Award. He held about 40 solo exhibitions both in India and abroad.

'Three Drummers' is an extraordinary composition of village boys playing drum, showcasing the essence of folk and tribal culture prevailing in rural India. This work is the best example of finding acute detailing and perfection in his work at the later phase of his life which shows his stepping off from a conventional naturalistic academic style towards traditional folk art.

The artist has signed at the lower right corner of the painting in Devanagri script 'Almelkar- 82'.

'Three Drummers' is an extraordinary composition of village boys playing drum, showcasing the essence of folk and tribal culture prevailing in rural India. This work is the best example of finding acute detailing and perfection in his work at the later phase of his life which shows his stepping off from a conventional naturalistic academic style towards traditional folk art.

The artist has signed at the lower right corner of the painting in Devanagri script 'Almelkar- 82'.