J. M. Subramani learnt art under the guidance of Dr. R. M.  Hadapad (founder-principal of Ken School of Art, Bangalore) and donned the multiple roles of a painter, teacher and later as the principal of his tutor's school. He nurtured Ken School to grow into an institute of repute alongside developing his own individuality as an artist. The interplay of bold colours and elongated dark figures give meaning to the rustic realism that he portrays in his famous 'Badami' series.