Documentary by John Wells about the making of "Buttercups", a painting by American artist in Kyoto, Japan, January-February 2008.
About the Artist: was born in Great Falls, Montana and grew up in Idaho Falls. Before leaving for Japan over twenty five years ago, he spent .95 on the only art book he could afford. At the back of this small book by the woodblock print artist Tokuriki was an invitation, "if the reader of this book has a chance to visit Kyoto, feel free to contact the author." went to Kyoto and learned traditional Japanese woodblock printing from Tokuriki. Daniel's work is now in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, The British Museum, The Smithsonian and about twenty other major museum collections.
Kelly is an exciting artist with and ever-changing style. All of his prints from the last several years have some element of mixed media, including woodblock, lithography, cement block printing, chine colle and hand coloring.
Kelly says of his process, "I really do not like it if I have a concept -- it does not exist yet -- and people say you are going to run into this and that problem. I want to slap those people out of my way. If there is a problem, I dig deeper. Painting and creative printmaking is like war. I get in there and battle and fight. It is either me or the image. One of us will win."
Kelly's newest work depicts his friend, Madoka, a beautiful tattoo artist. He has also done several versions of a self portrait, on of which is entitled, "The Yellow Hat".
Most of the great contemporary artists have done self portraits. Kelly is one of the most important contemporary artists of the 21st century.
Museums: Metropolitan Museum of Art, British Museum, MOMA, and the Smithsonian.
For more on this artist, please .
*Note: This DVD is available for purchase through the Verne Gallery.
