Lei Maker

Lei Maker by John Melville Kelly

With a palette as muted as twilight in the tropics, the art of John Kelly graced the menu covers at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in the early 1950’s.
John Melville Kelly arrived in Honolulu in 1923 to take a position for one year with Town and Country Homes, Inc., a real estate development company with the purpose of advertising the beauties of the Islands to prospective residents. The picturesque quality of the Hawaiian landscape, the grace and quiet charm of the Hawaiian people, and the interesting racial mixtures found here wove their spell in the heart and soul of this sensitive artist. The one year lengthened into thirty years. During this time he became one of Hawaii’s most constant and devoted exponents. In his final years his palette and style were influenced by the ancient frescoes of the Orient. With the sensitivity of an artist who developed a rare appreciation for the qualities of Oriental art he captured its essence in his prints.

Facebook  |  Instagram  | Trip Advisor  |  Yelp

What is a Mirrored Print & Gallery Wrap?

Canvas for Gallery Wrap

Take a good look at your print. The edges are mirrored, so that, the complete image is shown on the face of the frame once it is wrapped. In other words, You don’t lose any of the artwork. Our 2½” mirrored borders, allow your finished product to have a variety of thickness up to 2” deep. Therefore, make sure you choose an experienced framer who can make the frame to the exact specs of your custom print.

Hand-made Rattan Frames

Though the design has changed over the years, we commission these Rattan frames through a small family owned company in The Philippines. Your frame is the result of trial and error of the last 20 years! Rattan is a vine-like Palm that requires forest cover in order to thrive. Rattan grows throughout the jungle for over a quarter of a mile. Its trunk can span a diameter of over two inches down to the thickness of a human hair. The harvester’s collection process is performed by hand by a simple machete. Ultimately, the rattan vine cannot survive without the forest. Rattan quickly regenerates. As a result, this method of harvesting protects the destruction of the forest.

Lei Maker  by John Melville Kelly

Learn More or Visit our Gallery

About Us  |  Locations  | Our Maui Artists