The Kelly family arrived in Honolulu in 1923. In 1926, John and Kate Kelly's etchings were exhibited for the first time at H.W. Wichman and Co., a purveyor of fine jewelry and clothing in Honolulu. This newspaper clipping of their debut has many positive things to say. "John Kelly's figure studies, particularly those of Hawaiian fishermen and lei sellers, are full of interest and strikingly lifelike, constituting character studies in cleverly etched outlines and shading," writes the columnist.
Here is a newspaper clipping and some of the works from that early time period, when the two artists were just beginning to exhibit.
"Old Lei Seller" was one of John’s early etchings, inspired by a photo Kate Kelly took (right). Notice his attention to detail in the etching, and his faithful reconstruction of the Hawaiian man's pose and garlands,
Here is the other piece mentioned in the article, Kate’s "Royal Hawaiian Under Construction," etched just before the hotel opened in 1927, or late 1926.
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