ART NEWS
FilmsOnArtists.com
Kevin O’Hanlon,
Director of
FilmsOnArtists, sets
out to create
documentaries
revealing the threads
that unite artists.
Artist Spirits Colliding
Connecting the dots between artists with film
All artists possess that strong drive
and intense need to create, but the
thing that makes them all different is
their unique artistic voice. This might
separate artists but in a truly specific
way it unites them under a common
cause. But the overall essence of
their creative visions is not always so
easily understood and the internal
dialogue and creative process often
remains a mystery.
How was the piece made?
What was the artists thinking when
they created it? What was their
inspiration? Oftentimes, the answers
to questions like this can help open
the eyes of the audience to the artist’s
creative vision and enable the viewer
to see the world through his or her
eyes.
Kevin O’ Hanlon’s Films on
Artists series, is an exciting valuable
vision in bridging the gap between the
artist and viewer, and one which also
hopes to start new dialogues and
discussions between the creator and
their fellow artists.
O’Hanlon, an affable soft
spoken Irishman, originally received a
degree in Journalism from Trinity
College, Dublin. Soon afterward he
moved to New York and continued his
studies at the famed International
Center of Photography, this time in
Photo Journalism. In the midst of that
he also took a sidestep into a career
on Wall Street for seven years...and
then took a few more to travel around
the world to recover from it. In his
own words: “I was never really a suit. I
was pretending. I had to shed that
middle class vacuous world I had
landed in and relate again to people in
a real and genuine way. I dropped off
my Brooks Brothers suits and wing
tips at Goodwill and set off for
prolonged trips to China, Australia,
Venezuela, Patagonia, Siberia, the
Mongolian Steppes, Cambodia,
Moscow...and came back to drive a
cab in Manhattan…. anything and
anywhere to experience real life and
diversity again. There’s nothing more
interesting than real people. And
artists are the most interesting of all.”
 Spirits Colliding.....
FILMSONARTISTS.COM
He would combine the skills from both degrees,
as well as his own unique brand of storytelling in the film
industry as a producer, director and director of
photography. He founded Rogue Studios in Chelsea which
he has run for eight years. During this very influential time,
O’Hanlon had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of
artists working in all kinds of media and diverse
backgrounds, each with their own story to tell.
Films On Artists is the culmination of this intense
desire to tell stories. As O’Hanlon describes:
“It is an excitement for learning about and
connecting with people, interpreting the artistic process
and how it relates to our human development, and of
revealing the world and our experience in it as a series of
magnificent interrelated vignettes or visual short stories.”
Although many artists have left manifests and
journals detailing their work, in recent years film has
become a massively important asset to gaining a better
understanding of the artistic mind and creative spirit.
Perhaps one of the most influential of these is the well
known film featuring Jackson Pollock. In the film, Pollock
paced around a huge canvas creating his splatter
paintings. O’Hanlon cites this film as a huge inspiration for
the Films on Artists project. “Seeing his work being
created, his manic personality, the physicality of how he
painted, that opened my eyes to how powerful a medium
film and video us,” he states, “I could now completely relate
to the art on the wall rather than it being splotches that I
could not really connect to.” the art on the wall rather than it
being splotches that I could not really connect to.”
Artists...are all brave and
bold people. You have
to be to investigate
unchartered and unique
creative territories.
There is no model, there
are no guidelines or
blueprints for artists to
follow.
“For me, the highest
expression of humanity is for
a person to share of
themselves in a real way.
That’s what artists do every
day. But it is also to assume
p a r t o f t h e n a t u re a n d
experience of others. That’s
how we evolve and grow.”
The films allow the viewer to observe the artist in the
studios….at the height of their creative process or
discussing their art invites the viewer to make a connection
with the artist.
The Films on Artists series is a perfect
juxtaposition of compelling storytelling and quirky
entertainment. They stand alone as a short biopic - but
they double as a fascinating learning experience. Not only
that - but the project is very much about diversity. Current
artists involved in the series include performance artists,
abstract painters, conceptual artists and photographers
from a vastly wide array of backgrounds.
“What combines them is their artist spirit. They are all brave
and bold people. You have to be to investigate
unchartered and unique creative territories. There is no
model, there are no guidelines or blueprints for artists to
follow.
 .....spirits colliding
FILMSONARTISTS.COM

They stare at a blank canvas, or pick up a camera, or One of their recent films involves an 82 year old
envision an installation, a performance, a song. They are Cherokee Indian woman who had worked for 20 years as
largely alone, eye-ball to eyeball with an unknown energy a journalist in Latin America. In addition to the visuals, they
and space. That can be spooky and exhilarating. So have incorporated an upbeat Brazilian soundtrack to give
most artists can generally relate. When we make a film her film an energetic and exotic feel that is appropriate to
about them, it’s like storytelling from the locker room of her work.
experience, like people meeting for a coffee at the end of “Why not?” O’Hanlon says. “She has such a
an wild trip through the forest. For them to talk about that fabulous energy and her work is so vibrant, it feels like a
experience is generally very dance with the artist. Dancing
therapeutic. And interesting to with artists is something we
listen in on.” “For me, I see the project of could all learn from and
The Films on Artists FilmsOnArtists Worldwide as a become inspired by.”
crew spends a day with the artist way to connect the dots, to “For me, the
either in their studio, gallery space document artists and to make highest expression of humanity
or some significant ground, c o n n e c t i o n s t h a t m i g h t is for a person to share of
whichever they might be more otherwise not be made, to themselves in a real way.
comfortable in. This presents the t e s t i f y t o t h e p o i n t s o f That’s what artists do every day.
artist with the unique opportunity commonality between artists But it is also to assume part of
to describe their work and who live in vastly different the nature and experience of
concepts in their own words. In
worlds but who’s artistic vision others. That’s how we evolve
some cases the films become and grow. Every artistic
combines them in one.”
long term collaborative projects, expression is a mark in our
which require several studio visits journey as people, a “Kilroy
to discuss and discover the Was Here” moment that charts
evolution of their work. our evolution, something that
“Being in that very private and creative space is a we register, contemplate and expand from.”
great honor. I’ve learned that people are generally and O’Hanlon’s new venture is to recommence his
immediately very comfortable around me. If there was any world travels and make more films about artists in their own
sense of imposition, it just wouldn’t work but without particular corner of the globe.
exception I’ve had amazing rapport with all the artists I’ve “These don’t have to be Warhols or Pollocks.
made films about. I have such respect that it goes without The films I am setting out to make are about people in love
saying.” with and dedicated to creativity and expansion. At the end
Existing video footage, interviews, photographs, of the day we are all freaking creative geniuses. It’s just a
press releases are all included within each film to insure matter of how open we are to seeing and expressing.
that each artist is presented in the most compelling way “For me, I see the project of FilmsOnArtists
possible, exposing the viewer to the artists’ own expansive Worldwide as a way to connect the dots, to document
world view and specific energy. artists and to make connections that might otherwise not
Another goal for this project is to present each be made, to testify to the points of commonality between
artist with an unparalleled opportunity to present their work artists who live in vastly different worlds but who’s artistic
to people who would otherwise not have seen it. As the vision combines them in one.”
economic situation changes, so must the way artists “Combining these stories, filling out a matrix of
present themselves and their work. Films on Artists affords life experience and taking a look at is as one collaborative
them with a unique chance to promote their work through collage is educational and curative. To combine the parts
a medium that will allow gallery owners, art buyers and and create something new which points a finger towards
even other artists to experience the artwork and the artist the future is ultimately very hopeful. And I am all about
as a unique, charming and unforgettable visual that.”
narrative. What makes the film series memorable is sheer
details involved that bring out the essence of each artist. And it’s that goal that Films on Artists sets out to achieve.
The artists devote themselves to their work whole-
heartedly. Meanwhile, FilmsOnArtists devotes their time and
creative charm to create an energetic and vibrant film,
worthy of the very artists they so lovingly show.