The Garrison is Open

The Angel Who Could Not Swim

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

three hundred dollars

A huge congratulations to Lee and Shaun at the Garrison for throwing a great opening party, located on Dundas, just west of Ossington, (but what isn't these days) here's a link to their listings http://garrisontoronto.com/ so you can keep up on all the events, gigs and club nights, if you didn't know The Garrison is also the new host venue for "Trampoline Hall" one of the greatest events in Toronto, I'll add a link for them later on when I have some new work to post.

When you visit you can see two of my larger works hanging in the main room, "Jerusalem" and "Untitled (the Titans)" which both look great in the space.

In other news, the Press Club show , now titled, "the Wideawake Man" will be up on the first of December, this may seem like a long time from now, but it really isn't, I have at least ten more images sketched out that I'd like to have hanging for the Opening so we'll just have to stay out of the pubs (unless I'm promoting) and burn the candle at both ends.

y'know I thought I had more news, but I think I'll be doing some more posting later on today.

talk soon,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Three Pianos...insert lame hand joke here

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano, III, II,I

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

commissions

I adore this image, and will admit that it is incredibly popular. I think it's one of the better of examples of what my work is really about, two or three incongruous and incredibly simple elements that when combined create an image that is memorable, and thereorfore powerful, in it's simplicity. I think that best sums what I try to do with my work, nothing complex, but when the parts are arranged; a woman, water, a piano, they have an impact.

I was asked to do one for a client and decided it was best to do some options for them so I created three of them. I believe that the last two have been sold but I'll have to update this at a later time.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

more cups...

A Cup of Crows, Commission

A Cup of Falcons,

both 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.oo

I've been fighting the beginnings of a flu virus for the past couple of days, this is no great shock, I've been working extremely hard on getting a certain number of pieces ready for the show at the Press Club. I have to have at least twenty more than I'm going to hang, and since work is selling at an extremely gratifying pace it is no surprise that my body decided to rebel a little bit.

I have been able to balance things pretty well, commissions and sales and new work are being carefully tracked on paper (paper that is scattered, taped, and posted all over the studio) and looking at my social schedule I'm pretty sure that I will have to vanish entirely for the next two weeks just to get things to a level that I'm happy with. I should probably just have myself bricked into the studio (with several casks of Amontillado and Vitamin C) until the 28 th of November.

"the Wideawake Man" at the Press Club, Opening Reception, Saturday Dec.5th 7-10pm

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Happy Hallowe'en

Two Black Cats

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

It's Saturday the 31rst and that can only mean one thing, a general feeling of indifference towards Hallowe'en, now don't get me wrong Shoppers, I love the imagery, I love the spirit and the creativity, I love horror movies more than anything, you'd think it would be something that I would throw myself into. I just don't feel motivated to dress up, not for a few years now. A dear friends of mine used to host our yearly Hallowe'en parties, they'd have headstones with our names on them (a la Simpsons credits), they won "best decorated" awards and I think their house was featured on CP24.

Everyone really went all out for those parties, I prefer the memories.

I've had some memorable costumes myself, ones that people still talk about this time of year, Man With A Giant Ass, Baby Shay, Covered In Bats!, being the three most popular. Every year I say, "I'll make something great for this year." and then I don't, there's no shortage of parties and bars to go to, I have a house full of bits of wood and cloth and toys and masks, but I get so busy painting for the November show at the Cameron (which is now December at the Press Club) that I can't be bothered or that I just feel pretty burnt out and find it hard to move my energies into creating a costume.

I love to see photos of my friends kids' dressed up, love to see groups of folks go wandering by, adore the slutty outfits worn by the brave woman who aren't afraid of the weather, etc. etc. So I would like to wish you all a very Happy Hallowe'en, look forward to seeing the photos.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Something Wicked....

Top:Three Black Cats, The Woman Who Built A Fort, Three Witches, They Loved the Moon

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, $120.00 each

I don't know if it's the fact that Hallowe'en is fast approaching but things at the Shoppe have definitely taken a turn for the ghostly around here. Classical Gothic, none of these images were done to deliberately reference the coming of the 31rst. I've actually been working on them off and on all month and just happened to finish in the past couple of days.

There hasn't been much to report here lately, working on a lot of alphabet shoppe letters right now (see links, the alphabet shoppe) people seem to have caught on that ordering early is the best way to get the work before December. The Press Club show is going to be big and I'm going to be busy, so buying any paintings right now is reccomended, most of the work sold in the first week, even before the Opening Reception (this year, Saturday, December 5th, 7- 10 pm). I will accept commissions for the month of November, but December may be too late to get them when you want them.

I still have to organize my process notes into coherent paragraphs, so bear with me on that one, lots of good thoughts about what I do and where it comes from.

I will also soon be posting a recent commission, that info is still to come.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.S Hahn

The Women Who Fell

Top The Woman Who Fell II, Queen of Birds, The Woman Who Fell 5/1

the Woman Who Fell 3/4
all pieces acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

$120.00 each, diptychs $220.00

I've been working pretty steadily on a commission, a diptych that I hope to have finished and posted on Friday, it's a larger work, two 20x24 inch canvases, it's coming along very nicely lots of depth. I was originally going to post some progress shots but, I kept changing things as I worked so I thought it best not to post them, it would just look messy and confusing.

The above images became a bit of an obsession, "The Woman Who Fell" she quickly became something I couldn't get out of my head, not sure if it's out of my system yet. The Queen of Birds was another sketch/note from "Silver" (see labels) I did a male version of the piece but never got around to doing a female, it was too late in the exhibition to do it, so here is a 12 x 12 version.

Work is selling steadily so once again if there is something you like, I reccomend that you buy it now.

I have some other thoughts that I'll share next post, notes that I've been scribbling in the moleskines, things about inspiration and process that I'm sure you'll find interesting but I have to get back to the easel.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

Creatures and Habit

The Keeper of Lost Books SOLD

I Cannot Tell A Lie II

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

I've been home a lot lately, using facebook as my way to chat with folks, I've been going on my walks , but haven't been very social, I've had a couple of great studio visits and a great time at the Cameron House last week, but I haven't been talking as much as I'm used to.

To be perfectly honest, I like it.

Perhaps I'm reflecting on this as this past weekend is normally associated with gatherings of family's, groups etc. Since my family lives all over the globe I don't think Thanksgiving was ever all that important. Currently it's not a holiday that affects me at "work", I don't get it "off" as most folks do. It's just another day that the bank isn't open, but for those who look forward to those gatherings I hope that you had a great long weekend and reminded yourself to be thankful for at least one thing, or perhaps got everyone who was at your Table to donate some money to a charity.

I may take about this when I post later on this evening but I have to say, if you are whinging, if you are not improving your space (whatever space it is, work, life, health etc.), if you aren't trying new things, life is gonna find you and it is going to be cruel to you.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.S.Hahn

Okay, this is working

Prometheus, (They asked her what she them brought them and she said, "Fire")

Athena (She decided to leave the suburbs) SOLD

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, $120.00

Right off the top here is a link to the Bright Eye's video for "Four Winds", no other song writer ever stood up to the Bush Administration or what the sick heart of America was starting to look like except Conor Oberst, (see his songs, "Landlocked Blues" that Bob Dylan said was one of the best songs he's heard in ten years, and Emmylou Harris sings on it" OR his band Desaparecidos) we seemed to forget pretty quickly when a bunch of D List actors and a horrible hip pop group did the "Yes We Can" video, but that's how desperate things had become, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaV-nGQ5yqw&NR=1 . Today they fire a rocket into the moon and a black president wins the Nobel Peace Prize, if this wasn't really happening I would classify the above statement as one of Paul Simon's more esoteric lyrics.

I don't often reccomend music, I think it's a cheese thing to do, so this is worth checking out. No pitchfork here (and on the Canadian side check out Ross Neilson and the Sufferin' Bastards)

Anyways, enough about me, and more about me,I am very happy with the two pieces above, they both capture the feeling that the strongest pieces in the "Silver" (see labels) shown at the Cameron House seemed to have, a great sense of mystery, violence and power. "Prometheus" was a sketch I did when I was painting "Poseidon" (see Silver) I thought they would be great companion pieces, but I was overloaded with sketches and never got to it, luckily I remembered and did this small version of the piece, I may do a larger version with a more dynamic pose. "Athena" was inspired by a story told to me by a friend who is living in Rochester, NY it was a story of the suburbs that I'm sure is not new, how you have to drive everywhere, there is nothing around etc.etc. but what she said that was so interesting was how amazing being in down town Toronto was, just going where ever with her daughter, stopping for a coffee etc.etc. things that us carless, childless people probably take for granted, so this is Athena, leaving the suburbs.

I have been doing a bunch of new sketches, newer work /ideas and also for a GREAT commission, hope to have some of that work posted by Tuesday for you to see. Also, you'd better go check out, "The Mill" if you are a fan of creepy horror films, ghosts and that strange feeling that you get right before someone taps you on the shoulder in the dark, well, this is the show for you - and the rest of the plays in the series. I'm going to go see them all.

Like I said below, if you want something, I reccomend you buy it now, no ploy for me to make cash, work is selling as soon as I post it, which is great, I am blessed and thankful and I don't want you to miss out for someone's birthday, your own home or Christmas, which is when I am VERY busy.

If you are looking for the image that is on my business card it is in the label "Silver".

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.S.H

The Mill at the Young Centre, Tankhouse Theatre

Top, The Mill poster, performance schedule,

"Our Lady of the Blackbirds", 12 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas, (shown unframed) available by silent auction at the Theatre

I have donated the above piece to Theatrefront's production of "The Mill" a four play cycle that begins this week at the Tankhouse Theatre, Young Centre. Theatrefront has been working on this project for a number of years and I've followed it's development with great interest, I have included all the information you'll need to get to the show and I highly reccomend checking out the first two plays, "We Are Brody" by Matt MacFadzean, directed by Daryl Cloran and "The Huron Bride" by Hannah Moscovitch, directed by Christian Barry. Find all the information you need about "The Mill" by following the links below.

Tickets available through the Young Centre box office http://www.youngcentre.ca/productions/09_season/Now_We_are_Brody.html#calendaror phone 416.866.8666 to order your TWO PLAY PASS and see both shows for $60 ($35 for students/CAEA)http://www.theatrefront.com

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Current Obsession

I do not hide my love of Dollarama, I always drop in to dollar stores to check on their stocks of plastic farm and jungle animals, I also have an obsession with the small kids letter blocks that are sold at Dollar Stores. I went in to a nearby Dollarama to see if they had any air hardening clay, I was thinking of just having some fun (for once) and sculpting some figures, when LO! what is this ? Tiny wooden airplanes and vehicles for one dollar each ? Don't bother looking for any bi-planes I got them all. The longer part of this story is that a guy I know gave me two large boxes FULL of wooden toy parts and they've been in the studio for a bunch of months gathering dust, what I hope to do is somehow combine these kits with the other bits I have to create some crazy hybrid wooden toys or as the other artists call it "sculpture". (file under; Stay tuned, Peter Pan complex)

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Coffee Dogs and Friends

Top, A Cup of Blackbirds, Gideon (commission), Lady with An Axe IV, Coffee Dogs

all images are 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00- $140.00

I feel like I've been away from here for awhile, but really it's only been about eight days, I gave myself a couple of days to relax and do nothing (bloody impossible) , I was also down at "the Shop" for a day building more frames for the show at the Press Club in December. I suppose I should mention that this year, things are being done a little differently, I will NOT be having my yearly show at the Cameron House this November instead it WILL be in May, it's been moved due to some scheduling changes that involve everything from Nuit Blanche, to the refurbishing of the ants, and another Cameron House announcement that I'll save for a later date to talk about here. So The Press Club from, I believe the First week of December, (the Opening will be Saturday the 5th, hopefully this won't muck up your Christmas Party) to the end of January, the show will also be hung "salon style" and hopefully every piece there (under the 20" size) will be framed.

We are making great use of the stack of 12 x12's that I purchased some months ago in the summer (July?) there have been commissions for kids letters (see "the alphabet shoppe" in links) and also requested art. The piece "Gideon" is a character from a novel by a local author that hangs in her study as inspiration - very touched to be asked to do this. There were originally three "Lady with An Axe " pieces but this was the only one I liked, I'll have to fix the other two and post them, they will be joining their friends, "the Woman who Loved her Piano" and the "Woman with Wings" on vacation from here for at least at year, just to continue moving forward, I've been working with those images since last September, they deserve a break, unless commissioned of course. Coffee Dogs is a song by Kevin Quain that I woke up with stuck in my head, which was a great relief as I usually wake up with some strange song like, "From A Distance" or "Black Velvet" and then "Cup of Blackbirds" was done just to make me smile.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

If you are interested in purchasing any work or commissioning a piece I cannot stress how much you should do this before December gets here, I cannot gurantee that any of the images you see here will be available for purchase at the Press Club, the displayed work vanished from the walls in minutes. If there is something you can't live without or would like to buy as a gift - buy now.

The Last in the series

Woman with Wings IV

The Woman who Loved her Piano III

both 20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00 each

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

Canadian Girl Project, ctd....

Newfound Land Girl,

Canadian Girl, Change in the Weather

Canadian Girl, at the break water

12 x 12inches, acrylic on canvas

from the ongoing series, "The Canadian Girl Project"

$120.00 each

Yes, I know that I write "info to come" more often than not and don't ever return, so once more from the top, "info to come". Expect the flag of Newfound land to appear here soon, it's the only Provincial flag that I really think is visually appealing, there is the Fleur de Lis but...well, we'll see.

UPDATE: Here's the Newfoundlander.

Commission any flag you like by contacting me below.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Angel of Carpenters

The Angel of Carpenters,

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00

I completed this piece last night, sometime after midnight, I'd been working off and on with it for a couple of weeks, people ask how I paint so fast, the answer is that I don't, I usually have about eight or nine concepts, block ins, backgrounds, sketches etc. that I'm working on all at once, smaller things have a better chance of getting finished first, so if you finish three and post them on the day they are done people tend to imagine you did all three in one day, this simply is not true. A good way to track this (not that anyone cares) would be to follow some of the process shots I post here and then see when they pop up as finished, to make this easier for you folks at home I have recently deleted several of the process shot entries.

Actually I did that because I'm pretty damn sure those paintings were crap and I would just destroy them anyway, I destroy alot of my work, it doesn't upset me in the least, I keep the ones that are good, I'll keep them for two years or so, I'll even negotiate the price, but I refuse to be one of those painters with a house full of old work, if it isn't a success I'll kill it off or donate it to a theatre auction.

I'm not worried about, The Angel of Carpenters, it will sell, probably by the end of the week. That's not bragging, but what do I know, I've been awake for twenty hours.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Email works, contact me to purchase/order. I have no idea who reads this thing anyways.

Oh yes, if you read do this and are also on facebook feel free to join my group, "The mad craft alphabet shoppe" and you can just look at the pictures and not have to be distracted by all this naughty text.

Canadian/ Colombian Girl and some tiny red airplanes

Three Red Airplanes,

acrylic on canvas, 22,5 x 1o inches

three 6 x6 canvases in reclaimed wood frame

$100.00

Canadian / Colombian Girl, 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, commission

from the ongoing series, "The Canadian Girl Project"

Good Morning Shoppers it's 4:30 am and I'm wide awake. Let me tell you something, if you don't know me personally, for the past four years I've been a morning person, I will gladly and happily get up at 7 am if it means having more hours of good light during the day to paint and go for my daily walks. The night life holds little interest to me, I've been out and done that, I'd rather be working or going to the Theatre, or catching a band in the early evening, that's just how I am, no fighting it.

So I should be thrilled to be awake at this hour, correct ? Wrong , what accompanies getting up early is going to bed early and that hasn't happened yet, not without a couple of (failed) attempts. Tonight, I failed "sleeping", that has got to be bad news.

Recently there have been a couple of changes in my life that have skewed my schedule, personal things that I won't get into here (go to my links section and read the blog, "Adventures in Schnooville" if you want real emotional honesty) my problems are like that game you played during the obstacle course on Play Day in Public School where you'd put your fore head on a baseball bat and spin around in a circle and then have to run in a straight line, but imagine that there is a phrase written on the ground that I read as I'm spinning, I'll let you guess what that is. I had no other choice but to change something, it made me look like an a** to someone but better now than later when it will really hurt or worse, it remains a situation that drags on and does not change. I'll take my lumps and be referred to as a bad person, it's not the first time that's happened (ask anyone) , this was the right thing to do, no amount of talking would change it, like I said before, that's the way I am, no fightin' it.

Anyways, the above image of red airplanes would be great for a kid's room, (I am now playing interior decorator and telling you where to put things in order to speed Sales along - on that note, the long"Small Towns" would look great beside a dining room table above the sideboard or whatever that piece of furniture is called where stuff for the table is kept) and the new "Canadian Girl" was a commission from a friend for his daughter's first birthday, she is Can/ombian, I love the primary colours of the Colombian Flag they really pop and I think it will be great for the child's room, I also imagine this is an image that will stay with her as she grows up, I'm sure of it - and that makes me very happy. Please don't make me explain "commissions" again.

A.S. Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Woman Who Slept 1-4

The Woman who Slept 1-4

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$140.00 each/ set of four $500.00

Notes to come, but I have got to get back to work.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Small Towns, the march to myopia

Small Town, Red Roof /Yellow Roof

2 @ 18 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00 each/ diptych $700.00

Small Towns, Cobblestones,

2 @ 12 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$700.00

from the series,"Small Towns"

Small Towns, Blue Roof

2 @ 12 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$700.00

from the series,"Small Towns"

To really see, with clarity, the colours involved in each piece, I encourage you to click on the image.

These are an incredible amount of work, no scenic artist tricks, every mark hand applied and every colour hand mixed, nothing from straight out the tube.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Man Who Loved/ The Woman Who Loved

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano III, 20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00

The Woman Who Loved the Classics, 16 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$250.00

Will Repost the "Piano" piece after a few more touch ups, that shot was taken "wet" so it's got too much bounce

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Small Towns

Small Town (after Seurat)

2 @ 16x20 inches, acrylic on canvas $800.00

from the series, "Small Towns"

To see the work and colours involved in the image, please click on the photo.

I will add some updates and thoughts here in a couple of days but I have three more Small Towns that I would like to get posted before midweek, they take a long time and you can go a little cross eyed while working on them.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The End of An Era, but it really wasn't that long

This is incredibly eerie, after three years of occupying this space on the back patio at the Cloak and Dagger the mural has come down. It would have been great to line up another sponsor to use the wall, as the construction of the piece is quite solid but we were unable to find someone willing to pay the fee. I'd like to thank Guinness for the oppurtunity and C and B for letting me do the piece. It's a little like phantom limb syndrome looking at this photo. You can see the mural if you click on the label "murals".

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Girl Who Lived...or How I learned to stop worrying and paint anyways

The Girl Who Lived in A Chicken,

The Girl Who Lived in A Robot's Head

10 x 10 inch canvas, in reclaimed wood frame, acrylic on canvas

$120.00 each

from the series, "The Girl Who Lived..."

This is how I cheer myself up.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Commissions

Top is the finished image, bottom was a process shot

This was a great collaborative piece to do for a client who wanted something specific but also as filtered through my style/subject matter. To contact me about commissions contact me at the address below which may not immediately work so (sorry to keep saying this) copy and paste the address with your email provider and I'll get back to you. This is a great time of year, things get a little crazy around Christmas, upcoming show, higher volume of commissions etc. so talk to me now.

If you're in Toronto I hope your pets survived the stress of the air show.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.S.Hahn

New Styles for the Alphabet Shoppe

Here are two new variations on the quilted letters, let's called the one of the left, "Night Quilt" and the one on the right "Spring Quilt" as always letters are sixty dollars each and three for one hundred and fifty available by contacting me here, also go to the links area to click yourself on over to the alphabet shoppe. And believe me, now would be a great time to do it!

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Small Towns, Ice and Blue

Small Town, blue roof

24 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00

from the series, "Small Towns"

The icy texture of the ground really appeals to me, it informed the more "rough" looking treatment that I gave the piece as opposed to the more "clean" appeal of the others in the series. These remind me more of roughly built ice fishing huts. I also like the unfinished house that is just the rough-in.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Small Towns in the Fall

Small Towns in the Fall (diptych)

Two 20 x 2o inch canvases, acrylic on canvas

SOLD.

This was a ton of work and turned out beautifully.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Fancy Wagons, the return

Fancy Wagons

Two pieces, twenty x twenty inches each, acrylic on canvas

$350.00 ea / Diptych $600.00

A couple of fancy wagons that I did while working on some new Small Towns, stay tuned for more work.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Man Who Loved/ The Woman Who Loved

The Woman Who Loved Writing

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$300.00

from the series, "The Man Who Loved/ The Woman Who Loved"

The first piece in the series involving, "writng" depicted a man who is leaping into the air, perhaps celebrating by throwing the finished piece into the air and being celebratory, he may have come to a realization what he is working on isn't working and is tossing it to be carried off by the winds or maybe he is trying to grab the initial beginnings of an idea out of the air. With this piece I wanted to keep those many possibilities alive, are the birds in service of the author ? Are they plucking the papers away from her ? Perhaps they represent that chaos in the mind when ideas compete.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

I Just can't stop painting this kid.

top, The Boy Who Loved the Water III, The Boy Who Loved the Water II

12 x 12 inches, acyrlic on canvas

$140.00

I am still strangely fixated on this figure in the water, I think of my nephews at our cottage, myself spending my young summers in Muskoka and Hastings. I have powerful associations with the water, from almost drowning while sailing to the fact I swim beneath it more comfortably than above. I can smell that life jacket, I wore one identical to it when I was that age, with a chubby little belly, pushing against the too tight ropes. I see my brother and I leaving the water to get shelter in the boathouse before a storm hits.

I'd like you to tell me what you see.

A.S.Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Canadian Girl

Canadian Girl

12 x12 inches, acrylic on canvas

commission

I would like to thank T.Pelletier for sending this to me via Fb, these are her thoughts on,"What is a Canadian Girl?".

"A Canadian Girl is proud to be vulnerable.For if there is one single thing she feels certain about,it is the certaintly of uncertainty.

A Canadian Girl seeks comfort in change.For she knows to stay stagnant would deny her of her independance.

A Canadian Girl is a dreamer.For she understands the nature of her restlessness.

A Canadian Girl wanders.For she has learned that taking risks satisfies her wonderous yearnings.

A Canadian Girl reaches out.For it is in her nature to nurture.

A Canadian Girl politely declines her label.For a branding would undermine her integrity.

A Canadian Girl picks up a 'Timmies' on her way over.For she knew that you were a 'double double' the first day you met.

A Canadian Girl will replace her bedhead with her multi coloured toque.For she'd prefer to share a pint and a smile than time in the mirror.

A Canadian Girl knows that carpets will get dirty...and will also get you down a snowy hillside.For she is playfully realistic.

A Canadian Girl will grasp a paintbrush in one hand and a hammer in the other.For her multi-culturalism has lead to great multi-tasking.

A Canadian Girl appreciates the 'little' things.For it is her sensitivity which breeds her insightfulness.

This woman loves her country and all within it .

For growing up a Canadian Girl...She is Free."

To commission a Canadian Girl of your own, contact me here,

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Four People with Hammers

Four People with Hammers

series of four, 12 x16 inches ea. acrylic on canvas

$250.00 each, set of four $800.00

I had originally thought of doing a "Four Seasons" piece, something that I've been struggling with for some time, I believe one of the "process" labels goes to an entry where I was designing a "Four Seasons" series, anyways, it never succeeds. Instead I thought just doing some tone work with linking clouds would be enough and of course to give everyone a hammer.

I think as a foursome they look incredible together either in a line, or perhaps hung two above, two below.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Man Who Loved...vertical

The Man Who Loved Writing

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$300.00

from the series, "The Man/ The Woman Who Loved"

When I was buying the loads and loads of 12 x 12's I also purchased other variant 12 x sizes (16, 24 etc.) I had planned on using them for horizontal triptychs, of course that still will happen but I thought I would, for a little while at least move into a more vertical format and see what I could do with that. Friends have asked me to design a 12 x 36 or 18 x 36 piece for their house and I hadn't come up with anything, working in this format should help with that conundrum (we hope).

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Woman Who loved....

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano II

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

SOLD

available by contacting me

madcraftshoppe@live.com

enjoy the weather,

A.S.Hahn

News, Announcements, links etc.

We are currently exhibiting some work at Fleur de Lis Interior Design which is located at 294 Eglinton West, near Avenue road, if the name is familiar it is the firm owned by Peter Lunney and Eric McClelland whose work and advice frequently appear on City Line.

Here is a link to their site

http://www.fleurdelis.ca/

Here's a link to a "view it.ca" site that features one of my murals as a selling point to rent the apartment, who knew. Thanks to Sarah Uyede for the link

http://www.viewit.ca/vwExpandView.aspx?ViT=54694

A.S Hahn

more to come

The Man Who Loved...cont'd

The Boy Who Loved Airplanes

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$140.00

It's been a marathon day in the studio, actually the entire weekend has been wonderful. Lots of work coming quickly and feeling great as I lay it in, the being said I do have to tweak the head on this guy a little bit, but no big deal. There is also a second, "Man Who Loved Guitars" that I thought I could finish but his suit and pose was driving me to distraction and a very complicated 12 x 36 with many figures that is going to take some time. Grey suits, summer weight seem to be on my mind, it was one thing I wanted to buy for myself this summer, a nice weight summer suit, with beige shoes, but that money has since been allocated to other purchases, and this summer has been the dogs breakfast, so maybe next year.

I've been taking my breaks and going through a recent purchase which collects all of Norman Rockwell's covers for the Saturday Evening Post and looking through his sketches, photos of his second studio and getting into his work, not for the subject but I do dress my figures in 30's - 4o's styled clothes for the most part. Of course I gasp at the detail in the work, but consisitently remind myself that the average size of his work was around 48 x 36 inches, and he had lots of room to paint every dint and scuff on a leather shoe, where the average size of a man's head in my paintings is 1 inch. So maybe I'm asking for some sympathy after these long days.

Tuesday, I'll have some more news and info about where you can see some work in Toronto.

enjoy the storm,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Man Who Loved/ The Woman Who Loved

The Boy Who Loved the Water,

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano,

The Man Who Loved Guitars SOLD

each image is 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$140.00

This titles for this series occurred to me awhile ago, prior to the Desolation Row project, it doesn't take much to get me started when I want to paint, I do get stuck sometimes but when I ran into the concept of "The Man who loved...." or "The Woman who loved..." I just started writing down titles, I was sitting on the wonderful back patio at the Press Club surrounded by grape vines and a pear tree and I thought, "I love this...I love these grape vines..." and that was all it took.

I may be posting one or two (perhaps three) by the end of the day, I began working on this last week and then each day noodle around and let the images come out, I did do a prelim for the Guitar series but after that it was just research to find the right guitar.

If you've been familiar with my work since I began this blog you'll recognize the boy in the lifejacket as he was part of my visual vocabulary about four years ago and featured prominently in several paintings, I thought I'd bring him back to participate in these paintings.

I'll be adding a couple more links this week, keep an eye out for them, great blog sites to follow with your morning coffee.

best,
A.S.H
madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Wolves, The Sun, Words Pt.II & III

The Wolves

from the tritych, "The Sun, The Moon and the Wolves"

each piece 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$160.00 each / $400.00 for the Triptych

info in the previous post.

A.S.Hahn

Words.

The Moon, from the Tryptych, "The Sun, The Moon and The Wolves"

acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

$140.00 each. Tryptych $400.00

Taking a short break from the "Desolation Row" series to explore some other recent thoughts. As always I return to my Theatrical background - over the years as a scenic artist I painted many back drops and scrims, I always loved the more artificial aspects of the Theatre, large props, backdrops, heightened costume so I thought I'd spend some time here indulging that love, most contemporary Theatre I did was just "brown wash" work, I probably made new wood look like old more times than I care to count - it's what most strongly identified to the audience that it was a Canadian project - it was brown, usually involved a secret from the past and there was a joke every three lines of dialogue or so, Daniel McIvor wrote a short piece crucyfying this mode, though I forget what the piece was called.

Recently Curry's had a huge sale, spend $50.00 get $10.00 off, I cleaned out the Queen location and the Dundas location of their 12 x 12 canvases as it's my favourite size, (see top photo) this is where they reside. I posted a photo on Fbook and was contacted by a friend in Vancouver who said to write her name on the back of the 10 th and the 18 th canvases and when I got to them I would mail them to her. This, I think is a great way to do business, so feel free to request a number. It also led to a new extension, which is popular on some blogs that illustrators frequent called, "Illustration Friday" where a word is given and then people illustrate and post to the blog. I don't participate as I have never been one to join anything, this sometimes is a disadvantage, but I prefer just managing my own blogs. If you would like a word illustrated, similar to the above image you may contact me here with the word, it will be painted in a different alphabet, but it will be our secret. Each piece will be $140.00, triptychs $400.00

enjoy your long weekend,

A.S.Hahn

as alwasy copy this email address into your email message, as I still can't get it to work, balls.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days, #30, A Field Story Pt.II The Trial

A Field Story, Pt.II The Trial

series of six 12 x 12 inch canvases, acrylic

$700.00

I'd been wanting to do another "Field Story" series, not only was the response to the first piece immediate and overwhelmingly positive (sold the day I finished it also) I very much enjoyed the concept. A month or so ago I tried to do another, but realized I had no idea what it was about and scrapped the plans, after recently spending some time hanging around in a law firm the idea came quite quickly, take the last field story (see tags) and try to advance what had happened, vague as that is.

The first series implies that there was a murder of some kind, a sinister incident that took place in the country, observed by one character, who was titled "The Witness", there was an investigation of some kind, and now "The Witness" occupies the top panel of the new series as, "The Accused".

This idea appeals to me greatly to do an almost episodically linked series of works, so now I am eager to begin the next "chapter" of the series. Stay tuned.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #25-30, A Field Story Pt.II, "The Trial

The Deliberaion, the Argument, Justice, The Accused, The Press, The Judge

from the series, A Field Story Pt.II "The Trial

each image 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

set of six

$700.00

info to come.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days, #24

My schedule has been full of events, meetings, trundles around town, lots of busy painting and one heck of a summer cold, so I am back after two weeks hiatus. Two things about the above photos - someone mentioned to me that they noticed a lack of a male presence in my recent work, not 100 % accurate but something that should be addressed so the above will be an all male triptych, three 20 x 20 inch panels.

I also wanted to include process shots as I work on this piece as I think it will be interesting to watch it evolve over the next couple of weeks.

more to come,

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Breather

We are giving ourselves a break from the "50 Posts in 50 Days" project. A serious summer head cold has severely gummed up the works.

a la prochain
A.S Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts #23, Thomas Pynchon - weekend sale

Cover Illustration for Thomas Pynchon's "V" by Mark Penberthy, 1990.

The above is the cover of Thomas Pynchon's "V" one of my favourite books, I used to read it every summer along with,"To Kill A Mockingbird" but haven't touched it in about five years, it's time to get back into that habit. I posted the cover to compare it against the work that I've been doing since, "A Field Story" and "Silver" up until now. I hadn't thought of the book in a couple of years, even though it was sitting almost directly in front of my easel in the book shelf. There is something about the simplicity of the cover, the pose, light and application - it's left a great impression on my work. Ages ago I'd titled a painting, "The Whole Sick Crew" I never finished that piece, maybe I'll try it this weekend once I shake this cold out of my head.

Also for the weekend ALL of the Above 12 x 12's are on sale for $100.00 each unframed, instead of the usual $120.00

Will be posting more movies reviews tomorrow, Sissy Spacek in "Katherine" and maybe one more if I can stay up long enough tonight to finish it, it's something about F.Scott Fitzgerald.

We are down at Grateful Head, thank you so much Lysa Fina, we will be hung at Fleur De Lis next Tues. I believe, stay tuned for informations abouts thats.

best,

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts #22, more Book Thievery

The Book Thief 3, The Book Thief 4

acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

SOLD and on RESERVE

If these posts seem to be coming quickly all of these pieces that I posted today were begun on the weekend, it's only now that I get to finish them and there are three more works to come which I can hopefully finish by Saturday.

"Love is Forever" was a made for TV film starring Michael Landon as a photojournalist secretly sending articles on abuse by the Laotian Gov't to Western news agencies, he is caught, forced to leave but decides to return to rescue the woman he loves. Who goes with him even though her family will no doubt be killed, the actress who played her used to work in porn, so they changed her name so know one would now - thank you IDb.

This film looks almost rotoscoped the transfer is so horrific, it also stars the guy who played "the Equalizer" , Edward Woodward, as his friend who teaches him how to scuba dive and Priscilla Presley - what her role is in this film I can't tell you, she's just around for ten minutes of it or so.

The villain is played by Jurgen Prochnow, who has played this role in many other films, he wants Michael Landon dead, so they go into a ring in front of thousands and kick box each other - no joke.

The next film was,"Project Kill" starring Leslie Nielson as a Jason Bourne type leader of a ring of Gov't assassins who takes off to get out of the life and they chase him down and....kill him, yes, they kill him, the lead dies in probably the first, "Blow to the nose cartilage into the brain" action ever done in Western film.

Leslie used to be a serious actor (this film works both as action and a comedy- though clearly not planned by the film makers) Leslie can incapacitate two guys at once with a double Karate chop (amazing.) and spends every minute of the film, when he isn't fighting looking off into the distance at something we can't see ( inner peace, lunch table).

This film also has "mystical mind control music" because the assassins of "Project Kill" are all on injections that make them slaves to the Gov't and if they go off them they go crazy and make Naked Gun films.

These are the early days of action films had karate sequences without anyone actually knowing Karate, every woman you met wanted to bone you and instantly falls in love after a night in the sack and men in polyester slacks were dangerous to know.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts #20, Studies for a Larger Work

Woman on a Crow,

Woman on a Red Tailed Hawk SOLD

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00 ea.

These two pieces are studies for a commission, my sketches turned out nicely but I wanted to get warmed up and have my own painted references for the work to refer to - expect to see it in a couple of days.

These were finished watching (I say watching, but it's mostly listening) to a film that actually SHOULD be remade, "The Swiss Conspiracy" (1976) is a pretty fine thriller involving blackmail at a Swiss bank. W.P Hassenstein's music is fantastic, there are some great cars in the film and just enough sex and intrigue to keep you guessing up until the end - I should actually watch the ending again as I"m not really sure who did it - but one guy does fall off a mountain, which is always a great audience reward.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #19, I surrender!

Canadian Girl (white flag)

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

It seems I've fallen behind in the daily posting, but things have gotten complicated around here, my usual faith in people is being dismantled like a lego wall, brick by bright and shining brick. So today and for the next few days I will be here at the easel getting caught up on finishing work and trying to maintain my lego like confidence in the human race.

I recently purchased, "Star Power" which is a collection of 20 old films on DVD, the above piece was finished while watching the Frank Sinatra Classic, "The Man with the Golden Arm" this was back in the days of film when a guy could be named, "Frank ie Machine" and no one thought it was strange. Here are just two quick things to look for in the film, the performance of Kim Novak as "Molly" oh Golly, she's a vision and of course easy to run to when Machine "the Dealer" finally turns his back on his cloying and annoying wife Zosch. Comedic actor Arnold Stang kills it as "Sparrow" Frankie's right hand man servant, who gets all the great idiot savant lines, think of him as a dirtier, faster , street wise version of Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man". Finally Ol' Blue Eyes strikes at our very hearts with a modern dance piece where he is going through withdrawl and flips and rolls around a hotel room that he's locked into, unfortunately it is so choreographed that it looks like some of the modern dance I saw in my student days at York University. The Bernstein score is fantastic.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Get to the Fringe Festival!

50 Posts in 50 Days #18, EAR SLAUGHTER!

Meant to get this up yesterday, but just didn't have the time (lots to do around here). Murder Squad are going on tour folks, and not just any tour, the Ear Slaughter Tour! Phone call goes something like this,

"Hey Shay, it's Murder Mike, I meant to ask you yesterday when I saw you but I forgot (musicians) and I know it's short notice but can you do a poster ?"

"Of course man Id' love t- "

"Great! Okay, what I need you to do is the skull faced cat guy you designed (see above and in Tshirt tags) smashing a guys head in with a Flying V Guitar, cuz the tour is called Ear Slaughter"

"Okay, I'll get it to you on Mon-"

*click*

And here it is, I don't have the finished artwork, I added lots more chains and shading to the figure, tried to push the high contrast, what looks great is that the dreadlocks seem to turn into chains. You know why this is so damn cool ? I'll tell you, this is my Eddie, (Iron Maiden's mascot, c'mon people) this guy up here who is quickly becoming a way to identify , Murder Squad by TShirt and Poster is my design and he's evolving as Eddie evolves, I'll probably do another couple of drawings of him for the band for that same reason. This will also be a TShirt, not sure when the printing will get done, but I'll post a photo of my Mom wearing one soon.

Expect a couple of posts today, things are nearing completion

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #17, Love Taps

Hot and Cold Running Love Taps

these can be ordered any time, I have two left,

$80.00 each

3 - 6 x6 inch canvases in reclaimed wooden frame

People just love them, a great addition to any bathroom. But if you buy one you have to pay me on time, unlike everyone else on this planet.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #16, Working with the Titans

Untitled

2- 20 x20 inch canvases, acrylic

$600.00 each

$1000.00 Diptych

more on this later, but if you are interested, buy now - she won't last.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days, # 14, #15, Revisiting...

Pilot, Woman with a City II

20 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas

commission

Finally OH Sweet Jesus in Heaven, finally! "The Woman with a City" piece, the first one and this commissioned piece were making me nuts. The posture and shadow of the figure dominated in the composition - being at the half way mark of the painting, it really became, "A painting about an Ass" the city was completely lost. As much as my good pal, L.Rooke liked that aspect of the piece, it had to change and through magic of hard work, skill and toning ( lightening the top and bottom of the work, shortening the arms, reducing shadow) - the piece now works, and works well - so disregard the post from a few days ago.

I have a ton of work to do this week, so I may not post tomorrow, but wanted to get these two very successful pieces up for you to see.

And of course something I should've added months ago, but forgot, I was asked what was the name of the show at the Cameron House, and I said, "Silver" and whoever it was (I talk to alot of people) asked why I chose that title, there was nothing "silver" in the show really, it wasn't a dominant colour, it was just a title, I realized I never told anyone why - here are the lyrics to "Silver" by the Pixies, this song inspired the beginnings of Silver - mostly the lyrics, the song was playing in the studio, actually I think it was playing while I was sketching at the Done Right Inn (which is a great place to sketch because people leave you alone, unlike the Cloak *strangle* *strangle*) and scribbled off at least ten pages of ideas. There's also a link to the video on YouTube.

Silver"

'in this land of strangers

there are dangers

there are sorrows

i can't see this lady

it is shady

i am leaving

tomorrow

tomorrow

tomorrow

even there's a reason

it's silver

it's gone

in this land of strangers

there are dangers

there are sorrows

sorrows

sorrows

sorrows

-The Pixies

Yes, I know I could just post the video, but this is not a video site, go check out Ryeberg for that, this is a site for my work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1GFWRicUmU

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

madcraftshoppe@gmail.com

50 Posts #13, Woman with Wings

Woman with Wings III

18 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas

DESTROYED

A.T wrote,

"This story is only a little bit about bicycles.I had a beautiful canary named Pepper when I was a child. One day I came home from school and he was lying dead in his cage, soaking wet and obviously drowned. I was devastated. My parents would not confess to knowing anything about it. I knew that they were lying. I jumped on my bike and tore off full tilt. When I was rounding a corner I hit gravel, miscalculated the brakes and hit a wall.20 years later I was at a party in honor of my parents. A woman stood up and told a story about meeting my father for the first time. She had come to our house to introduce herself. As he was pouring milk for her tea, a dead canary floated out of the jug and into her cup. The room exploded with laughter. My parents refused to acknowledge that they had never told me. I was shocked and devastated.I went outside, lit a smoke, and kicked a wall. "

The above story contains both birds and bicycles - no small feat. Below is a bicycle story from E.S

I left my pee on Dundas Street:

It's my birthday and I am riding back home with my partner. We are expecting guests for dinner. The day is beautiful and he has taken me to buy my gift. But, it didn't really work out that way.The story goes something like this::.He wanted to hear about my night with a former lover. It wasn't a topic I wanted to discuss at that moment but his pain ferments very differently than mine. Not to mention his own lethargy from a grueling break-up with his lover. I was not right of mind. My confusion took me away from him as he rode ahead. I have missed my opportunity through traffic and end up turning the corner. I hate talking. My mouth doesn't work and my brain doesn't connect. Too much is missing, like the sense was knocked out. I am still trying to recover from the blows of the night before.

Yes, it is my birthday. My naked day. My freedom day. Freedom day – that's funny. It is in the moment of conception that our freedom is revoked. Trapped in a small shell with small skin in a small sack in a small womb in a small yet accommodating belly only to be pushed through a small hole. Usually. On this particular day, freedom isn't overly forthcoming. My partner is putting on his brave face in order to hide his animosity. His laugh isn't genuine and neither are the arms he wraps around me. No, today we don't feel very free. Where does this leave me? Day dreaming. Wondering if having other lovers is where my path lies. Day dreaming. Watching my partner ride farther away from me.

Day dreaming and missing my opportunity through traffic, risking my life, then attempting to jump a curb only to crash the front tire into said curb, hitting my nearly full bladder on my handle bars and in turn – leaving my pee on Dundas St.. A puddle to be exact. I stood there, staring at the puddle under my bike, not even caring if people were around. Tears streamed down my face. The salty drops falling into my pee puddle. But it wasn't grief or embarrassment or exhaustion; I was just grateful to be pantyless in a skirt.

We'll be taking a break from the Women with Wings, as my love affair with feathers came to a crashing end with this painting. I wanted it to be a "daylight" work , so I didn't push/pull the chiascuro too much, but would like to do something similar that is "war" related - that may have to be a commission.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #12, Fearless Nazi Killer Commission

Will be out of the studio until Sunday, but I thought I'd post the almost completed, "Fearless Nazi Killer" commission, the email went something like this, " I want a painting of myself fighting Nazi's on a sinking flaming U Boat, with my dog "Megatron Scruffmeister" by my side. We snuck on board on a rowboat named ,"Jenny", Jenny is my wife's name, I name all my boats Jenny."

So after one horrible false start, (see somewhere below in the blog) we come to this (almost) completed bit of artistic mastery. It is very rare that you get a client like this coming along - I cherish them. He plans on framing the piece in heavy oak with a bronze plaque thanking his family for keeping the shipping lanes open during WW II - how genius is that ?

Hopefully when this is done I"ll have a photo to add. These kinds of commissions are usually filed under "My husband's room is in the basement", but that's fine by me, I like to see a nice big painting (this is 24 x 27 inches) beside an xbox 360.

Oh, where was I for the past two days ? Just be patient and you'll see.

New work will be posted on Sunday, lots of sketches completed.

If you'd like a picture of yourself or a loved one fighting Nazi's or zombies, zombie Nazi's (ahh Wolfenstein, I miss you) contact me below.

cheers,
A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts #11, Canadian Girl OUT OF STUDIO REPLY

Canadian Girl (Calgary Brush Fire)

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

available by contacting me

As stated in the previous post I won't be around today, Friday may be dodgy too, so here's a gal to keep you warm while I'm away. ALSO please use madcraftshoppe@gmail.com for the time being, while I sort these pricks at MSN out.

A.S.H

50 Posts #10, Woman with a City 2

Woman with a City II,

20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

commission

I'm going to post a couple more times today, tomorrow I'll be out of the studio and want to get a head of my posting if I get delayed, and can't post on Friday. This is another commission based on work from "Silver" (see tabs). For this piece and the others we are moving the subjects into a more positive/day light. I still have some toning work to do on this piece, but nothing to serious, so I thought I would get the piece posted and then get back to work.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts #9, Death and Budgies

Woman with Wings II

18 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas

(ON RESERVE)

I'm trying to do a third, but not having much luck with it, I may have taken this as far as it can go. Here are some anecdotes about birds, enjoy, I did.

P.F wrote:
The day after my granddad died, a swallow flew into our living room and lit on the chair where he would always sit. After a few seconds it then flew into the dining room and circled my granddad's chair and then flew back out the patio window.My dad and I couldn't believe it.

S.E wrote:
do you really want to hear about my foster budgie William? He died the same weekend as my grandfather. It's now officially more funny than touching or sad ,the timing and circumstances of William's death, not my grandfather's.

B.M wrote:
Continuing with the budgie them...When we were younger the rules were simple: Green budgies were namd Sammy.Blue budgies were named Timmy.Then one day Timmy III laid an egg.... t really screwed us up.

L.L wrote:
When I was about 10, my mom and dad did renos in the kitchen, including glueing new linoleum. They forgot to move my budgie Coco out of the kitchen, and the poor little thing died of a glue overdose.


P.F (added)
Speaking of budgies...my ex and I had a lovely blue budgie that we named Fergal. We left him with a friend when we went on our honeymoon. When we picked him up, there were 2 budgies in the cage. Our friend had found a green budgie in her backyard and thought Fergal might need a friend. We kept him and named him Seamus. Anyway, we figured that since Seamus grew up on the streets of East Van, he was a tough bastard and scared the living hell out of poor Fergus and constantly tramatized him.

C.M.T wrote:
A neighbour's daughter found a fledgling robin out of its nest, and has raised it with night crawlers. A couple of nights ago it took flight, but comes back every few hours demanding to be fed, and no one is at home, it goes to the neighbours and carries on until someone gets a spade and digs up some worms. It is beautiful, all speckled, but will come right up to your feet and loudly cheep "Feed me! Feed me!"

N.O wrote:
When I was a kid, one of my teachers asked me to dog sit her two Bichon Frise dogs. In return she would give me two of the Peach Faced lovebirds she bred. One of the dogs drowned in my neighbours pool. It was one of the worst days of my life (I'm welling up just thinking about it). My teacher still gave me the love birds, which was, I think very big of her. Lovebirds don't like to be alone, so when one of the two died, we had a to find a new mate post-haste for the widower.

S.E (Finished)
you want trauma? Come home from your grandfather's funeral to an empty cage with a post it on it:"sue - i didn't know what to do. please call me. Saundra"

M.M wrote:
our pet rat ripped the leg off our pet finch, when i was 15, at which point i figured he ought to eat the rest of it.

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #8, Spring commission

Woman with Paper Dolls

20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

commission

This was a recent commission, a variant on the unfinished "Medea" piece from "Silver" which was then altered to be "Woman with Crows" (see tags, "Silver"). I do believe that this is much more successful than my original attempt, the positioning of the dolls etc, the brighter sky work to make a strong, appealing piece.

I don't have much time to write as I have several pieces to finish, but I would like to thank the folks who have sent me anecdotes over the past week, many of them will be posted here as the work they correspond to is completed.

it's a beautiful day,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com