Covered Blog, Last Day at the Cameron House

First up, the big news that I forgot to share yesterday, Covered is one of my favourite blogs on the Internet, a site where artists/illustrators/designers etc. redo their favourite comic covers. It's an incredibly popular site. Yesterday, my cover was posted, here's the link that will toake you there, http://coveredblog.blogspot.com/

Today is the last day to see, "Come On Pilgrim" at the Cameron House, I'll be there from 5:30- 7:oo pm if there is something you'd like to pick up, look at etc. Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers are playing from 6-8 pm, Sue and Dwight are on from 3:30-5:30, not sure who is playing in the evening, I think "Tarantula" are playing, and they are quite good on record.

Several folks came by to pick up their muppets yesterday, you can still commission them at your leisure, I have a very busy couple of weeks of commissions ahead of me, so I will try to fit in your orders, I'm sure it won't be a problem.

A.Shay Hahn

send me your distress calls by typing

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Quiet Place, commission

A Quiet Place to Call My Own (fiddle) V, IV

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$340.00

Here we have two versions of "A Quiet Place to Call My Own (fiddle)" this piece was commissioned and since I love the image so much I decided to take two views of a the woman on the roof, which gets a great response from people, everything from the obvious, "Fiddler on the Roof" reference to a surprising Sept. 11th reference. I'll let you know when the client has chosen the image that they want.

Also be sure to visit the blog tomorrow,so you can see a very exciting announcement and link.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Tomorrow is Muppet Friday, 5-7pm at the Cameron House

Hi Ho, so this is the last week of "Come On Pilgrim" at the Cameron House, I'll be hanging out tomorrow from 5-7 pm and look who's keeping me company! I started these portraits as a way to warm up for a day of painting and of course they quickly took over my days. Each muppet is

6 x 6 inches, acrylic on canvas, $40.0 each.

These are being sold on a first come, first served basis so swing by right at 5pm and you'll get the muppet that you want. That being said a couple of them are being reserved, but we'll sort that out later.

hope to see you tomorrow,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Out of Office Reply

Hey there, I won't be around a computer for the day so people who are coming by the Cameron House to pick up their work/ see the show, I'll be there from 5-7 pm.

I will also be there next Friday from 5-7 pm, the last day of the show is Sat. the 29th.

There are other days I'll be around as we enter the last week of the show, but for formal, guranteed attendance, let's keep it to Fridays from 5-7pm.

Off to build a ton of frames, that's what I do now, many many little frames, no big ones. etc.etc.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

just don't expect to hear from me today.

p.s like it says over their on the stupid Twitter feed, no shows until the fall, buy now.

Commissions and pigs

The Top two pieces were recently commissioned, this isn't the finished photo, but a process shot, I didn't grab a finished picture, but pushed the skies alot more and did lots of highlighting. They turned out really well and under a deadine. The next is a Cup of Pigs, I needed practice painting pigs, so I figured the only way to get them to stay still was to jam them in a cup.

Why am I sneezing ?

we'd love to hear from you, Come on Pilgrim is at the Cameron House until the end of the month and then no shows until the fall.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

New Additions.

Proper Villains (For Sale by Owner), Proper Villains (Target Practice),

Save the Bicylces!, I Cannot Tell A Lie
all pieces are 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas,framed

$160.00 each.

Cameron House, current display Monday May 17

Man with a Hammer (white shirt) $180.00, Lady with an Axe ($180.00), Deep Sea Diver with Drum ($200.00)

The Night Tree ($340.00), Cup of Crows SOLD
The Painter's Assistants ($1000.00), Deep Sea Diver with Drum II ($200.00)
The Night Shepherd ($160.00)

A Cup of Black Cats ($160.00), Wolves ($160.00) Save the Bicycles! ($160.00)

The Book Thief ($160.00) A Quiet Place to Call My Own ($160.00)

Boy with Trumpet ($160.00), I Cannot Tell A Lie ($160.00)

Man with a Hammer (black shorts, $180.00) The Woman who Loved Her Guitar ($160.00)

Proper Villains (for Sale by Owner, $160.00) Proper Villains (Target Practice, $160.00)

Girl with a Cat fish ($160.00) Artemis ($160.00)
The Man Who Loved His Guitar ($160.00)

more photos to come as things change, work is selling steadily so contact me if you want something.

Show comes down at the end of May, have a great week and a better long weekend.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

In case you think we're resting.

So it's the middle of the show at the Cameron House, we've got about two weeks left until it comes down. I had hoped to be posting some photos here this morning of new work that is hanging there for you to see. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera down with me, so I'll have to post them Monday or Tuesday, which means another trip to Queen and Spadina, no problem I have a shopping list of stuff that I need to stock up the studio. I'm in the middle of two commissions right now and will be hard at it for the next couple of days, you probably won't see anything here until Monday, so I figured that I would post some news/schemes to tide you over until I come back. That's right, I'm going to write some stuff here for a change.

I often write about my love of multiples, collections etc. I went into the shop for a couple more days last week and built TWENTY THREE of these little black frames, I'd done a bunch for the end of the Press Club show and people loved them, they just flew off the walls, I'll work on about four at a time and then start posting them here for you to see when, "Come On Pilgrim" comes down, don't want to confuse anyone who may think that these will be there if you go to the Cameron House. What I'd like to do with these is have them all prepped for the Press Club Anniversary party, which is TWO DAYS of some of the best music in this city going for 48 hrs. straight, it's a bloody brilliant music marathon and I'd like to have 28 of these on display and just sell them off at $40.oo each, that's the second weekend in July, if memory serves.

One significant way my life has changed in the past three years is that I rarely listen to music unless I'm out, I just don't play music in my home anymore, I find it too distracting, I've discussed this here before but as a result when I hear a song that I like I play it to death like a twelve year old girl (no offence to any twelve year old girls reading this). I have already begun sourcing poses/tones for the next show I'd like to do, and the entire thing hinged on the lyrics listed below, here's a youtube link also. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec3rCamoyQs .

Funny that for a guy who doesn't listen to music two of the past three shows take their titles from songs/albums. What I'd like to do when I get about ten of the pieces finished is have an advance showing at "Musa" which is one of the best "first date" restaurants in this city, (and a kick ass brunch if you can get a seat on the patio in the summer), it's located across from the Press Club on Dundas West. If you've never been, I don't know what you're waiting for. This will probably happen in October or November and what I mean by "advance" is that it's not going to be a series that I show at the Press Club in December, it's going to be for one year from now, for a show in May, it's going to be expensive, all framed 20 x20 pieces, done in oil and worth every big bad penny, I hope to finance my winter to finish more work for the show by selling the first ten in advance, call me crazy, but if what I have in mind is successful you'll be glad that you heard about this early.

"Come On Pilgrim" is up at the Cameron House until the end of May, message me here for commissions and general inquiry.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

"i don't really need to see,so i don't need to see

so i'll paint,i don't know, i'll paint it black.

i don't need to see,i don't see how you see out of your window,

i don't need to see, i'll paint mine black.

i don't know me and you don't know you,

so we fit so good together cuz i knew you like i knew myself.

we clung on like barnacles on a boat,

even though the ship sinks you know you can't let go.

i was talking like two hands knocking,saying

'"let me in, let me in, please come out."

black glass, dirt-based soap,tell yourself what you know.

my friends, oh my friends,

bury your head i'll help you bury your plans.

hard hit, hard to miss, problems are what a problem is.

my light came up quick, call it your asterisk,

buried ina boys. in a boys first book of the stars

saw it as satellite, constant unblinking as,

buried in the bottom of a bottom of a brackish lake."

"barnacles"

Ugly Casanova

Deep Sea Divers, I see them when I sleep...

Deep Sea Diver with Drum II, Deep Sea Diver with Acoustic Guitar, Deep Sea Diver with Drum

each painting is 12 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$200.00 each

I'll be at the Cameron House tomorrow from 5-7pm, come on by and check out the show.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Deep Sea Divers

Deep Sea Diver with Fiddle

14 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$240.00

I would happily spend my summer doing commissions of Deep Sea Divers playing instruments. After this week the price will be raised to $260.00 each

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Cups of Crows and Cats

A Cup of Crows, A Cup of Black Cats

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$160.00 each

Working on a couple of commissions right now that are going very well, will be hanging new work on Thursday from 5-7pm if you'd like to see the show. Corin Raymond and the Sundowners will be playing the front room.

Come On Pilgrim is at the Cameron House until the 30th of May

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

High Park Alternative School

On Friday I was invited to speak to kids at the High Park Alternative School, a really great event that was put together by parents of students there. Professional artists of every stripe, dancers, harmonica players (Jerome Godboo! Oh Yeah!), choir leaders (Daryl Huggins! Oh YEAH!), visual artists (people with lots of time in the afteroon, ME! Oh YEAH!) were brought in to speak and answer questions, show their work,demonstrate techniques etc,etc. for the youth.

I had a great time with the kids, the only thing I had a problem with was that I was not used to talking for three and a half hours straight, now, if you know me you'd think, "But when we hang out, you don't shut up." Well, gentle reader, stand at the front of the class and talk for three hours straight, it's not like a conversation with the pauses and sips of coffee, the thinking etc. it's straight up talk and answer the question. This is something that I used to be good at, but since it's been awhile my skills were out of shape. I still had a fantastic time and sincerely thank the school and S.Bramer for inviting me.

New work has been put up at the Cameron House, I'm going to be there on Thursday from 5-7 pm, if you'd like to see the show and hang out. I will also be posting new work this week that will be replacing some things that have been sold. If you are purchasing a piece and picking it up Thursay, please let me know by TUESDAY. So I have something to fill the spot that you are vacating.

talk soon,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Tour of The Cameron House, post show May 3rd

The Log Driver's Waltz SOLDCanadian Girl at the Breakwater SOLD

The Night Tree (red books) II SOLD

A Quiet Place to Call My Own SOLDDeep Sea Diver with Banjo $240.00

Girl with a Drum, The Last Band $160.00, Woman with wings $240.0,

Girls Carrying Birdhouses $180.00, Man with Hammer, black shorts $180.00

Lady with an Axe, black dress SOLD

Lady with an Axe IV $180.00, Lady with an Axe, black dress SOLD

The Book Thief $160.00,A Cup of Crows SOLD, A Quiet Place to Call My Own $160.00

Coffee Dogs SOLD, The White Rowboat I $400.00, The White Rowboat II $400.00

Deep Sea Diver with Accordion SOLD,The Dog Who Got Drunk and thought he was a lion SOLD
The Painter's Assistants $1000.00, Deep Sea Diver with Moon $280.00, The Night Sheperd $160.00

Lady with an Axe, blonde hair $280.00,Lady with Lanterns, $280.00
Waiting for the Lake to Freeze $280.00,Man with a Hammer, white shirt $180.00
Lady with an Axe, red hair $180.00,The Night Tree $340.00

There are a couple of photos missing but I think this gives a good idea of just how great the show looks in the Cameron House. I planned it out to the inch and it paid off, the work is grouped perfectly. I am pretty tired today and just working on a couple of kids letters (see tag:the alphabet shoppe) that I need to deliver tomorrow, but it's a slow day and I don't feel half as rushed as I have for the past three weeks.

People really love the show, they also really love the music of Ron Leary, who, with Dean Drouillard and Wes Neall, gave us great songs to go along with a wonderful evening. I am always touched that people come out for these events, they bring their kids, we get caught up, have a few laughs and warm up a room, these days people are spread pretty thin, with jobs, commitments etc. It means a great deal to me that they come.

Of course the only thing that seems strange is how "naked" the 16 x 20 pieces look beside their framed, smaller friends. I'm going into the shop tomorrow and Wednesday to build about 20 more frames, so I'll probably frame the 16 x 20's you see above, raise the price by $40.00 and sell them instantly. I'd said a few posts back how sick I am of building them, but really, I made my bed so I may as well lie in it.

The show is up until the end of the month, if there is something you like, it's time to buy. If you would like to commission a piece, holler at me here.

thanks again to Cosmo Ferraro, Cindy Matthews, The Cameron House, Ron Leary, J.Brown, R.N McDougall, D.J Morum, F.Kean and all the folks who came out.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Cameron House, Queen West.Toronto ON

The Night Tree (red books) II

12 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$340.00

Tomorrow I hang the show at the Cameron, the Opening Reception begins at 5pm. I'd like to thank T.Hayes for reccomending that I tell people exactly where the Cameron House is. The Cameron House is located one block west of Queen and Spadina on Queen Str. It's on the North side of the street, right on the corner. It is covered in sculptures of ants, the side of the building is painting with a mural of a smile, the front is a mural of a beautiful blonde woman.

hope to see you tomorrow,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com