The New Studio is almost set up, The Royal Families is moving

I'm almost finished setting up the new studio, but thought I'd take a break to write to you and play some Half Life 2 on the old (old) xbox, there are only a few bibs and bobs left to do and I'm pretty excited about the layout and getting back to work after a month of taking it easy. As you can see in the corner I've set up a dedicated aread for building and shooting Any How Town.
Today is the last day to see "the Royal Families" at the Cameron House, but hey Corin Raymond is playing from 6-8pm so why not take this time to head down there.
 I'm taking the show down tomorrow and moving selected pieces from The Royal Families and a bunch of older work to the Press Club (850 Dundas West) for the month of July. I am discounting a few of the paintings, because there just isn't as much room here to store them all and I refuse to move them to the East End, I'll be posting photos of what is at the Press Club and which works are slightly reduced in price.
enjoy the sun,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Any How Town is where it's at folks

After today for those who are interested in what I'm up to besides painting please join me over on the "Any How Town" blog (see links) it's the resource/research for a book I'm writing that began as a graphic novel and has morphed into something alot more fun (I don't mean GN's aren't fun, I buy them all the time, it's just I'd have to do the whole thing myself, write it, draw it AND ink it and it would never be done). 
 I will be posting some commissioned work but I am taking the summer to get AHT going, this is a place for folks of all ages, you can read some posts to your kids, show them the goofy models I've been making and sketches of folks who live in the town, email me there questions about certain people etc. and I'll be sure to write back.
 Hope to see you at the Cameron House today from 5-8pm the show comes down July 1rst, so the LAST day is the 30th, I will update here if any work sells today so you know what is still available if you can't make it down. It's also okay to buy directly in cash from the bar staff, ATM on site.
cheers, would love to hear from you
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn's "The Royal Families" at the Cameron House, Closing Reception

It's the end of an era and a start to something new and wonderful as I finish packing up my studio in the West End and moving to the East End, it's been a great four years here and I really feel that I came into my own working in the space day in and day out. Almost everything has been moved except these two big "coffins" which I've used as easels/painting and supply storage for a number of years, once they get set up I'll really know that I have moved.

I'd like to remind you to come on out this Saturday, June 25th from 5-8pm to the Cameron House for the closing party of "The Royal Families" music will be supplied by Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers, it would be great to see you there, the show is up at the Cameron until the 30th of June and you can see the work if you just scroll down the blog. Also if you want to go by early Corin Raymond and the Sundowners are playing the front room today and they are not to be missed, yes, I say that alot about the bands in the front room of the Cameron but I do so with good reason, they are some of the best this city has to offer.

cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Andrew Shay Hahn's "the mad craft shoppe", what I do...

Hey welcome to "the mad craft shoppe" the main site for all the work that I produce, you can see new paintings, works in progress, posters and TShirts for bands and everything just by navigating the links section.

• For band concepts posters etc, see the link "pub life sketches" also "Tshirt designs"
• For current and past shows head to the links "The Royal Families", (50), "Come on Pilgrim", "Silver", "Lost Houses" and "Fables" you can navigate these and see what I've been up to over the years.
• If you've arrived at this site looking for my popular kids letters that brighten up rooms all over the place just go to the link (right side bar "links") "the alphabet shoppe".
• and if you're here because you're interested in the ongoing development of my series of books "Any How Town" you can get the advance into in the links section at "Any How Town"
• You can also join my page on facebook, Andrew Shay Hahn's (the mad craft shoppe) which is new as my HUGE group was archived for no good reason, and you can follow me on twitter to know when new posts come up (see right sidebar).

A reminder that "the Royal Families" is up at the Cameron House until the end of June, the Closing Reception is Saturday, June 25th from 5-8pm with music by "Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers".

I always appreciate getting emails and feedback from folks who've come to the site, feel free to send me a message
best,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Reverend Uncle Bastard TShirt.

                        Here's the almost finished design, just a few touch ups and she'll be good to go!
                                                      When the shirt is done, you'll see it here.
                                                                          A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Concepts, Creation and Dancing Nuns

I love doing design and poster work for bands, it's a great switch from painting, but I hate inking, most of the work I do is as simple as possible, the name of the band and a "one hit" image (see the link pub life sketches for other concepts I've done). I believe band posters/ T's should be as simple as possible, legible from a distance and easy to remember.

A couple of days ago I was chattin' with S.Barber at the Cameron and he was talking about going out on a tour by himself, maybe bringing along another musician but he wanted a name for the solo tour, I immediately started scribbling down names and we settled on "the Reverend Uncle Bastard".  I headed home and started doing some small sketch breakdowns.

The first (top left) looked a little too Vault of Horror to really show what the tour was about. Mr. Barber likes playing Honky Tonk songs and gospel tunes, I moved away (top right) from the horror lettering and got into the classic tattoo look, channeling some ideas about snake handlers, I liked the vibe and will finish this design in time but I feel that the Ed Hardy clothing line has really done a job on Classic Tattoos and has made them look tired and trite (which is a shame as half the work I have is classic styled). I did hit on something with the snake handling and decided to instead do some dancing snake handling nuns.  This made me smile.
so (center) here's the first breakdown awaiting his approval, hopefully this is what will be used as the TShirt and poster. I think it has "cross" appeal and is fun and could be worn by anybody.

Head to the Cameron to see "the Royal Families"
all the best,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

UPDATE 2:35 pm, Client loves final concept, will proceed with final drawing, will post shirts when printed.

The Royal Families, coveted, "This Guy" Status Expanded.

So the work has started to shuffle it's way out of the Cameron House and I will be bringing down the Deep Sea Divers and skeletal Mariachi from the Press Club, to add to the walls over the next couple of days. I'm still pretty burnt out and am just working on some small commissions for now I simply don't have the energy for anything else. I'll be sure to post photos of what goes up at the Press Club and the new work at the Cameron. A reminder that the Closing is Saturday, June 25th, 5-8pm with Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers supplying the music.

Awhile back on fb I jokedthat I had finally reached "This Guy" status as an artist in Toronto, as in "I love this guy's work!", "This guy's work is awesome.". Below is a post that gets us a little closer to name recognition.

"Decided against a 5 star, simply because my limited experience in the area would make that a very hasty call. That being said, I friggin love this place. The few times I've been so far were welcoming and relaxed experiences. Really nice layout and vibe, excellent artwork by A.Shay.. something. The bands have also always been very entertaining, great showmanship and good pace. From a newbies perspective, this place immediately feels like home."
-Alex H. reviewing the Cameron House on "Yelp.com"
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/cameron-house-toronto

enjoy the sun, contact me below
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Royal Families, Welcome to the Cameron House (photo tour)

Here's a quick photo tour of "the Royal Families" at the Cameron House for the month of June, all work is 10x12inches, acrylic on canvas, framed $160.00 each.

The painting "Woman with Wings (coup sticks) has sold, all other work is currently available for purchase in advance from the bar staff, don't worry you can take it home on the date of purchase and there is an atm on site.

The Closing event is Saturday, June 25th from 5-8pm with music supplied by Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers if you would like to meet me in person in advance of the Closing to discuss the work, please contact me at the email address below.

what a beautiful day,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

also here are some great bands playing the front room this week that are not to be missed,

tonight Kevin Quain 9pm, June 6th The Sure Things & the Magnificent 7's 6-8pm, David Gavan Baxter 10pm,June 7th Elana McMurtry 6-8pm, June 9, New Country Rehab 6-8 and Jack Marks at 10pm

The Royal Families, oh where oh where have you been ?

Hey folks, this is the longest I've gone without posting since going to Cuba, yes it's been three or maybe four days without a new painting being posted but I took the week off. I have been moving more stuff  from one studio to the new studio, got the show up, the Closing Reception is Saturday the 25th of June from 5-8pm at the Cameron House with Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers, and just decided to take it easy for a week. I'm sure that if I pushed it I would've ended up with a cold and that wasn't going to cut it.

 I'll be slowing down on the posting for next week also, I have two or three small commissions to work on but I want to get into a more relaxed groove finishing them and doing the final builds for Any How Town (see links) and then after that I think I'm going to try to write and maybe finish most of the first story the following week. What I mean is write the big wide draft of the story and then start to fill it in.

Oh yeah, my phone is acting up so if you are trying to contact me via  phone, just send my an email instead, should have a new phone by Monday or so.

hope you'll head to the Cameron either on the 25th or before if there's something you like, have a great weekend.
A.S.Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

also tonight is the Press Club's 4rth Annivesary under the Hickey Brother's stewardship so head there to hear Alan Pigguns play at 10:30 or hit up the beautiful patio out back. Also this weekend you can see Casey McGlynn's (my favourite Toronto Painter) new show at Bau-Xi gallery or Kirsten Johnson's new show "Prom Storm" at KWT Contemporary, both will be great shows to see and all within walking distance of the Cameron House.