The first decision I made working on "Popular Mechanics" was a change in palette and for this show (obviously influenced by the lifejackets I've been painting for Red Fish restaurant) I chose, or rather, the colours chose, Deep Crimson, VanDyke brown, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red, orange, yellow ochre and a new tone in the skies a strange mix of prussian blue, deep crimson, burnt umber and white that has really tied the "ground" colours together.
It is a "daytime" series, not alot of night time adventures for the hooded characters and puppeteers who are now ranging around a landscape that is more reminiscent of a farm or a battlefield than the river's edge or tall grasses that I've been setting my characters in for the past five years.
If you would like to see the work develop just log onto facebook and go to "Andrew Shay Hahn (the mad craft shoppe)" to see. I'm not going to post all the photos here, there are far too many process shots and it's easier to dump them in a fb album.
As I'm sitting working on the pieces one thought (and doubt) is at the forefront of my mind, that this isn't a show about my work - it's about being an artist and what it takes to advance as an artist, not staying in one place, changing things up and taking a few risks. I am very happy with this decision - the doubt is some people saying "I liked his other work better, etc" but there's no time for that. If you buy one of my pieces you are buying a piece by A.Shay Hahn, irregardless of colour, pose, props etc.
This is where my work is now - it's where it's supposed to be.
I'll be sure to let you know when the pieces are hung at Red Fish (expect the final two to be posted today or tomorrow) and as always please head to the Press Club (850 Dundas West) to see my work - all priced within the $80 - $140 dollar range (scroll down to see work on display).
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A.Shay Hahn
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