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

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

50 posts #7, Midnight Breath in the Shipyard

The Book Thief #2,

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

I've often posted how I don't listen to music while I work, people often seem surprised to hear this, I don't know why, maybe it's how they picture a stereotype of a painter working. I would think they should work in silence, but I don't much care for stereotypes.

Today I am listening to music, but music that is full of wonderful images that can roam around in my head, I was walking home from The Press Club and was lucky enough to run into Megan Hamilton on my way home, I had planned to be at her last residency gig at the Tranzac but wasn't able to make it up as I had to deliver a painting in the late evening, but there she was with good friends in tow and I was able to buy her most recent CD, "See Your Midnight Breath in the Shipyard" and I am enjoying it very much, I believe she's playing tonight at the Horseshoe, Pink Mountaintops are also playing, so if it isn't sold out, look into it immediately.

Here's a link to Megan Hamilton singing, "Sleeping on the Floor" from her first album, "Feudal Ladies Club" ( I think that's the title, correct me if I'm wrong.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHlSKWePwzY&feature=related&pos=10

That night I was also given the "Blood Ceremony" album, if you like death metal with flutes and female vocals, this is the album for you. Here's a link to "master of confusion"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWU1nJSCeWM&feature=related&pos=0

Above is the Second image from the "Book Thief" series, it's hanging at Grateful Head, where I am extended until the 1 rst of July and have hung most of the work from the 50 posts series.

have a good one,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

as a p.s if you need album art work I would be happy to work with you.

50 posts #6, Donated for Auction

Canadian Girl, Red Flag

12 x 12inches, acrylic on canvas

donated to auction

custom Canadian Girls can be ordered by contacting me here.

Awhile ago a friend asked me to donate a piece for auction to a charity organization she is a member of (more on this later) I of course agreed to donate a piece, I think it's impportant to give as much as you can if you are able. For years I would donate to auction for Theatre's in Toronto. I usually submit something small so the piece is guranteed to sell and the charity can benefit from the donation.

After The Press Club show I realized that I didn't have anything small - or more pointedly didn't have anything optimistic looking, as I think my current work is a little too "dark" for these kind of events, so I crafted up a more "old school/straight ahead Canadian Girl for the event. Here she is.

Taking the day off of painting to get out and wander the city with PPBJ (inside joke), I submitted more names for fb'ers to vote on, these came off the top of my head, "Quilted Crow, Our Lady of Goldfish and Funeral for Pynamas - now people probably figured out that "Funeral for Pyjamas" is the quirkiest of the bunch and so that's what we're doing now, I will probably use the other two titles as well.

I will also be posting more anecdotes, this time, people relaying their stories of the first Funeral they attended.

best,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts #5,6, wait how many ? The Trouble with Titles

Chimney Men, Canadian Girl/flood plain

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00 ea.

I am posting two because I am so exhausted I can't remember how many posts I'm at. Anyways I don't have much to say except, I decided to use the "Chimney Men" title. I then asked the folks on fb to send me titles and I would create a painting based around the titles I liked - this did not work - fb is really just a place for your pals to be pithy and that's exactly what I got. Too bad for them, because the person whose title I chose I was going to surprise them and mail them the piece as a gift. Oh well.

The Canadian Girl is back, she's taller, the mood is dark, I believe she's in Nova Scotia right now on the flood plain, so she's lucky to be wearing those Wellies.

off to die,

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com