Rotten In Denmark, the series

To Be or Not To Be (SOLD), To Thine Own Self Be True (SOLD), Rotten In Denmark $160.00

each piece acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frames (approx.) 14 x 14 inches

at the Press Club until May 31rst

I've been searching high and low for a used copy of Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" after a few weeks I found it for 15.00, and watched/listened to it over and over, here's what came out.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

More images, having a really great time

Top

Canadian Girl 2009, (SOLD) Lady with an Axe (4), (SOLD)

17 x17 inches, acrylic on canvas/reclaimed wood frame

Lil' Phoenix (SOLD)

11 x 11 inches, acrylic on canvas/ reclaimed wood frame

available at the Press Club, Sat. May 9th, 6-10pm

I'm going to be hanging the show on Sunday at the Press Club, this is a good day as everything should be ready to go, unfortunately I will be missing the wedding ceremony of two of my good friends who are getting married that day, nothing I can do about it, but it bothers me nonetheless.

For the rest of this week I'll be putting all the hooks and wires on these pieces, labelling things and spending time at the Press Club staring at the walls and trying to previsualize where I'm going to be hanging which pieces. I intend to use three walls, there are two available usually but Mikael is letting me cover the space. I like this idea not just for the possibility of selling more work than I could on two walls, but because when my friend Madame Hair hung her show there, she covered the space and it looked active and wakeful.

I've not stopped painting either, I'm adding new smaller works (see above/below) as the week goes on, having a really great time in the studio (even though last night I had a terribly strange dream that my Father moved me out of this space without my approval, no idea where that came from). I added the Canadian Girl as I hadn't painted one in 2009, even though it differs from the usual presentation of the C.G (See labels, Canadian Girl ) I wanted to make sure she was represented, the image "Lady with an Axe" falls into the same category, people always ask if there will be more of them, there is something about that image that really hits people in the chest,so I decided to oblige. The Lil' Phoenix was created as a mini counterpoint to the painting from the Film Stills series, "Red Birds" as I thought it would be cool to have a small one on the wall opposite the piece when I hang it.

Currently thoughts of Hamlet as bouncing around in my head, I was able to purchase a copy of Kenneth Branagh's full version this week (For an incredibly low price as it usually retails for $36.00, gulp) and the colour palette of the film astounds me and is moving my thoughts about my own palette in a new direction.

I'm finally taking down the work from the Done Right Inn, all of the pieces are from "Silver" (see tag) and there are three that I'd like to have at the Anniversary Show, or at least hang them after the sale once there's some space free on the walls. I also believe that Tony and I are taking down Pop Goes the Cowboy this weekend, but I have no idea if that's going to be Saturday, Sunday or Monday (note to self, call Cameron House today).

I'm excited about doing a "Salon" style show, I want people to just take a piece off the wall (pay for it, of course) and take it home with them, I want it to be exciting for people, that if you come with $60.00 you can have a couple of beers and leave with some art under your arm, that people will get into the intended spirit of the event.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

or try

madcraftshoppe@gmail.com

A. SHAY HAHN

invites you to join him and celebrate

four years of The Mad Craft Shoppe

Saturday, May 9th

6-10 pm

the Press Club

850 Dundas West

music by

Lil' Jimmy's Chicken Pickers

madcraftshoppe.blogspot.com

News etc, more to come

Three birds

acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame, 9.5 x 9.5 inches

price TBA

First up here's the link to the article on the Liberty Boot Company from Saturday's Globe and Mail.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090426.wINClibertyboots0425/BNStory/incubator/
I've also added another link down below, "Adventures in Schnooville" is a wonderful, personal blog kept by a modern dilletante named Schnoo, it's a good read, her honesty is to be admired.

The event on Saturday at Grateful Head will be rescheduled, probably in the first week of June due to unforeseen unforeseeenstances, stay tuned to this space as more is known, the work is still there, hours and directions are listed in a post below.

We hang the show at The Press Club on Sunday, I'll be adding more images to the blog this week, really looking forward to this party to celebrate the past four years of hard work, really I've been working as a professional painter since 1996, but it's only been the past four years that I've been able to say I do this work "full time". The Opening is Saturday, May 9th from 6-10 pm, it will be a hootenanny,bring friends, the patio will also be open so we can chill outside if it gets a little too busy indoors.

In brain news I will be painting and listening to Hamlet over and over again, current thoughts are that the next show, at the Cameron House in November (that's right facebook no more pesky invites for awhile) will be based around, inspired, motivated by the melancholy Dane, not sure how, but it's a strong gut feeling. There may be sketches cropping up here through the summer.

Also welcome to the world Jack Vincent Sutton and Dekker Quinn Kozak-Goebbels !

There will be more news throughout the day as I get caught up on things around the Shoppe
A.S.H

Long boards

Woody Guthrie Concert

Eisler on the Go

acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

12 inches x 30.5 inches

price TBA

available at The Mad Craft Shoppe's Fourth Anniversary Party at THE PRESS CLUB,

May 9th 6-10 pm

ya gotta be there to get em.

more to come.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Fourth Anniversary Sale at the Press Club

All Pieces
acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

price TBA

available at THE PRESS CLUB (850 Dundas West)

Sat. May 9th, 6-10 pm

Here are some of the works that will be available, for advance price inquiries contact me at

madcraftshoppe@live.com

more to come.

ATTENTION: Still have to tweak the email function so just copy and paste the address into your email message. sorry for the delay.

Just A Touch More Liberty

Untitled (Top) Bandida (middle) The Lone R_______

acrylic on canvas,16 x 20 inches

two hundred and fifty dollars

from the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House, March 29- May 4rth

Opening Reception, Wed, April 1rst, 6-8 pm

I had a couple more in me, actually I have two more after this to add to the series, the Opening was a blast with The Innards Bros., The Rattlesnake Choir, an ocean of chili a ton of chicken wings and smiles all around, thatnks to all who came.

To purchase contact A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Alphabet Shoppe, here are some directions

I recently had someone try to show a friend the kids letters that I do, but they were unable to locate it, so if you haven't visited this site or my other two blogs (yep, two) before here's how to get to "the alphabet shoppe", just scroll down the right side of this blog, past the "labels" section, until you get to "links" where there is a link posted that says, "children's letters, art for the kids " This will take you to the alphabet shoppe blog site, which I also run, and there you can see all the groovy art for kids and the young at heart.

To get to "Any How Town" my online comic go the link (same section) that says, " Any How Town, A.S Hahn's online comic.

I hope this helps,

A.S.H

Anniversary Party at the Press Club and other locations

Patsy Cline

20 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas

four hundred dollars,

from the show "Pop Goes the Cowboy" (see info below.)

It's coming folks, the mad craft shoppe will celebrate their 4rth Anniversary at The Press Club (850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning) on the 9th of May from 7-10 with a "Salon" style show of many works old and new and incredible celebratory prices. Lil' Jimmys Chicken Pickers will be playing. It's gonna be a hootenanny, stay tuned to this space for more news.

Pop Goes the Cowboy at the Cameron House, March 29th - May 4rth, Opening Reception April First from 6-9, with Col. Tom Parker and The Rattlesnake Choir.

Grateful Head, new and old works, April 1rst - May 29th, right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park on Dundas, see posted hours below.

The Done Right Inn, works from Silver, hanging there until they come down, which may be never, Queen West right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Grateful Head, showing in April and May

Scissors I & II

24 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00 each

showing at "Grateful Head" April 1rst- May (?)

Dundas & Montrose (right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park)
1006 Dundas Street WestToronto, ON

Hours of operation:Monday: 1pm - 7pm Tuesday: 12pm - 8 pmWednesday: 12 - 6Thursday: 12pm - 8pmFriday: 12pm - 8pmSaturday: 11am - 6pmSunday: closed

I'll be showing work from, "Silver", "Fables" and a few new pieces at Grateful Head for the month of April and also May (I think), there won't be an Opening for this exhibition, but feel free to drop in to have a look around and get your hair cut at the cool salon, cds by local artists are also available here.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

see you at Pop Goes the Cowboy on Wednesday, 6-9 pm.

And God Created...Redux

And God Created...The Cow

And God Created...The Horse

acrylic on canvas, twenty four x twenty four inches

$400.00

from the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House,

Opening Reception, April 1rst, 6-9 pm

I was never happy with these two pieces, never had the right focus for either piece (See tag to the right) so I thought it would be great to pull them out for this show and fix them up, The skies were too blue, the figures were too blurry, the hands looked like really cheap, knock offs of (insert artist's name I forgot here) hands. This is when I enjoy myself most as a painter, I have so many cheap plastic dollar store animals lying around I just pick them up, figured out a reasonable hand position and did them. Originally I'd wanted to do an entire series of them but got sidetracked with other things. I

Two Hundred and Fifty Posts.

I don't usually just blog for blogging's sake, but I'm just having a bitch of a day. I'm pretty lucky/disciplined when it comes to my time at the easel. Today it just isn't happening, nothing is going as planned, I find myself distracted and bothered etc. So I will go have a bath and then maybe work on some things that are completely unrelated to Any How Town, Pop Goes the Cowboy or anything else, maybe that will dislodge this fist sized tumour that has lodged itself in my head.

Had a hot bath, had supper, went for a quick,brisk freeze my ass off walk, met a friend for a pint, asked friends to send me some random words to construct a drawing around, starting drawing, was enjoying that and just messed the board, this day is a total write off. This kind of shit should not be happening right now.

A.S Hahn

Fringe Kids submissions

This was a pleasant distraction for a couple of days, these were submitted to the Toronto Fringe for their "Fringe Kids" poster contest, which is probably painfully obvious and not worth typing, but I did anyway. Not sure when the winner will be announced. I like them both.

Little People, Large Animals

Untitled (Ostrich), Untitled (Pig) SOLD Ares (third) Desperado SOLD

acrylic on canvas16 x 20 inches

two hundred and fifty dollars

From the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House,

Opening Reception, Wed, April 1rst, 6-8 pm

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Still haven't fixed the email link, so copy and paste in your provider to contact me.

Here's a link to the Rattlesnake Choir myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/rattlesnakechoir

Col. Tom Parker will also be playing. It's gonna be a party folks.

A.S Hahn

More Liberty ( I like the way that sounds)

from top

Royal Eagle, Sunflower, Opium, Killaz 2, Butterfly '06 2

27.5 x 20 inchesmixed media on illy board$500.00from the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House, March 29-30.

Opening Reception, Wed, April 1rst, 6-8 pm

UPDATE I guess I should note here that these are NOT finished pieces, I've continued working on all the boards for the show so things have improved greatly. The finished boards will be posted at the end of the week before I hang the show. I would not hang any of these in their current state.

Liberty Boots, POP GOES THE COWBOY, cont'd

This was the first piece that I started when the idea of the show was proposed, it feels like an overdone sketch, but really isn't very successful, I doubt that it will be included in the show. It's pretty immature, but you have to start somewhere and since I don't usually sketch this is where I began. I like the lettering and will use them in the next "Killaz" piece, which I"m starting now (5:15am) .That hat, which is based on the "Killaz" toe design looks fucking ridiculous and I'm punching myself in the balls for even conceiving of it.

A.S.H

I can't be happy with the work, until I'm happy with the work, so there may be some big changes to these pieces the closer we get to the date of hanging the show, I thought originally I would do nine pieces and be done, but since I"m working in a different way than usual I have to keep coming back to the pieces and changing them and doing new ones. I had to get this far with the work, in order to break the rules.

Killaz,

Psychedelic Devil

Butterfly '06

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

Matchbox Rooster

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

Here's four more, read all about it below.

POP GOES THE COWBOY at the Cameron House

Brody Rocks

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

Classical Bugs

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

The Opening party for "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House will be on April 1rst from 6-8 pm, there will be a band, maybe Rattlesnake Choir and perhaps we'll be blesses with catering by Mimi. Pop Goes the Cowboy is the Liberty Boot Co.'s yearly show of Tony Bennatar's amazing cowboy boots, this year he is joined by yours truly, A.Shay Hahn, I'm illustrating nine or ten different styles of Liberty Boots for you to marvel at.

A.S Hahn

Theatre Series

The Lighting Designer

sixteen x twenty inches

acrylic on canvas

SOLD.

more on this later.

Had to use most of the day to continue touch ups and corrections on the last two pieces from the "Flight" series, there were aspects of both pieces that were driving me batshit and could not let them leave the studio as they were. It's 2:42 and I feel much better about both of them and can now move onto "the Liberty Boot" project which will now eat my entire weekend. So I hope the weather sucks even worse than today so I won't be tempted to leave the house until I have to work at the pub.

A.S Hahn

Best laid plans.

Always feel like a bit of a liar when I post something and then I realize that what I think is possible ends up being impossible, I may have a couple of pieces for Friday, but instead of finishing them all, I started a new piece for the Liberty Show, so that's six on the go right now. I also realize that I originally intended to do 10 pieces for the show, but if I want them all to be at a quality that I am content with I can only do nine.

While I'm throwing myself into this new venture, I would reccomend buying something.

Saturday Update: It's great having a short break to look at the six pieces, I am confident that I can finish one a day for the next six days (starting Monday) and have them posted, then work on the next three. This is the best route that I can take, luckily each of the six is more than halfway completed so I should be able to get through them in fine style, it's the lettering that kills me, and the layers, they kill me too. Stay tuned for some hot cowboy boot action.

A.S.H

Lots of news...cont'd.

Hey folks, hop on over to my online comic "Any How Town" to read about why I'm even bothering to do an online comic. See the links section.

best, A.S Hahn

Oh and I almost forgot, click the One Thousand Fiances Tag, I forgot how much I love those paintings until I put them in a row together, someone should buy the remaining three as a set.

MY EYES! OH GOD, MY EYES! or 4:34 pm

It's usually around this time Shoppers that I have to get up from the easel for a good long walk. I usually sit/stand for about seven hours a day when I have a series to work on (with a short break for lunch, coffee refill, run to the store etc.) sometimes I'll go longer if things are going well, it's the eyes that get strained. Not my back, not my neck, no real head aches, but my eyes start to dry out and feel a bit like a rubber band about to snap (or any cartoon simile equivalent.).

I have five of the Libery Boot pieces on the go and am enjoying their development immensely. It's a stylistic choice to do them more as posters than paintings, requiring finer lines, more thin layers of colour than I am used to, and a straight graphic plan as opposed to the organic form that comes to me so quickly with painting.

My intention is to have five of them finished and posted for your gandiferous praise by Friday barring any physical interruption (working for someone else) or spiritual deflation (cheques not arriving when they should).

So we'll talk soon,
A.S Hahn

From back in the day

Below is a link sent by my buddy Sammy, back in University (and I mean way back in the Winters Residence days) I was doing the occasional comic inspired by things me and my crew, "the Abjeerks" said on pub night, here's the link, bear in mind I was doing this over twelve years ago, in a pub surrounded by my pals. Who are still my pals to this day. I'll write more on this later...

http://web.archive.org/web/20030501143040/www.globalserve.net/~ratpack/Abjerks/abjerks.htm

Upcoming Events

Woman with Wings

twelve x twelve inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

Man and Woman with Hammers (Dyptych)

each piece eighteen x eighteen inches

dyptych $600.00

Hey there Shoppers, I have some dates for you

First up in for the month of April we will be at the Cameron House (Queen, 1 bl. W of Spadina, building in covered in giant ants, how could you miss it ?) with the Liberty Boot Co. show, "Pop Goes the Cowboy". No date for the Opening but I assume it will be the first Saturday in April, The Cameron Family Singers will be playing, no doubt. If you scroll here you can see, works in progress for the show and there's a link to see the Liberty Boot Co. website which is a great site to zip around on.

For the month of May the mad craft shoppe celebrates it's 4 year Anniversary with a SALE at the Press Club (850 Dundas St.W ) the party will be Saturday May 9th, from 7-10 get there early as work will be leaving in quick fashion, check the Tab, "Fables", "Ladies of the Flowers" "Sets" to see what is available for purchase. Eventually I'll put up a posting of work and the sale prices but that will have to wait a day or two.

Sunday, this Sunday from 4-10 I'll be slinging ale at the Cloak and Dagger come by to see Banjo Frank and his Bluegrass Troopers, (I just made that name up, except for the Banjo Frank part) , it will be a party

I don't know what's up with the link to my email, but if you need to contact me it's still
madcraftshoppe@live.com but clicking on it won't get you far.

all the best,
A.S Hahn

Flight, commissioned project

Top "The Blessing at Kittyhawk"

bottom "The Offering"

each piece twenty four x twenty four inches

acrylic on canvas, from the series "Flight"

Here are the last two pieces for the commissioned series "Flight", it has been a great pleasure for me working on this series, as I'm sure I've mentioned before flying and its many aspects features very prominently in my work particularly in the "Fables" series. These four pieces use a good bit of the "language" I used in Fables, the masked figures and red airplanes have been featured in my work since probably 1997, the giant women of "The New Dress" and "The Tea Party" (as seen above) from Fables occurs again, the above image startles and surprised me as a concept, incredibly happy with the surreal element of the piece.

Originally I'd intended the four pieces to have a continued narrative, I am very happy that I changed my mind, after much sketching and deliberating and discussion, and just stayed with the concept of "Flight" as the unifying idea behind the pieces.

All four are framed in walnut stained "Floating" frames that look quite sharp. The next step will be hanging the work in the client's house, which we are going to do together to pick the best location (s) in the residence.

A.S Hahn

Lost Man, Found Dog #4

Lost Man, Found Dog #4 ,

from the continuing series "Small Towns"

Twenty Four x Twenty Four inches

four hundred dollars

I haven't posted a Small Town in a quite a while, people ask if I still do them, the answer is yes, commission one from me today, but first buy this one, they look great in pairs.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.S Hahn

promise to fix this link this week, contact me via your provider.