Four People with Hammers

Four People with Hammers

series of four, 12 x16 inches ea. acrylic on canvas

$250.00 each, set of four $800.00

I had originally thought of doing a "Four Seasons" piece, something that I've been struggling with for some time, I believe one of the "process" labels goes to an entry where I was designing a "Four Seasons" series, anyways, it never succeeds. Instead I thought just doing some tone work with linking clouds would be enough and of course to give everyone a hammer.

I think as a foursome they look incredible together either in a line, or perhaps hung two above, two below.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Man Who Loved...vertical

The Man Who Loved Writing

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$300.00

from the series, "The Man/ The Woman Who Loved"

When I was buying the loads and loads of 12 x 12's I also purchased other variant 12 x sizes (16, 24 etc.) I had planned on using them for horizontal triptychs, of course that still will happen but I thought I would, for a little while at least move into a more vertical format and see what I could do with that. Friends have asked me to design a 12 x 36 or 18 x 36 piece for their house and I hadn't come up with anything, working in this format should help with that conundrum (we hope).

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Woman Who loved....

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano II

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

SOLD

available by contacting me

madcraftshoppe@live.com

enjoy the weather,

A.S.Hahn

News, Announcements, links etc.

We are currently exhibiting some work at Fleur de Lis Interior Design which is located at 294 Eglinton West, near Avenue road, if the name is familiar it is the firm owned by Peter Lunney and Eric McClelland whose work and advice frequently appear on City Line.

Here is a link to their site

http://www.fleurdelis.ca/

Here's a link to a "view it.ca" site that features one of my murals as a selling point to rent the apartment, who knew. Thanks to Sarah Uyede for the link

http://www.viewit.ca/vwExpandView.aspx?ViT=54694

A.S Hahn

more to come

The Man Who Loved...cont'd

The Boy Who Loved Airplanes

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$140.00

It's been a marathon day in the studio, actually the entire weekend has been wonderful. Lots of work coming quickly and feeling great as I lay it in, the being said I do have to tweak the head on this guy a little bit, but no big deal. There is also a second, "Man Who Loved Guitars" that I thought I could finish but his suit and pose was driving me to distraction and a very complicated 12 x 36 with many figures that is going to take some time. Grey suits, summer weight seem to be on my mind, it was one thing I wanted to buy for myself this summer, a nice weight summer suit, with beige shoes, but that money has since been allocated to other purchases, and this summer has been the dogs breakfast, so maybe next year.

I've been taking my breaks and going through a recent purchase which collects all of Norman Rockwell's covers for the Saturday Evening Post and looking through his sketches, photos of his second studio and getting into his work, not for the subject but I do dress my figures in 30's - 4o's styled clothes for the most part. Of course I gasp at the detail in the work, but consisitently remind myself that the average size of his work was around 48 x 36 inches, and he had lots of room to paint every dint and scuff on a leather shoe, where the average size of a man's head in my paintings is 1 inch. So maybe I'm asking for some sympathy after these long days.

Tuesday, I'll have some more news and info about where you can see some work in Toronto.

enjoy the storm,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Man Who Loved/ The Woman Who Loved

The Boy Who Loved the Water,

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano,

The Man Who Loved Guitars SOLD

each image is 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$140.00

This titles for this series occurred to me awhile ago, prior to the Desolation Row project, it doesn't take much to get me started when I want to paint, I do get stuck sometimes but when I ran into the concept of "The Man who loved...." or "The Woman who loved..." I just started writing down titles, I was sitting on the wonderful back patio at the Press Club surrounded by grape vines and a pear tree and I thought, "I love this...I love these grape vines..." and that was all it took.

I may be posting one or two (perhaps three) by the end of the day, I began working on this last week and then each day noodle around and let the images come out, I did do a prelim for the Guitar series but after that it was just research to find the right guitar.

If you've been familiar with my work since I began this blog you'll recognize the boy in the lifejacket as he was part of my visual vocabulary about four years ago and featured prominently in several paintings, I thought I'd bring him back to participate in these paintings.

I'll be adding a couple more links this week, keep an eye out for them, great blog sites to follow with your morning coffee.

best,
A.S.H
madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Wolves, The Sun, Words Pt.II & III

The Wolves

from the tritych, "The Sun, The Moon and the Wolves"

each piece 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$160.00 each / $400.00 for the Triptych

info in the previous post.

A.S.Hahn

Words.

The Moon, from the Tryptych, "The Sun, The Moon and The Wolves"

acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

$140.00 each. Tryptych $400.00

Taking a short break from the "Desolation Row" series to explore some other recent thoughts. As always I return to my Theatrical background - over the years as a scenic artist I painted many back drops and scrims, I always loved the more artificial aspects of the Theatre, large props, backdrops, heightened costume so I thought I'd spend some time here indulging that love, most contemporary Theatre I did was just "brown wash" work, I probably made new wood look like old more times than I care to count - it's what most strongly identified to the audience that it was a Canadian project - it was brown, usually involved a secret from the past and there was a joke every three lines of dialogue or so, Daniel McIvor wrote a short piece crucyfying this mode, though I forget what the piece was called.

Recently Curry's had a huge sale, spend $50.00 get $10.00 off, I cleaned out the Queen location and the Dundas location of their 12 x 12 canvases as it's my favourite size, (see top photo) this is where they reside. I posted a photo on Fbook and was contacted by a friend in Vancouver who said to write her name on the back of the 10 th and the 18 th canvases and when I got to them I would mail them to her. This, I think is a great way to do business, so feel free to request a number. It also led to a new extension, which is popular on some blogs that illustrators frequent called, "Illustration Friday" where a word is given and then people illustrate and post to the blog. I don't participate as I have never been one to join anything, this sometimes is a disadvantage, but I prefer just managing my own blogs. If you would like a word illustrated, similar to the above image you may contact me here with the word, it will be painted in a different alphabet, but it will be our secret. Each piece will be $140.00, triptychs $400.00

enjoy your long weekend,

A.S.Hahn

as alwasy copy this email address into your email message, as I still can't get it to work, balls.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

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

A Breather

We are giving ourselves a break from the "50 Posts in 50 Days" project. A serious summer head cold has severely gummed up the works.

a la prochain
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

50 Posts in 50 Days, #4 No I didn't forget.

The Book Thief

12 x12 inches, acrylic on canvas

from the series, "The Book Thief"

SOLD

(from the 50 posts in 50 days challenge)

Have been working on a couple of commissions so I just didn't have the time to post yesterday, I had to take a break from painting bicycles, that last one was driving me nuts, so I asked readers over on fb to vote on a title for the next series, and boy did they ever respond, (not really at all, 5 people voted) and the first title to win, was the above, "the Book Thief" the other choices were "chimney men" and "standing on ships".

I like this piece, I really like the title, it's been touched up a little since I posted it and the shadows of the arms are much improved.

Before going off to sleep I asked fb readers for another title, the options were, once again The Book Thief #2, Chimney Men and Canadian Girl, I haven't tallied the votes yet, (I believe there were six this time) but just check back here later in the day to see what title won.

BOOK THEFT ANECDOTES FIRST EDITION

N.D
hhhhhm I stole a Melody Maker mag years ago - for my love of T-Rex

S.D
You know, I did. I stole a Penguin Classics edition of Augustine's City of God from Ned Dickens' bookshelf.

C.L
I stole "The Omen" from an abandoned cottage when I was around 12 or 13. Had nightmares for weeks...

M.C
I stole a book of Poe poetry from the GRCI library. I wouldn't have, I took it by accident - but their book stealer alarm didn't go off, so I thought it was meant to be and didn't give it back.

M.M
i stole war and peace and dantes inferno from the Lindsay Public Library in 1987, i wanted to read them over the summer, but i knew i'd have to bring them back and be renewed a few times, and i already had $5 worth of over due fines, so i took em.

these are the people I choose to spend my time with.

A.S.Hahn

madcrafthoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #3, Save the Bicycles!

Save the Bicycles #3

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

from the series, "Save the Bicycles!"

More bicycle anecdotes.

M.M sent in," I remember my childhood girlfriend told me of driving her bike down a steep street and hitting a bump, flipping off, and landing on her eyeball. she skinned her eyeball."


R.F wrote, "The day I got my training wheels off I was so excited I rode my bike up the street on two wheels than had to stop and barf. I had just drunk 2 large glasses of Welch's grape juice, so it was a very memorable day."

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #2, Save the Bicycles!

Save the Bicycles #2,

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

from the series, "Save the Bicycles!"

Now that the camera is working properly, here is the second of the series, and here a two short anecdotes about cycling.

"Many, many years ago I worked as a portrait artist at Canada's Wonderland. In spite of the crappy pay and long hours, I loved that job. The only real hassle for me was the commute. Two subways and a bus to get up to Vaughn. The trip could take anywhere from forty-five minutes – if I was really lucky, to an hour and a half. On top of that, I was always sharing the bus with annoying groups of hyperactive kids. It got to the point where I decided that biking the 30km each day was a more favourable option. This worked out fine for the ride TO work, but coming home was a completely different story.

There are long stretches of Jane Street, north of Steeles, where there aren't any streetlights. It's really more of a highway at that point. Coming home at 10pm meant riding through these stretches without really being able to see anything. In spite of having a light and reflectors, I suspect I was pretty invisible to the other drivers as well. One night during my ride home a car flew past me. There's no way he was paying attention because he passed by me so closely that his sideview mirror clipped my handlebar – which spun my front wheel to the side, effectively bringing me to an instant stop and throwing me over the handlebars and into the street. The car didn't even slow down.

I must have been out for a few moments because the next thing I remember I was sitting in the middle of the road struck with panic because I was sure I was going to get run over, but as I looked ahead there wasn't a car in sight. I DID notice that the road seemed to be getting steadily brighter, though. Apparently, in my daze I mixed up which side of the street I was on, and I actually had my back to oncoming traffic. I turned around just in time to see a transport truck bearing down on me, probably less than twenty-five meters away. I was sure this was how I was going to die.Without thinking, I rolled onto the shoulder just in time to see the truck run over my bike which was still laying in the road. Again, this guy didn't even slow down, let alone check to see if I was alright.

While thankful that I was still alive, I was now faced with being stuck up in the middle of nowhere at 10:30 at night, with a busted bike. Then the second miracle happened. The only damage to my bike was that the handlebars were rotated ninety degrees – parallel with the frame. I easily rotated them back and was on my way. For the next few days I took the bus.

from M.S and here's one from A.M

Back in my somewhat-darker-clothing days, I used to bike back'n'forth to work on a regular basis (now work is too close). My bike at the time was a beat-up old cruiser my old boss "found in his basement" and handed off to me (presumably easier than taking it to the dump).

Of course, I immediately painted it flat black. The Boy of the time, though, had reservations about girls-who-wear-all-black-riding-dark-bikes-at-night and (sensibly) insisted I add some sort of reflective material.So I painted a skeletal structure on the bars using a white iridescent paint (source from Honest Ed's hardware section, of course).Seemed to work fairly well, but did nothing to improve my general lack of coordination.

So there I am, peddling my way home early one evening, mass of black locks tied up in a ribbon, black mini skirt and big'ol black platform boots, perched atop my undead bike. Ever safety-conscious (or at least having the intention to be), I was trying to make the best of a break in the traffic just before Dundas and Bathurst to make a turn up one of the side streets....When my tire got stuck in the streetcar tracks.

Next thing I knew, a little old man was dragging me and my bike off the road, my head spinning and my hand wet with blood as it covered a new gash in my chin.Quite the spectacle, I'm sure, though my hero said nothing.Later I realized it was because he was mute.

stay tuned for more, many thanks to the folks sending in their stories.

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com