...say no more.

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Last Day of the Press Club, rest four hours and resume

Continued looks at the development of two 30 x 30 inch pieces and some trees in early stages.

I like to sketch and plan, it's what I do best. Paint all day and then leave the studio to sketch and write about how I'd like the show to feel and look, how the overall themes and chosen images relate to each other, adding one element (like the trees) to my visual vocabulary, then the next day continue the process.

The entire show at the Press Club was done this way and it was very successful, of course that means that I work a 12 hour day, approximately. And those twelve hour days have added up. I am exhausted, this week I will take tomorrow and Tuesday off, just let the work come if I want to do it, maybe work for three hours a day and spend the rest of the time walking around.

The Press Club show was a great success, the addition of the month of February was more lucrative than one would think. But today we say "Thank you and goodnight". I'll be there from 7-9 pm, no earlier, no longer, no later.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Second 30 x30

Perspective really is everything, as an artist who enjoys representing things in different scales, giant birdhouses, giant chickens, tiny people etc. I'm amazed at how working on paintings of this scale makes everything else seem so small. As I begin these blockins for the work I'm also finishing a commission/request on a 20x20 inch scale, and it looks so tiny. I have paintings arranged in my studio by size and the 20 x 20's used to be the "big stack", well add 10 x10 inches and suddenly a 20 x 20 looks like a pretty small fish.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

the first 30 x 30, let's see who reads this

So it took a few days to do it, but I finally put the brush to canvas on the first two 30 x 30's, I thought I'd begin in comfortable territory and work on the above, "Waiting for the Lake to Freeze" but render the piece with cooler tones, than the previous paintingss in the series, work the clothes differently, give it a cool "black and white" tone palette. I'm going to enjoy just pushing the paint around, there's so much space to use.

I'll start the second block in today, a woman holding a string of lanterns, it only took about three hours of sketching last night to get to where I wanted to be for the second piece. I also did about three pages of sketches of women holding trees as if they were umbrellas, not sure if we're going down that road.

I'm hoping to have six of them finished for the first week of May, I'm pretty confident that once I get going that won't be a problem. As I consider what the show at the Cameron show should look like I see that I'd hang four of them in the room and keep two on reserve for studio visits and sales.

I've been drawing alot of chairs lately, I think we'll start to see a bunch of chairs showing up paintings, trees too, I've started two paintings of trees and I figure I'm making my way through them at a good pace - it's a learning curve. You'd think, "Trees, what's the big deal ?" well you have to find your way there, I've built trees and painted them for Theatre sets, painted drops and scrims of trees, but they weren't A.Shay Hahn trees, they were filler, these are front and center trees, it's just like painting a person - if that person were a tree.

Anyways, the last day of the Press Club is Sunday the 28th of February, I'm going to be there from 7-9pm. I will be available to negotiate prices on the work that is there, volume discountst, that kind of thing, so come on by. I have to raise my prices for the May show. Why am I doing this ? People tell me that I don't charge enough for my work - so guess what, I'm raising it, if you don't like it, blame your peers, it was their fault.

all the best,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

If you do read this, let me know.Always curious, add a comment here or on facebook when this post appears.

Size Matters (cont'd)

So we got up very early this morning, did our stretches and headed to Gwartzmans. Today was the day, after shaking off the nerves we entered the store and asked the nice young OCAD student employed there to, "Go get the Big Ladder".

A hush fell over the store.

(Really the only people there at the time were me, her and Mr.Gwartzman, but hey.)

And up, up, up, she climbed to the top of the rack and brought down two 30 x 3o inch canvases. To give you an idea of how big they are 1) they come in their own bag and 2) I prepared the above demonstration of what scale I usually work in all the way to what I purchased today. From the bottom, 6 x6 , 8 x 8, 12 x 12, 16 x 16, 18 x 18, 20 x20 and finally 30 x30.

I am terrified.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Animals With Day Jobs or Always Be Painting

From Top Left Justice Snake SOLD, Nurse Fox

Bush Pilot Husky, Butcher Gold fish

each piece 8 x 8 inches, acrylic on canvas

$60.00

(there are currently no framed pieces for this series)

I paint, it's what I do, I watch TV while painting, listen to music while painting, I have tried to play xbox while painting but that just doesn't work.

A few days ago the Olympics began, my girlfriend and I have absorbed about 9 hours of it so far, she falls asleep and I paint. A couple of days before the Opening Ceremonies (I paint) two friends and I were joking around at the Press Club and came up with the concept for a web series called, "Justice Snake" about a snake who is also a lawyer/ street vigilante. Having no current ideas in my head while I'm researching/sketching/preparing to start working on some larger canvases (see next post) I decided to paint Justice Snake and see how he looked. Well, as you can see, he looks great, so since I can't control myself I just started painting other animals and giving them day jobs. Yes, one would assume that a husky already has a job pulling dog sleds but that is an insult to their potential and an unfair stereotype.

I occasionally ask people over on Face book to contribute ideas, here is a sample of what came my way within seconds, a fat cat, sitting behind a grand desk, smoking a cigar. Black Labrador Retriever Lifeguard. Pig chamber maid. Owl bartender. Owls who are painters - like wall painters, not artist painters.Construction worker bears. A parrot who is a chef. Mail Delivery Squirrel. Meter Maid rooster. Penguin pharmacist. UPS rabbit.Housewife Dog. Dinosaur Pilot. Cat florist.Librarian eagle. Mouse butcher and a maitre'd horse.Seahorse Lumberjack.octopus hairdresser,lizard priest.cat acupuncturist, there are more but I'll stop there.

In the past I have painted pictures of peoples pets for them as gifts, I can now say that I probably won't ever do that again unless they give their pet a profession - and then maybe I could be persuaded. If you have any suggestions or would like a picture of your pet hard at work at their day job you can talk to me here.

These pieces (the unsold) are hanging at the Press Club until February 27th, but I doubt they will be there for long.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Size Matters

Cup of Crows IV, Cup of Roosters, Cup of Crows V, Cup of Deep Sea Divers

each piece is 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, in a reclaimed wood frame

$140.00

at the Press Club until Feb. 27th

I was at my parent's house a couple of days ago for a quick visit to the Dentist I was in the living room with my Mother talking about what was on my mind for the Cameron House show in May, what I'd been thinking about and what I'd like to do. While I am still able to have shows at the Cameron House I have got to take advantage of the height of those walls, the largest work that I have done recently was the show last year, each piece was 20 x20 inches and while the volume, I think I had 17 paintings on display made the work look large this year I'd like to go bigger.

I have been asked by people in the past if I have larger work than what I display, I usually say no, for a reason. When I left my last studio to move in with a friend I took all these huge stretchers/ canvases that I had and threw them in the street (they were picked up by other artists in seconds, don't worry). I don't work in that format because I don't want a house/studio full of giant paintings. You end up stuck with the stuff, I don't want my own work in my home, I want it in your home.

Anyways, I had a more more eloquent post in mind when I started writing this but let's just say this.

There are going to be some big paintings at the Cameron House in May

you have been warned.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

and yes I am getting sick of painting these cups, but just can't seem to stop

All's Quiet in the Studio, why is that ?

Coffee Dogs II $140.00, Cup of Gorillas (the Gorillogy) Commission

each piece 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

Things are slowing down around here, I've noticed a bit of a change over the past week or so. The Press Club is still up and work is selling (or at least business cards are being taken and used for filters in record amounts) but I've been working a little less than I normally do. Yes, there is an xbox360 sitting by the television, by I'm so horrible at killing zombies and the like that I rarely play for more than 2o minutes.

So what's up ?

Well, I've given myself a break. That's right I'm taking a little time to just slow down and not worry about producing as much. I've been compiling and researching instead, see I've got the Cameron House show coming in May. so I've got three months to get new work ready. I've got almost three moleskines full of sketches and probably seventy references stored on the computer, and when I'm ready, I'll start.

I'm just not ready yet, I've been trying to picture the over all feeling for the show, the themes that are important, "Silver" held itself together really well as did the original hang for "the Wide Awake Man" and I want to approach this show the same way. I'd like to mix sizes, but I really want to do a few larger pieces than I normally do, I need some freedom of movement.

I'll probably hold back on posting the work too, I'd like to build a little bit of excitement around the show, I put so much work up here on the Internet that I'd like to hold back a bit and surprise some folks. I think I may also invite some Gallery Owner folks to come out to the Opening, maybe it's time that I reach out to them.

The Press Club is up until the end of the month

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Guinness Pigs and a Questionable "Winter" Olympics

Waiting for the Lake to Freeze IV, V

9 x12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$100.00 each

This Little Piggy Loved Guinness I & II

8 x 10 inches, acrylic on canvas

$80.00 (top)

SOLD (bottom)

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

February First, Press Club, current layout

PRESS CLUB, FEB 1rst, EAST WALL (back,)

The Woman Who Fell, $140.00

Queen of Birds III, $340.00

This Little Piggy Loved Stiegl $80.00

This Little Piggy Loved 50 SOLD

Waiting for the Lake to Freeze SOLD

PRESS CLUB, FEB 1rst, EAST WALL (back)

Woman With Wings $400.00

Waiting for the Lake to Thaw II, $100.00

Keeper of Lost Books III, SOLD

Waiting for the Lake to Thaw III, $100.00

I Cannot Tell A Lie, $140.00

Hot and Cold Love Taps $100.00

PRESS CLUB, FEB 1rst, EAST WALL (front,)

An Angel For the Carpenters $400.00

Artemis $140.00

The Man Who Loved His Guitar II, $140.00

PRESS CLUB, Feb 1rst EAST WALL (front, ctd)

A Quiet Place to Call My Own, boy $140.00

A Quiet Place to Call My Own II $140.00

A Quiet Place to Call My Own I, $140.00

Assorted Animals $40.00 each

Canadian Girl, Black Flag $140.00

Queen of Birds, White Houses $400.00

The Woman Who Loved Her Guitar II, $140.00

The Man Who Loved His Guitar III, $140.00
PRESS CLUB, Feb 1rst WEST WALL (front)

Girl With Catfish II $140.00

The Wideawake Man I $140.00

The Last Adventure of the Dog Faced Boys $400.00

The Wideawake Man (w/Rooster) $140.00

This Little Piggy Had Good Luck $80.00

This Little Piggy Loved Metal $80.00

The Woman Who Fell $400.00
PRESS CLUB, FEB 1rst WEST WALL (top piece listed first, front ctd)

The Woman Who Slept II $140.00

The Woman Who Slept I $ 140.00

A Quiet Place to Call My Own IV $340.00

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano $140.00

Three Black Cats $140.00

The Book Thief (w/fox) $140.00

Canadian Girl at the Break Water $140.00

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Extended for the month of February at the Press Club

Waiting for the Lake to Freeze (single figures)

9 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, in reclaimed wood frame

$120.00 each

Good news folks, we have been extended at the Press Club, they love the work so much they don't want it to leave, so you have an additional Twenty Eight days to head down, have a pint, have a chat and see the show. I'll still be hanging new work as other pieces sell, so if you've been before, you may as well come again. I'll do another post soon of what is hanging there so folks can check it out online, as lots of work has sold and I haven't updated the posts here to say what is no longer available.

This weekend I'll be taking some time away from the easel to bake a couple of pies.

all the best, ain't life grand

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Queen of Birds III

Queen of Birds III

18 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas

SOLD.

I'll put this up at the Press Club soon, some other work has sold so now there's a space for this more pastoral look at one of the "Queens of Birds".

Happy Monday,

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Works added to the Press Club, eight days left

Waiting for the Lake to Thaw, 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas SOLD

Hot & Cold Love Taps, 3 @ 6x6 inches, acrylic on canvas $100.00

This Little Piggy Loved "50", 8 x 10 inches, a.o.c SOLD

Waiting for the Lake to Freeze, 12 x 12 inches, a.o.c SOLD

Here are four more pieces that have been added to the ever changing walls at the Press Club. As of today you have eight more days to get to the see the show in the space, after such times you'll have to schedule a visit to the studio to see the work, and my selection of beers isn't even close to being what their's is.

I'm working to finish a couple of commissions that I hope to have up here by the end of the week, deadlines are helping to make this possible.

Not alot to say right now, taking some time to just live a bit and spend time away from the studio, lots of other things to get sorted to start the New Year in a positive way.

As always (since they haven't moved it) the Press Club is located at 850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning on the North Side of the street, they open at 7pm, bands usually start around 10:30. This week on Wednesday is the Pivot Reading Series, it starts around 8 pm.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

You Only Have 17 more days to see the Show

Girl with a Catfish

12 x 12 inches acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

$140.00

Here's another painting that just looks terrible as a photograph, (take that image thieves) but looks just stunning in person. In fact it looks so stunning that you should get down to the Press Club to see the show before it comes down on the 31rst.

This has been a terrible waste of a week, I haven't felt like I've gotten anything accomplished. I was trying to do some toy building but realize I need a mini drill press to make the proper holes, a purchase that isn't ever going to happen. On the resolution side, clothes are packed, plants are watered, and general progress all around. So, you win some, you lose some, here's hoping next week will be full of images to post here for your pleasure.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

New Year's Resolutions...and progress

Animals!

each piece is 6x 6 inches, acrylic on canvas, in a reclaimed wood frame, a selection of them are at the Press Club, you have to go there to get them

I did write a list, here it is, here's how it's going so far, these are of course in no particular order of importance.

1. Buy a ukelele, perhaps learn to play it (record ep): I'll buy the ukelele before the end of the month, I figure I can watch enough clips on You Tube to get up to speed pretty fast. I have small hands and carpal tunnel syndrome, so bar chording on a guitar would send me to the hospital. The ukelele will be kind to my hands

2. Dig out Spanish Language Cd Rom and get back at it: This is the resolution that I drop every year, I say I'll do it and then I don't, hopefully this year, since I spend so much time "listening" to movies, I'll be able to get back into learning Spanish.

3. Reduce Smoking 50% by April: Not too worried about being able to accomplish this, currently I've been reducing the amount I smoke signifcantly, most people I know have quit, I'm getting tired of being the guy going outside, it's bloody boring.

4. Go to Montreal for the weekend I think we'll do this in the early spring, it's been years since I've been to Montreal and I'd like to go there for a weekend and stay somewhere nice. I rarely travel, it's been years since I've been on a plane. I'm too poor and committed to painting to even think about vacations, but this year I am going to periodically leave the ten block radius that I exist in to see new things.

5. Finish One of Three Illustrated Books for Children: I've been keeping notes and sketches for years for a short series of kids books, sure there's no money in it, but when did I ever make money ? I am committed to getting three of them finished and published by the time I'm Forty.

6.Buy More Plants: Thanks to the Practical Pirate I now have TWO plants, so I'm well on my way, I have a spider thing, that looks terrible, so I talk to it all the time. Now I have added a lovely jade plant, you only have to water them every two weeks, so I may just buy eight of them at once and cross this off my list.

7.Reduce Clothes, DVD's and Books by 30% by the Spring: I've got a good start on this, already started folding the clothes and putting them into bags for the diabetes people to pick up. The DVD"s I'll just put in a box and leave them outside, they will be gone in seconds and I think a group of us are organizing a book swap, I'll let interested parties know when that's going to happen.

8.Spend More Time with My Friends Children:This is pretty self explanatory, most of my friends have one or two of the things, I should get to know them. What kid wouldn't want an "Uncle Shay" in their lives ?

9.DON'T Explain/Apologize for the shitty habits of others, not my job:Yes compared to the above resolutions this does seem to be coming from left field but it's important and something that I've felt for a long time. Let me explain, I know a lot of people, more than you do I'm sure, somehow in my life people have decided that I"m the guy to come to when they have a question about how someone else is acting. Yes, I am observant and wise, but guess what ? I'm not going to offer an opinion, that department of "Services Provided by Andrew Shay Hahn" is closed. If someone is acting like a dick, go talk to them yourselves.

That's pretty much the list, there were some smaller items, build wooden toys, blog more often, eat three vegetarian meals a week, but they didn't seem to need to be written in bold.

The Press Club show is up til the 30th of January, if you scroll down on the blog, you can see what is currently hanging there - even though I changed a couple of things.

A.S.Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Proof that just about anything fits in a cup.

A Cup of Rockets

A Cup of Siberian Huskies (commission)

both pieces 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

reclaimed wood frame

A Cup of Rockets will be at the Press Club on Sunday Jan 10.

Hello and Happy New Year, awhile back on fb I asked people to suggest things that might be put in a cup (see above, past posts, "A Cup of Wolves, Blackbirds, Crows, Falcons) two great answers from actor/playwright Marjorie Chan were Antique Keys and Violins, which I plan on doing some time in the new year. I came up with the above image and also "A Cup of Stooges", which just makes me laugh every time I think about it.

There is something interesting about the image, I began thinking about my relationship to coffee, the routine, the pleasure, the feeling when you drink too much coffee. I'm sure we all have stayed up late working on something with a pot on a realizing that it wasn't making us any smarter.

I have friends who are definitely connoseurs (sp) of the stuff, who travel great lengths for unique blends and concoctions, I'm glad they found a vice they like. Toronotonians seem to never leave the house without one in their hand, years ago in Now magazine there was a comic strip called, "The City" one memorable strip was "the Next Stage in Evolution" which depicted our thumb and pointer finger merging together into an ideal cup holder to carry our coffee.

I myself am satisfied with just about any brand, I don't often buy the stuff at coffeeshops, I think Starbucks tastes burnt/over roasted, The Second Cup tastes oily and Tim Hortons tastes dry and overprocessed. I also think that people who sit in cafes with their laptops need to get a life.

If you'd like to commission your own "Cup of..." for yourself or a friend, please feel free to contact me at the address below.

The show at the Press Club is up until the 30 th of January, so there's still lots of time to go and check out the work, you can also request to meet me there to discuss the show.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Garrison, permanent collection and rotating display

top, "Jerusalem", middle "Untitled (Titans)"

bottom, "Woman with Scissors" and "Raised by Plastic Wolves"

both pieces are 20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas,

$400.00 each

I am happy to finally get around to announcing my collaboration with Lee Van Veghel and Shaun Bowring the owners of the Garrison. They have purchased two pieces, "Jerusalem" and "Untitled (Titans)" for permanent display at their most awesome and exciting live music/ hang out palace. The space above beside the list of libations will be for me to use to hang/change work as I please, I decided to hang two pieces from "Silver" (see tags) that I still have and am quite fond of, "Woman with Scissors" and "Raised by Plastic Wolves" .The work looks great in the space and taught me a lesson in balance and display. I also realized that to use this space I will have to create works that are at least 20 x 20 inches to have any impact in the room, so expect to see a couple of larger works appearing there in the new year. Here is a link to the listings for the bar, some of your favourite local bands and djs and Trampoline Hall will be playing there soon.

http://www.garrisontoronto.com/

and here's a link to their face book group

http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=88674864952

thanks so much Lee and Shaun.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Current Press Club Lay out, Dec. 17th

East Wall (Back)

This Little Piggy Loved Stiegl $100.00

A Quiet Place V, $140.00

The Girl Who Built a Fort $140.00

The Woman Who Loved Her Piano $140.00

This Little Piggy Had Good Luck $100.00

This Little Piggy Had None $100.00

The Woman Who Fell $400.00

EAST WALL (FRONT)

Three Witches $140.00

The Boy Who Loved the Water $140.00

The Book Thief $140.00

The Woman Who Fell, black books $140.00

The Man Who Loved his Guitar II, $140.00

The Woman who fell, chair $140.00

EAST Wall (front)

Queen of Birds $ 400.00

The Woman Who Loved Her Guitar $140.00

The Man Who Loved his Guitar $140.00

An Angel for the Carpenters $400.00

Artemis $140.00

The Book Thief $140.00

WEST WALL

Prometheus $400.00

The Wide Awake Man (Rooster) $140.00

A Cup of Crows (mini) $100.00

A Cup of Crows, night (mini) $100.00

Woman with Wings $400.
West WallI Cannot Tell a Lie $140.00

The Woman Who Slept $140.00

A Quiet Place to Call My Own IV $340.00

A Quiet Place I $140.00

Canadian Girl at the Breakwater $140.00

A Quiet Place II $140.00

The Woman Who Slept II $140.00

The Keeper of Lost Books $140.00

The Wide Awake Man $140.00

Here is the new layout at the Press Club, I've actually shifted a few pieces around since these photos were taken, but all of this work is currently there. Be a smart ass and want to purchase the Stiegl Pig, it seems to be what this whole show is about. "I want the Stiegl pig" etc. etc. The show is up til the end of January, but do me a favour and at least go see it now.

happy ho ho

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

This Little Piggy...

This Little Piggy Loved Metal, This Little Piggy Cried, This Little Piggy Had Good Luck, This Little Piggy Had None, This Little Piggy Loved Stiegl

each pig is 8 x10 inches, in a stained reclaimed wood frame

$100.00 each.

The Press Club Opening was a great success, I am always touched that people go out of their way to come and have a look at the work and support what I'm doing. The Sure Things were great and made quite a few new fans. Thanks to everyone at the Press Club. The Show is ongoing until the 30 th of January, sold work is being replaced with new stuff. I may go over tonight to shoot how the walls have evolved since Saturday, there are eight pieces up that have replaced what has been sold already.

If you'd like to book an appointment to meet with me to see the work message me here. Now back to all the commissions that I've let slide. I'll also upload some new and old work over the next few days.

all the best,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com