Playing around with stamps and ink

Currently I've been on the hunt for two of the most elusive items in the city of Toronto, an ink stamp pad and a backgammon board, finally I bought an inkpad at DeSerre's and guess how must it cost ? EIGHT DOLLARS! I remember those things were everywhere when I was kid and cost nothing, but due to the scrapbooking fad they can now charge whatever they want for them.

I need to secure a backgammon board for next week for a CD Cover that I'm designing, I wonder how much it will cost ?

The above is for "Between the Hammer and the Anvil" a great monthly DJ night at the Press Club, this is not the finished artwork, I'll be addin and image over top but I wanted to get a look at it without artwork and I think it looks pretty damn super. It is a little counter intuitive to do something different from my other poster work, which is easily recognizable, but I wanted to see how this looks, and we like it.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Milk Run gig poster

Here's a poster for I. Philp's rockin' good time musical enterprise, "Milk Run", this was the first poster I'd done in awhile, but it got my line work/ ink skills back in line pretty quickly.I'll be putting up another one later on this eve. These are done on a commission basis, price negotiable.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

It's Tuesday, there must be stuff by now

Rescue Dog (Siberian Husky) 11 x 14 inches, acrylic on canvas framed

$160.00

Not much to say today, big day of working on a Deep Sea Diver commission ( a whole band!) and touching up a couple of smaller things, there will be a couple of band/gig posters that I'll put up today too.

If you need to reach me,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Press Club, A.Shay Hahn's Dedicated Wall

from left top to bottom I Cannot Tell A Lie $160.00, Artemis $160.00,

Deep Sea Diver w/Acoustic Guitar $200.00, Asst'd Muppets $40.00 each

This Little Piggy Love Metal $ 80.00 (SOLD) The Whale of Safety $160.00

This Little Piggy Had Bad Luck $80.00 (SALE)

Lady With An Axe $200.00, Rescue Dog (scuba gear) $160.00

Deep Sea Diver w/Electric Guitar $200.00Girl w/ A Catfish SOLD

Here is the June 16th layout of the A.Shay Hahn wall at the Press Club, to locate this wall go to The Press Club which is on Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning on the North Side of the street. Their summer hours are 6 pm - 2 am, enter the bar walk to the back to order a drink and look East. I will be changing and updating things as they sell, new work is created, my moods change, etc. So if there is a piece you're interested in please contact me here to gurantee you get it.

I'm currently on a huge Gainsborough kick, leading me towards my own take on his work and the paintings of other British painters from the late 1700's, so expect that influence to show up in the new stuff. Who knew that looking at all those paintings of hunting parties, royalty, horses and landscapes when I was in England as a chilod, would resurface as such a strong impulse thirty years later. Thanks Dad, Mom and the British Mockridges.

I just spent a few days building frames, I've got about 35 of them now taking up most of the space in my studio, I also have the same amount of canvases, so I am more than prepared for these new ideas to start floppin' out. Currently I am taking commissions and also, please contact me if you need to still pick up your work from, "Come On Pilgrim" at the Cameron House.

I don't have much to say today, really, I just wanted you to see a picture of the wall

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

I've got good news and bad dreams

Rescue Dog (Scuba Gear), Rescue Dog (Deep Sea Diver)

each piece is 11 x 14 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$160.00 each

Let's get to the good news first, I have very happily negotiated an agreement with the fine folks at the Press Club to have the back wall near the bar be a permanent exhibition place for my work. I am building a hanging system on Monday and will be able to display multiple pieces of different sizes without pounding holes in their walls as I rotate work when it sells, and it will sell, mark my words, it will sell.

I have quite a few (too many ) paintings in my home studio right now, and they don't do me any good here, so you will be able to purchase from an ever rotating collection of beer pigs, muppets, assorted 12 x 12's, ladies with axes, and others ephemera by mid week, next week. I will of course post a photo as soon as the work is hung. I would like to thank M. & A. Hickery, V. Schwartz, I. Philp in advance for all the work that they will be doing for me, it's like my own musical boutique full of beer, couldn't be happier.

Some bad news, the BP oil spill, I'm 100% certain that's where the inspiration for the Whales of Safety and these fine Rescue Dogs has come from, man has gone so far past accountability in this life that now it's up to the animals to save their own, since we are hell bent on wiping everything off the planet, including ourselves, I'd say in the next eighty years or so. One of the "radical" environmentalists and original scientists work worked on the White House Report on Global Warming was quoted once as saying, "The human mind cannot comprehend how bad the situation has become on this planet (paraphrasing) if we did we'd go running into the streets screaming and beating our brains in.". That being said, the World Cup starts this week, it will be a fine distraction. Go Germany!

I had some crazy dreams last night, in one I was part of a misfit group of WW II Superheroes, like the JSA or the Invaders and we just couldn't get it together, all along the most powerful member of our group was this older female scientist, whos skin was charcoal grey with white blond hair. I imagine in the movie adaptation of the comic she will be played by Kate Blanchett ,as a Post Face Lift Joan Allen is too creepy to consider, why'd you have to do it Joan ? The Contender is one of my favourite films!

The Second dream was like a plot from a foreign film you'd read the review of in NOW magazine but never see, I was a US Soldier during the Vietnam War, next to our barracks in Saigon was a textile factory, there was a group of women who worked the same shifts as me and a couple of my buddies rotation and... you know what, this is actually too good to write here. I know folks download my paintings all the time and use the photos for their own pleasure, so I'll just keep this dream to myself, it would make a great screenplay.

A final word, I would like to wish a very, very Happy 3000th Birthday to the Rev. Matthew Ellis, who has been a great friend of mine for over 15 years or so, go see him and George Brown at Seven Crown's Tattoo (see links) they are the best in the city. Happy Birthday Matt.

to get in touch with A.Shay Hahn, rub the below address three times

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Whales of Safety vs. the Foul Mood

The Whales of Safety 1- 4

8 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$160.00

The first thing I had to do to get me out of the bad mood that I'd been in was paint some whales, some Schleich whales to be precise. Most of the animals that I paint are based on models, toy plastic dollar store animals, they're easier to work with. Schleich is the company that makes the best (and most expensive) plastic animals you've ever seen. These ""Whales of Safety" were based on a light concept, that whales are actually here to save us (see Star Trek IV), I'd like to thank Chris Gale for coining the term, "Whambulance" to describe their function, think Jonah and the Whale, he was being carried somewhere, I don't know if this makes any sense, but it does cheer me up a bit.

If you'd like one, I suggest you buy now, they aren't going to last.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Pub Life Sketches vs. The Foul Mood Round Two

Easily one of the best bands that this city has ever produced, Dodge Fiasco have been my favourite rock band in this town since I first saw them, man that must be eight (nine?) years ago, just the damn best. I'd promised S.Dignan a gig poster about a year ago and finally got to it. I think it rocks.

Also in music news, Ron Leary's new album, "Dependent Arising" produced by Dean Drouillard is now out, you gotta see Ron play, he's the real deal.

There is one more "Pub Life Sketch" but I'll have to track down a copy, I gave the original to I.Philp of Milk Run before I took a shot, look for it sometime in the next two weeks.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Pub Life Sketches vs. The Foul Mood

I don't know what's been on my mind for the past few days, but I've been in a pretty foul mood, maybe it's just the crash after the show coming down, but I've been pretty irritable and sensitive, small things set me off. I decided I would take the week and do anything, anything that I wanted, buy anything, paint anything, don't do any commissioned work, just try to get cheered up. so I decided to draw some more band posters, which I haven't done in over a year. Here are "The Big City Hicks"

Also in music news, Chris Gale's jazz quartet will be playing at the Rex every Tues. 6:30- 8:30 or round about that time and you should really check'em out. I'll be there.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Steinbeck on Parade

Steinbeck on Parade

8 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

commission ($200.00)

If you're looking for something to do Saturday, the Rattlesnake Choir play the Cameron House from 6-8 pm.

to commission A.Shay Hahn say the magic words

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

Deep Sea Divers at the music store

Deep Sea Diver w/ Fender Stratocaster, Deep Sea Diver w/ Acoustic Guitar,

Deep Sea Diver w/ Gibson Les Paul

each piece is 12 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$200.00

I'll add some comments later, busy finishing a commission.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Covered Blog, Last Day at the Cameron House

First up, the big news that I forgot to share yesterday, Covered is one of my favourite blogs on the Internet, a site where artists/illustrators/designers etc. redo their favourite comic covers. It's an incredibly popular site. Yesterday, my cover was posted, here's the link that will toake you there, http://coveredblog.blogspot.com/

Today is the last day to see, "Come On Pilgrim" at the Cameron House, I'll be there from 5:30- 7:oo pm if there is something you'd like to pick up, look at etc. Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers are playing from 6-8 pm, Sue and Dwight are on from 3:30-5:30, not sure who is playing in the evening, I think "Tarantula" are playing, and they are quite good on record.

Several folks came by to pick up their muppets yesterday, you can still commission them at your leisure, I have a very busy couple of weeks of commissions ahead of me, so I will try to fit in your orders, I'm sure it won't be a problem.

A.Shay Hahn

send me your distress calls by typing

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Quiet Place, commission

A Quiet Place to Call My Own (fiddle) V, IV

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$340.00

Here we have two versions of "A Quiet Place to Call My Own (fiddle)" this piece was commissioned and since I love the image so much I decided to take two views of a the woman on the roof, which gets a great response from people, everything from the obvious, "Fiddler on the Roof" reference to a surprising Sept. 11th reference. I'll let you know when the client has chosen the image that they want.

Also be sure to visit the blog tomorrow,so you can see a very exciting announcement and link.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Tomorrow is Muppet Friday, 5-7pm at the Cameron House

Hi Ho, so this is the last week of "Come On Pilgrim" at the Cameron House, I'll be hanging out tomorrow from 5-7 pm and look who's keeping me company! I started these portraits as a way to warm up for a day of painting and of course they quickly took over my days. Each muppet is

6 x 6 inches, acrylic on canvas, $40.0 each.

These are being sold on a first come, first served basis so swing by right at 5pm and you'll get the muppet that you want. That being said a couple of them are being reserved, but we'll sort that out later.

hope to see you tomorrow,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Out of Office Reply

Hey there, I won't be around a computer for the day so people who are coming by the Cameron House to pick up their work/ see the show, I'll be there from 5-7 pm.

I will also be there next Friday from 5-7 pm, the last day of the show is Sat. the 29th.

There are other days I'll be around as we enter the last week of the show, but for formal, guranteed attendance, let's keep it to Fridays from 5-7pm.

Off to build a ton of frames, that's what I do now, many many little frames, no big ones. etc.etc.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

just don't expect to hear from me today.

p.s like it says over their on the stupid Twitter feed, no shows until the fall, buy now.

Commissions and pigs

The Top two pieces were recently commissioned, this isn't the finished photo, but a process shot, I didn't grab a finished picture, but pushed the skies alot more and did lots of highlighting. They turned out really well and under a deadine. The next is a Cup of Pigs, I needed practice painting pigs, so I figured the only way to get them to stay still was to jam them in a cup.

Why am I sneezing ?

we'd love to hear from you, Come on Pilgrim is at the Cameron House until the end of the month and then no shows until the fall.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

New Additions.

Proper Villains (For Sale by Owner), Proper Villains (Target Practice),

Save the Bicylces!, I Cannot Tell A Lie
all pieces are 12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas,framed

$160.00 each.

Cameron House, current display Monday May 17

Man with a Hammer (white shirt) $180.00, Lady with an Axe ($180.00), Deep Sea Diver with Drum ($200.00)

The Night Tree ($340.00), Cup of Crows SOLD
The Painter's Assistants ($1000.00), Deep Sea Diver with Drum II ($200.00)
The Night Shepherd ($160.00)

A Cup of Black Cats ($160.00), Wolves ($160.00) Save the Bicycles! ($160.00)

The Book Thief ($160.00) A Quiet Place to Call My Own ($160.00)

Boy with Trumpet ($160.00), I Cannot Tell A Lie ($160.00)

Man with a Hammer (black shorts, $180.00) The Woman who Loved Her Guitar ($160.00)

Proper Villains (for Sale by Owner, $160.00) Proper Villains (Target Practice, $160.00)

Girl with a Cat fish ($160.00) Artemis ($160.00)
The Man Who Loved His Guitar ($160.00)

more photos to come as things change, work is selling steadily so contact me if you want something.

Show comes down at the end of May, have a great week and a better long weekend.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

In case you think we're resting.

So it's the middle of the show at the Cameron House, we've got about two weeks left until it comes down. I had hoped to be posting some photos here this morning of new work that is hanging there for you to see. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera down with me, so I'll have to post them Monday or Tuesday, which means another trip to Queen and Spadina, no problem I have a shopping list of stuff that I need to stock up the studio. I'm in the middle of two commissions right now and will be hard at it for the next couple of days, you probably won't see anything here until Monday, so I figured that I would post some news/schemes to tide you over until I come back. That's right, I'm going to write some stuff here for a change.

I often write about my love of multiples, collections etc. I went into the shop for a couple more days last week and built TWENTY THREE of these little black frames, I'd done a bunch for the end of the Press Club show and people loved them, they just flew off the walls, I'll work on about four at a time and then start posting them here for you to see when, "Come On Pilgrim" comes down, don't want to confuse anyone who may think that these will be there if you go to the Cameron House. What I'd like to do with these is have them all prepped for the Press Club Anniversary party, which is TWO DAYS of some of the best music in this city going for 48 hrs. straight, it's a bloody brilliant music marathon and I'd like to have 28 of these on display and just sell them off at $40.oo each, that's the second weekend in July, if memory serves.

One significant way my life has changed in the past three years is that I rarely listen to music unless I'm out, I just don't play music in my home anymore, I find it too distracting, I've discussed this here before but as a result when I hear a song that I like I play it to death like a twelve year old girl (no offence to any twelve year old girls reading this). I have already begun sourcing poses/tones for the next show I'd like to do, and the entire thing hinged on the lyrics listed below, here's a youtube link also. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec3rCamoyQs .

Funny that for a guy who doesn't listen to music two of the past three shows take their titles from songs/albums. What I'd like to do when I get about ten of the pieces finished is have an advance showing at "Musa" which is one of the best "first date" restaurants in this city, (and a kick ass brunch if you can get a seat on the patio in the summer), it's located across from the Press Club on Dundas West. If you've never been, I don't know what you're waiting for. This will probably happen in October or November and what I mean by "advance" is that it's not going to be a series that I show at the Press Club in December, it's going to be for one year from now, for a show in May, it's going to be expensive, all framed 20 x20 pieces, done in oil and worth every big bad penny, I hope to finance my winter to finish more work for the show by selling the first ten in advance, call me crazy, but if what I have in mind is successful you'll be glad that you heard about this early.

"Come On Pilgrim" is up at the Cameron House until the end of May, message me here for commissions and general inquiry.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

"i don't really need to see,so i don't need to see

so i'll paint,i don't know, i'll paint it black.

i don't need to see,i don't see how you see out of your window,

i don't need to see, i'll paint mine black.

i don't know me and you don't know you,

so we fit so good together cuz i knew you like i knew myself.

we clung on like barnacles on a boat,

even though the ship sinks you know you can't let go.

i was talking like two hands knocking,saying

'"let me in, let me in, please come out."

black glass, dirt-based soap,tell yourself what you know.

my friends, oh my friends,

bury your head i'll help you bury your plans.

hard hit, hard to miss, problems are what a problem is.

my light came up quick, call it your asterisk,

buried ina boys. in a boys first book of the stars

saw it as satellite, constant unblinking as,

buried in the bottom of a bottom of a brackish lake."

"barnacles"

Ugly Casanova

Deep Sea Divers, I see them when I sleep...

Deep Sea Diver with Drum II, Deep Sea Diver with Acoustic Guitar, Deep Sea Diver with Drum

each painting is 12 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$200.00 each

I'll be at the Cameron House tomorrow from 5-7pm, come on by and check out the show.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Deep Sea Divers

Deep Sea Diver with Fiddle

14 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$240.00

I would happily spend my summer doing commissions of Deep Sea Divers playing instruments. After this week the price will be raised to $260.00 each

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Cups of Crows and Cats

A Cup of Crows, A Cup of Black Cats

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$160.00 each

Working on a couple of commissions right now that are going very well, will be hanging new work on Thursday from 5-7pm if you'd like to see the show. Corin Raymond and the Sundowners will be playing the front room.

Come On Pilgrim is at the Cameron House until the 30th of May

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

High Park Alternative School

On Friday I was invited to speak to kids at the High Park Alternative School, a really great event that was put together by parents of students there. Professional artists of every stripe, dancers, harmonica players (Jerome Godboo! Oh Yeah!), choir leaders (Daryl Huggins! Oh YEAH!), visual artists (people with lots of time in the afteroon, ME! Oh YEAH!) were brought in to speak and answer questions, show their work,demonstrate techniques etc,etc. for the youth.

I had a great time with the kids, the only thing I had a problem with was that I was not used to talking for three and a half hours straight, now, if you know me you'd think, "But when we hang out, you don't shut up." Well, gentle reader, stand at the front of the class and talk for three hours straight, it's not like a conversation with the pauses and sips of coffee, the thinking etc. it's straight up talk and answer the question. This is something that I used to be good at, but since it's been awhile my skills were out of shape. I still had a fantastic time and sincerely thank the school and S.Bramer for inviting me.

New work has been put up at the Cameron House, I'm going to be there on Thursday from 5-7 pm, if you'd like to see the show and hang out. I will also be posting new work this week that will be replacing some things that have been sold. If you are purchasing a piece and picking it up Thursay, please let me know by TUESDAY. So I have something to fill the spot that you are vacating.

talk soon,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Tour of The Cameron House, post show May 3rd

The Log Driver's Waltz SOLDCanadian Girl at the Breakwater SOLD

The Night Tree (red books) II SOLD

A Quiet Place to Call My Own SOLDDeep Sea Diver with Banjo $240.00

Girl with a Drum, The Last Band $160.00, Woman with wings $240.0,

Girls Carrying Birdhouses $180.00, Man with Hammer, black shorts $180.00

Lady with an Axe, black dress SOLD

Lady with an Axe IV $180.00, Lady with an Axe, black dress SOLD

The Book Thief $160.00,A Cup of Crows SOLD, A Quiet Place to Call My Own $160.00

Coffee Dogs SOLD, The White Rowboat I $400.00, The White Rowboat II $400.00

Deep Sea Diver with Accordion SOLD,The Dog Who Got Drunk and thought he was a lion SOLD
The Painter's Assistants $1000.00, Deep Sea Diver with Moon $280.00, The Night Sheperd $160.00

Lady with an Axe, blonde hair $280.00,Lady with Lanterns, $280.00
Waiting for the Lake to Freeze $280.00,Man with a Hammer, white shirt $180.00
Lady with an Axe, red hair $180.00,The Night Tree $340.00

There are a couple of photos missing but I think this gives a good idea of just how great the show looks in the Cameron House. I planned it out to the inch and it paid off, the work is grouped perfectly. I am pretty tired today and just working on a couple of kids letters (see tag:the alphabet shoppe) that I need to deliver tomorrow, but it's a slow day and I don't feel half as rushed as I have for the past three weeks.

People really love the show, they also really love the music of Ron Leary, who, with Dean Drouillard and Wes Neall, gave us great songs to go along with a wonderful evening. I am always touched that people come out for these events, they bring their kids, we get caught up, have a few laughs and warm up a room, these days people are spread pretty thin, with jobs, commitments etc. It means a great deal to me that they come.

Of course the only thing that seems strange is how "naked" the 16 x 20 pieces look beside their framed, smaller friends. I'm going into the shop tomorrow and Wednesday to build about 20 more frames, so I'll probably frame the 16 x 20's you see above, raise the price by $40.00 and sell them instantly. I'd said a few posts back how sick I am of building them, but really, I made my bed so I may as well lie in it.

The show is up until the end of the month, if there is something you like, it's time to buy. If you would like to commission a piece, holler at me here.

thanks again to Cosmo Ferraro, Cindy Matthews, The Cameron House, Ron Leary, J.Brown, R.N McDougall, D.J Morum, F.Kean and all the folks who came out.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Cameron House, Queen West.Toronto ON

The Night Tree (red books) II

12 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$340.00

Tomorrow I hang the show at the Cameron, the Opening Reception begins at 5pm. I'd like to thank T.Hayes for reccomending that I tell people exactly where the Cameron House is. The Cameron House is located one block west of Queen and Spadina on Queen Str. It's on the North side of the street, right on the corner. It is covered in sculptures of ants, the side of the building is painting with a mural of a smile, the front is a mural of a beautiful blonde woman.

hope to see you tomorrow,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Night Tree

The Night Tree

12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$340.00

Opening Reception for "Come on Pilgrim" at the Cameron House, Sunday, May 2nd 5-8pm

with the Ron Leary Band. See post below for info about "the Night Tree" and her companion piece. I took a couple of minutes and looked around my studio/apartment. It's a bloody disaster, really want to get back to some sense of order in here, it's going to take a couple of days, wow, what a mess.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Night Tree

top : The Night Tree (red books)

The Night Tree

each piece 12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$340.00 each

I've been staring at these trees for weeks, they were two of the first things that I began that were "new" for the show (scroll all the way down to February 28th entry, don't bother) and got moved to the side, I'd tried a couple of different approaches with them in regards to figures and tones, but was never happy.

I think what I arrived at over the past couple of days works quite well in regards to the shape and layout. I was complaining about how frustrated I was, "They are just two 12 x 12's side by side! Twelve x Twelve it's what I do!" and was getting quite fumed about the whole thing, but we got to this point and now I can briefly exhale and finish the three/ four other pieces I need to get done for the hang at the Cameron on Sunday.

with relief,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com