Vancouver 2013, Giant Slugs and Money

Just got back from five great days in Vancouver, since painting wise I'm all about Aelbert Cuyp these days I was thrilled to see the Dutch exhibit at the VAG, they had a great Van Bloeman, a lovely Wouverman and a really sweet Ruysdael all framed in those great big black moulding frames that make skies and flowers really pop. I spent about an hour and ten minutes there, only two exhibits were open which is a bit of a rip off, and the contemporary gallery was closed for installation and wouldn't reopen until after we'd left. When you go to the VAG be prepared to be followed by security, they have a huge staff with nothing to do, I preferred the staff at the National Gallery in Cuba who just slept and left you alone, the staff at the VAG have nothing to do or maybe less than nothing, when you feel like you are being watched it really distracts from the pleasure of standing in front of a beautiful painting.

Here are some other impressions of the trip, really liked the numbers of crows that I saw in Vancouver, that was the real difference in location, the area we stayed in was very much the shopping district so it didn't feel that different than being in downtown Toronto, except for the crows.

 For eats and fine comestibles I recommend "Forage" where I got to indulge in some great Bison Marrow, "Chill Winston" which had delicious Kangaroo Carpaccio and steak and "the Flying Pig" which is a great place to hang out, didn't make it to "Wildebeest" which won Best New Restaurant 2013, maybe next time, I also made sure to eat a few JapaDogs which is an acquired taste.

We enjoyed drinking "Hatfield's Fuse" a nice white by Blasted Church, the Driftwood "Fat Tug" IPA is a great beer and we brought back a bottle of Oak Bay, Pinot Noir that we brought at the Granville Market.

Made trips to both "Golden Age Collectables" and "Rx Comics" where I picked up Hickman's new series, "East to West, 1-3" and "Wild Blue Yonder, #1" both great reads.

I got to hear our Hotel Bar duo play a terrible version of "Girl From Ipanema" so scratch that off the bucket list.

Really enjoyed the 4.5 km walk we did through Stanley Park, particularly loved the huge tree stumps some had new trees growing on them like parasites, the giant slugs were also a huge plus and the Rose Garden where I got to try out the new camera I bought, my old one got damaged on the flight, but I hated it anyways.

Next time we're out that way I want to go North and get off the beaten path.

A good trip, now it's time to get back to work

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 



A.Shay Hahn, Cameron House Murals Finished!

Here they are folks and they look good! The murals are finished and waiting for you at the Cameron House to head down, hear some music and have a look. Be sure to check out the Out Door stage, buy some merch and support local music.

Here's a link to the facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/394480184000962/ and another to the Cameron House records site http://www.cameronhouserecords.com/ I'll be taking the day to collect myself and get organized for working at home again.

Have a look around the blog, check out the paintings, there's lots to see here.

many thanks to Cosmo and McQ for the chance to paint on the walls.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 



A.Shay Hahn, the Royal Ant Mother, Cameron House Mural

We hit it hard today at the Cameron and got a really great block in of "the Ant Mother" and lots of highlights and finishes on the West Wall. Tomorrow it's my last day there and I'll whack my way through touching up the East Wall. During the day I was kept company by the great crew of "A Case of the Mondays" and got to hear them rehearse their "slow jam" night and got to listen to Ginuwine's "Pony", TLC's "Red Light Special" and all kinds of great jams. A very talented crew of musician's be sure to check them out.

time to rest and watch Top Chef Canada.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Cameron House Records T's and Junos

Working down in the studio today, it's way too nice out to be stuck in the basement cleaning but things have really started to pile up down there, and then those piles fell over onto each other and then they made little baby piles. It's pretty chaotic.

So before I head back down into the dark I thought I'd post a picture, that I meant to get up on the blog ages ago of the Strumbellas at the Junos. If you've never seem/heard them you have to check them out and one of the fellas, apologies for forgetting your name man, is proudly wearing a "Cameron House Records" T shirt, which you can buy at the Cameron or online.

I'll be back at the Cameron House tomorrow and Tuesday finishing the walls, check back here for photos or head on down to see what I've done.

cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



A.Shay Hahn, Cameron House Murals, Day One and Two

Here's what twelve hours or two days looks like. I don't think there's anyone in the city who can move as fast as I can along a wall, yes I'm bragging, but yes it's true. There are no heads blocked in on the first day, that's ladder work and best done all it once, if you want to waste time, go up and down a ladder 1000 times in a day. I don't waste time, we don't have time to waste, so you do all the low work one day and all the high work the next day.

So there is still a figure going in the center of the west wall (bottom two photos) and more detailing for the East Wall but we're in a really good place right now for finishing them on Tues. or Wed.

The murals will be up at the Cameron until at least September so you have lots of time to come by and check them out.

As a test for myself I also walked to the Cameron House on both days that I worked on the mural, so that was17km+ and then twelve hours of work, today I am covered in myoflex and writing this from bed.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Mariachi Skeleton #4 for the Cameron House

Had to just let the bottom of this one go, getting the hand position on the trumpet and detail in the "Sugar Skull" makeup was far more important. I love the trumpet the last minute of "When A Man Loves A Woman" kills me every time I hear it. I also want each one to be a different colour, I think doing them all in the black/red/white colour scheme would be really dull so this fella is rocking some cool sky blue colours also trying to get the boots to be cool enough to remind folks of buddy Tony Benattar's Liberty boots.

Alright, back to it.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Mariachi Skeleton #3 for The Cameron House

Here's the third of five giant skeletal mariachi that will be adorning the walls of the Cameron House from now until around September. This and the next drawing won't be as realized as the first two they're just sketches for me to reference while I block in the pieces directly onto the walls. I think it would be great if one of them became a Tshirt for Cameron House Records and for that I'll do a really tight B&W piece.

I'm starting tomorrow so be sure to head by the Cameron House to watch the mural evolve.

And head on over to Any How Town to see the "noir" models that I am building and staging, you're going to be impressed - or worried, one of the two.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Mariachi Skeletons #1 & #2

Here are the first two (of five) skeletal mariachi that will be adorning the walls of the Cameron House. You have to follow the rules of murals Rule 1) Movement the things have to flow from one side to the other, angles are good and so are figures in motion 2) Colour lets get a cool palette that will really pop on the golden walls of the Cameron and keep it limited to five/six colours 3) It's gotta be clear and fun (that's my own rule)

Alright, the weather is great outside and it's time to get started on two more.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



The Press Club/ Cameron House news

Jimmy Byron mourns the loss of artwork

I have taken down the Anniversary Sale at the Press Club and also the "dedicated wall". This is going to be a very busy summer I have several projects on the go that are going to have me working at home in the studio or writing on the back porch and it's best that someone else take the space. I won't be in the West End that often so it's time to close down the dedicated wall for awhile.

Lucky for you the person who will be hanging in the "dedicated" area is Jack Breakfast! He'll have his great shots of birds up on the wall and they are priced to sell. Many thanks to the Hickey Bros. Veronika, Ian Philp and of course Jimmy for their support over the years.

 

Starting next Thursday I'll be doing a large figure based mural inside the Cameron House, I'm drawing and designing it right now and let me say, it's going to be fun. There will be skeletal mariachi, ants, flying records and musical instruments, flowers, sticks of dynamite it's going to be nuts. The mural will be up until around September so keep coming back here to see it progress. In other Cameron House news, Cameron Street will be closed and turned into an outdoor venue on the 15 & 16th,read about that here https://www.facebook.com/events/394480184000962/ad

Very proud of Cosmo and McQ and all the great stuff that Cameron House Records are doing.

if you have any questions about commissions or the work that was at the Press Club, send me an email at the contact below.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 

 



Last Couple of Days for Press Club SALE

Once again Jimmy Byron adds his contribution to the last days of the Press Club SALE,850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning, ATM on site and it's fine to pay the staff and take the work home, you probably won't see prices like this again.

There may be another quick announcement coming up in the next couple of days re. The Anniversary Sale but I will repeat in the future prices will be higher.

Here's an album of all the work and the prices https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.337934529628347.83965.108410249247444&type=3

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

What kind of dioramas? Bad Ass Dioramas

There will still be painting news coming to this blog over the summer, something may be happening at the Cameron House, an album design and commissions of course, but for the next while I'll be building and finishing some diorama work for a photo project that I'm planning. I'll also be finishing the second book of the Any How Town series and writing the rest of the third, please visit the Any How Town blog for details.

So if you want to see that stuff, I'll post finished images here and at the other blog, meanwhile if you'd like to help me with funding these huge projects, larger and more expensive than I've ever attempted please head to the Press Club (850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning, open after 6pm, great back patio) and purchase a piece from the staff. Prices have been lowered to fund these projects that I've been working on for five years without grants or anything and you get a great painting or two to hang on your wall, gift to a friend, you name it.

The work is great and you can see it if you scroll on down.

The show is over at the end of this week so head on over.

many thanks,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Get Your Dry Bones Movin'

Many thanks as always to Jimmy Byron for sending these photos, they crack me up. This is the final week at the Press Club for my anniversary SALE, prices are great, the patio is great and you're pretty swell yourself.

To see the show just scroll down the blog, recent sale was the horizontal four RAYGUNS! but the vertical piece is still there, great for that short wall in your home that you've always wanted to decorate.

I'm headed outside to build a small city in my back yard, read about that at the "Any How Town" blog, see links.

best,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Pivot Readings at the Press Club

Tonight at the Press Club, the Pivot Reading series hosts some really incredible authors/poets. You have to go see Chris Eaton read and also check out his great band Rock Plaza Central. Here's a link to the event https://www.facebook.com/events/308294045967600/

Also you only have two more weeks to purchase my work there on SALE all proceeds are going towards finishing my book series, "Any How Town" which you can read about at my other blog (see the links section to the right).

Also on May 24th Jimmy Byron will be playing, here's a link to his page on facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jimmy-Byron/109047946967?fref=ts

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 

Pesky exposed space on your walls ? Look no further

 top photo

Canadian Girl, Baseball Furies, Requiem for the Karate Kid $120.00 each, Mariachi $80.00, Girl With An Axe $180.00, CALM/ Bullshit Gauges $40.00 each. Martina the Martian, Day of the Dead, Canadian Girl (Caesar), Siren $120.00

bottom

RAYGUNS! $250.00, Sledgehammer/ Requiem for the Karate Kid II $120.00 each, Grapefruit/ Woman with an Axe $180.00

Here are some new additions to the Anniversary Sale, I took down the Marvel Superhero pieces, there didn't seem to be much interest in them, but I also think they aren't selling because they lack frames so I replaced them with the second Raygun! piece and the Sledghammer and Grapefruit.

The sale is on until the end of May and then I am going on a short hiatus from painting to finish the second book in the Any How Town series, get an agent and get the book series published.

send me an email for any inquiries, you can also buy directly from the staff and there is an ATM on site at the Press Club, 850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Game Seven, Maple Leaf Goon

Musical Goon
12x16inches,acrylic on canvas
$180.00
at the Press Club, 850 Dundas West Toronto
until the end of May
Here's a fine, fine painting of a Maple Leaf Goon and it's currently hanging at the Press Club where you can watch the game on their smallish television. The show is up until the end of the month and never again will you see prices so low.
Why so low?
It's been nine years of painting and I'm celebrating by sharing my work with you and trying to raise funds to take the time to work on my book. If you love art, literature and hockey, head to the Press Club and buy a piece, maybe I'll even thank you on the dedication page!
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com



Check Out The View From the Corner Stool

Thanks to Jimmy Byron for sending me this photo.

 



There is a ton of great music happening at all times in Toronto, bands, troubadours, honky tonkers you name it are always playing somewhere and I'm always surprised when I mention some of my favourite local acts to people and they haven't heard of them. If you are someone who enjoys music but is unfamiliar with the local scene check out this site, "The View From the Corner Stool" and get acquainted with some great local music.

http://www.theviewfromthecornerstool.com/shows_Tom_Parker_and%20the%20American%20Pour_Cameron.html

Thanks to James for shooting Tom Parker and the American Pour at my show at the Cameron House in November.

Many thanks to my friends who came out on Saturday to have a drink and see my show at the Press Club it was a fun evening of patio lounging, laughter and food, the show is up until the end of May , 850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning. Prices have been reduced so if you have a space on the wall and you've always wanted a piece of my work, now is the time as prices go back up when the show is over. You can see what's on display if you scroll down on the blog, the Press Club is usually open by 6pm

Keep coming back here folks there will be some big announcements soon.

cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 

Deep Sea Diver w/Banjo, the Unseen Strangers CD release

Tuesday May 7th is the CD Release for the Unseen Strangers "Follow the Sound" CD at Hugh's Room which I did the album artwork for, head on down if you like inventive and humorous bluegrass music.

Here's a link to the event

http://hughsroom.com/2013/01/the-unseen-strangers-follow-the-sound-cd-release/

 

Yes I get many blog hits for people looking for Deep Sea Diver artwork, if you would like to commission a DSD painting just get in touch. There are no Deep Sea Divers hanging at the Press Club but there are many other interesting paintings.

I am currently underneath my sink, it is not pleasant

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 

A.Shay Hahn, Press Club Additions

Hey folks I've added three of the "Bullshit" Gauges ($40.00 each) to the walls of the Press Club (850 Dundas West) and the first of two Raygun pieces ($250.00)
UPDATE GROUP OF RAYGUNS SOLD.
I'll bring the other Raygun piece over on Saturday when we have the reception, it' (once again) from 6:30-9:30. The show is up until the end of May. I don't think there will be live music at this party but the beautiful patio will be open for lounging.

enjoy the weather,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 

Girl With An Axe

Girl with an Axe
12x16 (I think)
acrylic on canvas, framed
$180.00
going up this week, just have to decide if I want to head over today or tomorrow, I guess I'm just going to be looking out the window and trying to make up my mind, or maybe I'll get back to work on the popsicle stick warehouse I'm building, or do some rewrites on my second book or maybe do some drawing of Any How Town characters or perhaps finish a couple more pieces that have been waiting for my attention in the studio.

we'll see

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

the Press Club, 850 Dundas West, Toronto



Bullsh*t Gauges for Sale

Bullsh*t Gauges
6x6inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$40.00 each
 I'll be hanging them sometime this week, maybe Tuesday or Wednesday, by the response over on facebook they won't stick around long.

benjoy,

A.Shay Hahn

macraftshoppe@live.com

and of course the reception is

Saturday, May 4th, 6:30-9:30

850 Dundas West

between Euclid and Manning



Give it up for Spud, Press Club Additions

One thing you can say about Spud is that he has never seen a three story house he didn't like and here's his latest piece on a house near Harrry Rairey park on Bathurst.

As you can see I've added the CALM gauge and the two squirrels dressed as Nuns ($40.00 each) to the back wall of the Press Club and also the Girl with An Axe (SOLD!) both of the "Nick Cave Song" pieces have sold and I'll be bringing over some new work hopefully on Friday, but you'll see it posted here first.

If there's something you like, head to the Press Club (850 Dundas West, open after 6pm) this is the time when things really start to sell.

if you have any questions send me a message

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

Once again the reception is Saturday, May 4th, 6:30-9:30pm

 



Pearl Rachinsky at the Cameron House

If you haven't been in the Cameron House this month you haven't seen this awesome cut outs created by Pearl Rachinsky, I love these, I think they're fantastic. Head over to her website and check out her her illustrations  http://pearlrachinsky.com/ff.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

 



Ninth Anniversary Show and Sale

Now that it's been posted as an event on Facebook it is truly official, the reception for the Ninth Anniversary of the mad craft shoppe is Saturday, May 4th from 6:30-9:30 at the Press Club, 850 Dundas West between Euclid and Manning.

There will be food, there will be drink, there will be great prices on paintings as we celebrate nine years of Deep Sea Divers, Cowboys riding chickens, and all the madness that has been produced since I put down my set painting brushes and picked up my smaller art painting brushes.

Here's a link to the fb event

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/474852862580130/

work will change as it is sold, any questions please don't hesitate to send me an email

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Girl With An Axe at the Press Club

Girl With An Axe

9x12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

SOLD.

at the Press Club, 850 Dundas West

until the end of May

I'll hopefully be hanging this lil' lass and the squirrels and a couple of other things tomorrow at the Press Club, be sure to drop in and have a look.

Tomorrow I'll probably announce that the reception is Saturday, May 4th from 6:30-9:30

but I won't announce that today.

ATM onsite, it's fine to pay the staff and take the work home with you.

any questions give me a ring at

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

A.Shay Hahn / Jimmy Byron at the Press Club

 

Tonight at the Press Club Jimmy Byron celebrates his birthday by playing three great sets of rockabilly and blues. So head on down to 850 Dundas West, raise a glass, hear some great music and check my show of paintings. All proceeds go to finishing the first two books in the Any How Town series (see links) and securing an Agent. The show is up until the end of May but if there's something you want I suggest you buy it now, it's fine to pay the bar staff, ATM on site.

To see what else is there just scroll down the blog. Jimmy should start around 10pm

 

Stay tuned for invite to the Reception.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Squirrel Dressed As A Nun II

A Squirrel Dressed As A Nun II

6x6 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

UPDATE SOLD.

at the Press Club (850 Dundas West)

Here's the second in the most popular series of paintings that I've ever done, people have gone bonkers over on facebook over these little guys.

I'll be hanging these and a few more new pieces at the Press Club this Friday around 6pm.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com 

A Squirrel Dressed As A Nun

Praying Squirrel

6x6 inches, acrylic on canvas

UPDATE SOLD.

The weather outside stinks so to cheer you up, here's a picture of a squirrel dressed as a nun. Expect a whole series of these, they crack me up

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

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