Picasso, Women Running on the BeachOne Thousand Fiances
Untitled Five DESTROYED, Untitled Four
acrylic on canvas, eighteen x thirty six inches
five hundred dollars each.
{Process notes to come}
Friday, May 30, 2008
One Thousand Fiances, the series
One Thousand fiancesUntitled, one SOLD, two and three
eighteen x thirty six inches
acrylic on canvas
five hundred dollars each.
{Just wanted to get these posted, process notes to come.}
A.S Hahn
A.S Hahn
Sunday, May 11, 2008
In Memoriam
Take care Dave, you will be missed, with the changing face of Queen West to lose a building or a business is part of the territory,lose a personn and the street looks alot emptier all of a sudden.
rest well.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
The Faces and their Inspiration - a long story...
Utitled {Maple Leaf} Utitled {Eye Patches}each image, twelve x twelve iches, acrylic o cavas
oe hudred ad twety dollars
I have a sick fascination with portraits, and paintings of faces, really uncomfortable {Chuck} close ups of faces,I find it remarkable that they capture my attention instantly, I'd stop doing CPR if someone walked past carrying a good portrait.
Years ago the KMFDM album "nihil" featured a painting that never left my head, look it up, it's striking, actually I'll post it here, maybe that's where it started.
Four/Five years ago at Katherie Mulherin, Margaux Williamson had a triptych of two young boys whose faces were painted white, there was a bridge image between them which was great too, anyways , I was so poor at the time I could't afford them, they sold the day after, I would've given up all my vices to buy those paintings, and yes, I have told her how much I love those kids and that they have never left my memory, they sit right beside that KMFDM cover in my visual rolodex.
Recently I saw a photo of actor/playwright Claire Calnan {see above} that made me decide to move back to portraits, here are two of the series of faces. The first isn't as successful as I thought it would be, I have to work the highlights more, I'll get it right soon. The second is from a photo I stole from my friend Vikki Anderson, which was an image that as soon as I saw it , I had to steal it. That's just the way I am.
A.S Hahn
Canadian Girl Project
Canadian Girl w/Blue jay, Canadian Girl w/ Crow {SOLD}, Canadian Girl w/Cardinaleach acrylic on canvas, twelve x twelve inches
one hudred and twety dollars each.
ALL PIECES SOLD, CUSTOM ORDERS ACCEPTED
There is a fourth missing from this series that I stepped on while walking through my studio in the dark, it has since undergone repair, and will get posted {at a reduced price}. I apologize for the photo quality, I'll say it's a theft thing, really I wanted to get them posted as I like them very much, so much I smash them with my feet apparently. This bridges my interest that was looked at in the Fables series of women w/ Totem/Guardian figures. Yes, I saw "the Golden Compass" , it was alright.
Graffiti's TShirt Design
This is a concept TShirt design for one of my favourite bars in the city, yes I know I do have alot of favourite bars, that's just the way I am. I love this, it is very successful as a T Design, I also hope to do a large painting ala those old liquor posters you see in framing shops around your city, it would be fantastic in that format. Not sure if these are going to get printed, but it is so boss, very happy with the design.Best Live Show of the Year so far :Disfear at Sneaky Dee's check them out online if you like hardcore, it was an amazing show, thanks to Murder Mike and Grizzle for the invite to go, they kick ass.
Friday, April 25, 2008
TShirts et al.
Yes our shirts are here, the men's large is more of an XL, though no fault of the great guys at wounded paw, it's just what they're supplier sends them. The women's medium is perfect, as J.C demonstrates in the photos. So come with cash to the Cloak and Dagger today to get yours today, they will sell out in minutes, seconds even. Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Canadian Girl Project
Canadian Girl Project, Clockwise from Left
Canadian Girl Flame One, newfoundland Girl, Scottish Girl, Canadian Girl black,
Canadian Girl Flame Two, Irish Girl
each piece eight x ten inches, acrylic on canvas
Seventy dollars each, Three for Two hundred, Six for Four hundred
Custome Flag Order accepted at the address below.
Pub Life Sketches Eleven and Twelve
The first image is for a poster/TShirt for Kevin Quain and the mad bastards, if you've never seen them play at the Cameron House Sunday nights you are missing out on one of the greatest live acts in the history of this cursed city. He also plays Monday nights solo at Graffiti's in the market, Tuesdays at the Paddock and at The Rex, can't remember which evening that is, look it up. When you find out what I traded him this design for you will be so jealous your fillings will fall out.
The second image is for an old friend Duncan Nicholls who I went to Grand River High with, he now teaches there, which has to be strange, that's his band the Monster Show, who have a name that just begs for me to do a TShirt/Poster for. Check them out online.
A.Shay Hahn
SONG CURRENTLY STUCK IN MY HEAD: "By the Beautiful Sea" from Sweeney Todd, which if you don't know is where Belle and Sebastien ripped off all of their chops, so Sondheim should sue or maybe he gets a nice royalty cheque every month
Friday, April 18, 2008
Ongoing
Yes we have been extended at Kahawa until the end of the month, so don't forget to drop in to have a coffee and pick up some letters. We are still showing at Karen Found It in Mirvish Village and since the weather is so gorgeous there's no reason to not go to both places. As always to check out all the beautiful different styles of letters online just click the link below.A.S Hahn
Film Stills Series #1 "Untitled {Red Birds}" from Fight Club
Untitled {Red Birds}twenty four x eighteen inches, acrylic on canvas
three hundred and fifty dollars
As many of my friends know, I love DVDs, I love watching them, listening to them while I work, playing commentaries and featuresttes, I don't listen to music as much anymore as listen to commentary on DVD, music can be incredibly distracting, changing songs, playlists etc, things may not fit the mood of what I'm working on, it just gets in the way, I spend more time walking to the stereo/laptop instead of putting in solid "easel time". What I love is the "Voice in the room" aspect of DVD commentaryI find it relaxing since I spend so much time working alone.
Similarly I think what I enjoy is the idea of process and access to the process of creation on a DVD commentary, I do like to show work in progress here at the Shoppe site from sketch to completion. Shoppe emails have also told me that you out there like to see it also. I started to make a list of certain film stills that I enjoy the composition, find inspiring etc. This is the first, the still, which I have absolutely zero permission to use on this site {apologies} is from "Fight Club" it's a small moment but compositionally it blows my mind, so I adapted it to suit my needs. About two years ago I'd started a painting of a flock of red birds on a white ground, it wasn't working, there was an element missing, once I saw this sequence from Fight Club, the lightbulb {or whatever it is in my head} popped. Over on Facebook of course people start immediately sending "Flock of Seagulls" jokes and rips about the Eaton Centre, but that's fine, if that's what comes out of you, I still want to hear it.
I'm still doing a couple of small touch ups on this piece, nothing too significant, some highlights and toning, nothing radical, I'm happy with everything that's here.
thank the lord the sun has come out,
A.S Hahn
The Canadian Girl Project
Canadian Girl (Eighth in a series)twelve x twelve inches,acrylic on canvas
SOLD.
Apologies for the lack of cropping in this image, which help will cut down on theft, but for reasons only known to microchips and other tiny things that live inside laptops, my photo program has a bug up it's ass. That being said, here she is at night. I'm not sure of her mood in this painting, I think she's just taking some time to think, as I have lately.
Keep the comments coming on the ongoing series.
A.S Hahn
{Also out of interest someone send me an email via this link today just so I can see how it's working.}
potential tshirts for the Shoppe and the Cloak
Once we get the first batch of shirts out into the world, which seems to be taking awhile, we may print this "Batman/Batmite" inspired image for the madcraftshoppe clothing line,depending on interest from you Shoppers. This may get printed in children's sizes.
Below it is one of the most popular catchphrases at the Cloak and Dagger rendered in an "Austin Powers" style 60's lettering, this may be printed by the pub but there seems to be a dispute {as always} between the owners which I won't get into because I don't take sides, I do the designs, they make the decisions, or at least attempt to.
FILE UNDER "It wouldn't be the Internet if we didn't talk about movies"
Just watched "Lars and the Real Girl" incredibly done, but it's distracting to watch a film where you know more than half the actors personally, heck one of them lives just up the street from me. By weight alone it should be a "Canadian Film". I thought the performance of the older brother was spot on. Nevertheless a wonderful film, very affecting music and they use my "wedding song" "This Must Be the Place {Naive Melody} by the Talking Heads, one of the most "real" love songs ever written.
In other news, I don't know about you but I read the paper online, I read the Sun at the pub, but you can get carried away with scrolling, so instead of a headline that reads, "Stolen Rhinoceros Horns could be deadly" my scanning eyes read, "Stolen Rhinoceros Porn turns Heads".
talk to me at the address below.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Actors, Mothers, Artists of note
Rocking Horse, nighttwenty x twenty four inches, acrylic on canvas
SOLD
For the first { long overdue} time I decided to add some links to the Shoppe, here's a quick run down of what is listed. {For some reason, the Life on the roof link, is acting up, I've tried to fix it twice}
The Skeptical Tourist
A hilarious blog by local actor Lisa norton, she posts monthly and you are guranteed to enjoy her views on being a working actor, the current post is the true story of the disaster at the Stratford Festival.
Life on the Roof
My absolute favourite Mommy blog out there today. Jenn also creates incredible quilts that I really love, in fact I had no idea how much I liked quilts until I saw hers.
Tin Can Forest animation
Some of my favourite Toronto illustration/animation, amazing stuff. Marek Colek easily ranks as my favourite illustrator in Toronto, would die to trade for a piece. This is their blog with links to their site.
as always yours, A.Shay Hahn
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Happy Return to Kahawa
Hey Shoppers for a limited time, that time being April 1 - 13th The Alphabet Shoppe will be hanging out at my favourite coffee house in the city, Kahawa. Located just steps away from The Cloak and Dagger {just East of College and Bathurst on the North side of College}. We'll be showing all the letters that I've got en masse. As for the prices you will have to come and check it out for yourself as prices have been seriously reduced on the alphabets due to the recent financial pitfalls we have experienced at both of the Shoppes.
So if you have a little one, a recent addition to a friend's family or just like looking at bright beautiful letters while drinking great coffee this is the time for you.
There will be no reception or event.
Check out some of the letters below and don't forget our beautiful lil'sister blog the Alphabet Shoppe.
There may be one more announcement this week regarding work from Fables that is still available.
Until then I remain your humble madcraftsman,
A.Shay Hahn
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Karen Found It
"Karen Found It " is a fantastic antique shop located in Mirvish Village right across from the Victory Cafe
and only steps away from The Beguiling and Suspect Video . If you are looking for incredibly well priced vintage home decor and accoutrements you can't go wrong here
You especially can't go wrong because for the next couple of months Karen Found It will have lots of paintings of antique toys, letter sets and such, courtesy of the madcraftshoppe. This summer we will also participate in car free Sundays in Mirvish Village via Karen Found It, where we will sell STACKS of letter sets.
She was also telling me that she may get a fishtank full of fish so the kids have something to look at whilst you browse for yourselves. I can't stress how cool the stuff she has at the store is folks.
Dates for Car Free will get listed here at a later date. Oops! Here they are in me moleskine , so it must be a later Date right now.
MIRVISH VILLAGE PEDESTRIAN SUNDAYS
June 8th, July 13th,Aug 10th. please forget to bring your car or people will look at you funny.
Karen Found It Wed-Sat 11-6, Sun 12-6
OOOH Here is the Final Design and it is boss
The first in the madcraftshoppe's {that's where you are now} clothing line. This is a exclusive limited run that is getting printed so I don't starve this month and must be reserved via email.
T Shirt is avail. in men's large or women's medium,
White shirt with navy ink, twenty dollars each
Currently reading, "Blood Kin" by Ceridwen Dovey, which is a South African, Afrikaner name I assume, her name is the most beautiful new word I've ever hurt my mouth trying to say. I would name my daughter Ceridwen but if I was calling her name across a field by the time I figured out how to say it right, she'd already have joined the circus. The book is painfully human and simple, my favourite style.
The Canadian Girl project continues
Canadian Girl six SOLD and seven twelve x twelve inches,acrlyic on canvas
SOLD
Or subscribe to Canadian Girl monthly and I'll send you four {that's one a month for four months} for three hundred dollars. Return to this post at a later date as I've collected dozens of quotes from people about how the Canadian Girl makes them feel, imagine that Walrus magazine.
Here are a few to get us started...
J.P wrote
Good boots for standing on an east coast beach. No way would I think that was the Pacific - although I'm not sure why I'm so certain.
D M wrote
Good boots for standing on an east coast beach. No way would I think that was the Pacific - although I'm not sure why I'm so certain.
D M wrote
I've always felt that this picture conveys the same feeling of other Canadian icons like the railroad trilogy, The Rheo's Northern Wish...comfortable in the face of a giant chunk of land
K P wrote
K P wrote
if walrus publishes, will canadian girl be worth millions?? because there's a version of her in my living room right now, and i could stand to be a millionaire. it's the east coast for me, too. the wind is brisk and probably stings. her hands are tucked in firm and close, and her eyes are a little watery. cheeks and nose rosy, but they go with the outfit. those are posh gum boots for a 7-to-12-year-old. waiting for something... a sign or a mood to pass. lonely. but the kind one seeks out.
This makes me think of the shores of Lake Ontario. Not far from me, down the hill towards the Beaches.On the small crest of sand; a foot or two high, above the shoreline, looking out across the vastness of water. Wearing her flag, facing the U.S. to the immediate southeast.
K P wrote
funny - with my east coast setting, i was just thinking, "is she looking for england?"
D A wrote
I bet she's playing some mean-ass recorder on the other side - probably the theme to friendly giant....although its obviously to windy for anyone to really tell...
P F wrote
I am really loving how the bottom of the flag aligns with the horizon of the ocean...this piece makes me feel rather wistful myself.
A Y wrote
I bet she's playing some mean-ass recorder on the other side - probably the theme to friendly giant....although its obviously to windy for anyone to really tell...
P F wrote
I am really loving how the bottom of the flag aligns with the horizon of the ocean...this piece makes me feel rather wistful myself.
A Y wrote
A delicate ballance between arty and party - perhaps a comment on federalism. With the beret and red party boots she has a Montrealer's fashion sense, but tellingly she is wrapped in the Canadian flag.
A P wrote
A P wrote
She looks as though she's waiting for someone to come home.
D A wrote
Maybe its a boy in girl's boots who's taking a wiz off of the clif. What would that say about federal politics????
A S C wrote
D A wrote
Maybe its a boy in girl's boots who's taking a wiz off of the clif. What would that say about federal politics????
A S C wrote
I think it is a lake.And the flag seems to smother her ,rather than comfort.Is it holding her back?Is she free to move her arms?A northern lake,above the tree line.I hope the flag gives her warmth.
Currently reading "Angle of Repose" Wallace Stegner, one of the best books ever, the ending is a wee cheap, all is forgiven in the writing though.
Send your thoughts on the Canadian Girl to me via emal at madcraftshoppe@live.com or leave a comment here, God only knows we haven't had a comment in a long while, but we do get lots of email, we'll do a mailbag section next month so send us your thoughts. {Lord that sounds lame}
A.S Hahn
A-E Alpha Dragons
Top Red Dragon A-E, Green Dragon A-Eapprox Twelve inches x Thirty inches
acrlyic on canvas w/frame
Two Hundred Dollars each
Gathering from the response over at Facebook, where I sell lots of work to lots of people all over Canada, if you want one for your child or a child's friend , or anyone else under three foot tall, you should get in touch with Shay very soon. My email is all over this place.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The Canadian Girl
Canadian Girl, fourth in the series
twelve x twelve inches
acrylic on canvas
SOLD
When I think of icons or images that I feel succeed, graphically, emotionally, something that resonates, images that people continually tell me that they love, she is always in that conversation.
Everytime I paint her she's a little different, the wind on the flag is stronger, her hair longer, the sky darker or lighter, depending on my mood, once she even stood in front of a fire.
For the next couple of weeks I will add another Canadian Girl to this site and we can track the changes together.
To reserve and share your thoughts on her, contact me here,
A. S Hahn
and as always don't forget our sister site for children of all ages
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Mad Craft Shoppe TShirts
TShirt Design for the Mad Craft Shoppe {that's me}. Shirts are white with navy printing, limited run of twenty shirts, five Women's Medium, Fifteen Men's Large reserve now.Sets, Hot and Cold taps, six x six inches, acrylic on canvas, fourty dollars a pair.
Hot and Cold Running Love Taps, same msrmts. sixty dollars for the set.
When I am fiscally adjusted I will write for days, until such times, my succinctness must suffice.
Let me say, I love these, yes they are "home decor" oriented on the surface just thik a little more, if they were hanging in your home, what do they say to you ?
Can't wait to hear from you readers.
A.S Hahn
Friday, March 07, 2008
Insomnia and plastic toys
Medecine Set Two,
each piece is Eight x Ten inches, acrylic on canvas,
set of three one hudred dollars, set of six two hundred.
Plastic food for Hungry Painters One
eighteen x eighteen inches, acrylic on canvas
two hundred and fifty dollars
Plastic Food for Hungry Paniters Two
sixteen x sixteen inches, acrylic on canvas
two hundred and fifty dollars.
My mind is mercurial, this is no surprise to anyone who knows me, follows this site etc. Then suddenly when I fixate on something I can't move from it. These pieces are certainly a testament to that.
I will say more later, or is more necessary?
hurray, tomorrow is my birthday
A.S Hahn
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Letters and Sets on a Snowy Day
Here is a great new set of Steel Wool packaging from the ages, which makes me laugh every time I look at it and two new "Alphabet Shoppe" sets. The Steel Wool set is Eight x Ten inches {times three} forty dollars each or the set for one hundred dollars.
The slate A-E set are eighty dollars, five x seven {x five}The horizontal are the same as the slate
A set of five Six x six inch letters or numbers is seventy five dollars, you can order any comination, it is a minimum order of five letters.
Done in this "School House style, not the more complicated style of the Twelve x Twelve inch Alphabet Shoppe paintings, which are Sixty dollars each, or three for one hundred and fifty dollars.
news to come, just in the middle of doing some more TShirt design work.
Shay.
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