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

The White Rowboat

The White Rowboat

20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas$400.00

As always come to the Cameron House on Sunday, May 2nd from 5-8 pm for the Opening Reception of "Come On Pilgrim" with musical entertainment by the Ron Leary Band. Advance purchases are reccomended.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The White Rowboat II

The White Rowboat II

20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00

(will post some thoughts here once I finish the companion piece, White Rowboat I)

Andrew Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Come On Pilgrim, brings some friends along

An Angel for the Carpenters, 12 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$340.00

A Quiet Place to Call My Own, A Cup of Crows, Coffee Dogs, The Book Thief

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

$160.00 each

We are bringing some friends along from, "the wideawake man" my last show at the Press Club.

I want to create a similar "salon" feeling to the what the look of the Press Club had, maybe with a bit more order.

As usual I'll be swapping work in and out as it sells and documenting the visual changes of the walls, which some people find exciting and some find annoying and unprofessional.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Selene

Selene, Woman with Lanterns II

18 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00

Hard at work, will post the Sunday Challenge Results later today. As always come on out May 2nd to the historic Cameron House from 5-8 pm for the Opening Reception of, "Come On Pilgrim" paintings by Andrew Shay Hahn with music provided by Ron Leary and his band.

For advanced purchases or other questions holler into this tin can.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

Eight Days til Opening at the Cameron House

Girls Carrying Birdhouses,

12 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas ,$180.00

Lady with an Axe (Black Dress), Lady with an Axe IV,

The Dog who got Drunk and thought he was a Lion,

The Night Shepherd,

11 x 14 inches, acrylic on canvas, $160.00

Lots of work to finish this week, several more posts coming your way, it is a beastly Sunday outdoors today so I will be inside, dry and waving brushes around like a madman.

Over on Facebook the Second Sunday challenge is under way and I'll be reporting on it either this evening (after 8pm) or tomorrow AM. As always I reccomend buying in advance if there is something that you like, no gurantees it will be there when the show is hung. Really, holler at me if there is something you want and you can pick it up this week.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

About Axes (and a bit more about hair and colour)

Lady with an Axe (blonde hair)

16 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$280.00

Here are some comments about the "Lady with an Axe" that I collected on facebook, along with one that addresses both her and her hair colour.

IA
They appeal to our ideals of beauty and horror at the same time?
Wed at 8:36am ·

TB
in my case, i loooove chopping kindling because i feel powerful and productive: these women are the spirit of that.
Wed at 8:41am

DVM
there's a certain sense of empowerment behind women wielding tools, and that whole lizzy borden took and axe thing.... most of your fans are sick and twisted like you!
Wed at 11:57am ·

SM
What am I? Friggin Camille Paglia over here?
Wed at 12:01pm ·

DVM
no SM, you just enjoy being intimidated by powerful/crazy women....thus the industry you work in!
Wed at 12:10pm ·

SM
that 'splains it!
Wed at 12:16pm ·

AL
Are the positive responses from men or women?
Wed at 1:05pm ·

Andrew Shay Hahn
the majority are from women, some men have commented how cool they think they are, but it's mostly women who are fans.
Wed at 1:14pm ·

SR
it's the bum.
Wed at 5:01pm ·

AV
I like that they wield axes but you still call them "ladies!" Probably wise.

S. E -this one. I like her black dress, it makes it a moodier piece to me than the girl in the white dress.Curious - you seem to paint a lot of blondes - stylistic choice or materials to hand? Just curious
Yesterday at 5:57am ·

Andrew Shay Hahn
I was just discussing that with someone (it will be on the blog soon) the choice of hair is simply what works best against the sky. The blonde hair pops more against this darker blue, black, brown background.
Yesterday at 6:00am ·

S.E -this is good to know. I am mollified. thanks baby!

thoughts ?

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Conversation about Hair and Colour, Pt I

Lady with an Axe, Man with a Hammer (black shorts), Man with a Hammer (white shirt),

Lady with and Axe (black hair)

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

$180.00

Sorry it's been so quiet around here, I've been building frames, sanding, staining and varathaning them for days and of course finishing up a ton of work, the studio is a complete and total mess. And I feel that I am becoming a bit too bogged down in this show and have very little to say. Luckily playwright Tara Beagan sent me a message and got me excited about thinking again, here for your enjoyment is our conversation in two parts.

"Hi Andrew,

i wondered something... and please know that i'm not making any insinuations or calculating to make accusations at all. i'd love to hear thoughts from an artist whose principal pursuit isn't theatre.

i noticed your Lady With Axes (pardon, i can't now recall the exact title. pretty sad for a so-called-writer) and love her, but then realized the thing that made me paint our christmas tree angel's hair dark brown when i was nine: all of the angels on the tree were whiter looking than me (i'm a fairly fair halfbreed) and so i couldn't really feel like they were there for me to cherish.

this may seem nuts, but i wondered at whether you ever paint people whose complexions or colouring is off-Caucasian. i understand that we offer the world those things we know and that speak to us, and that the shadings and palette employed when painting non-aryan folk might make a difference to the overall tone of your images... what are your thoughts on this?

tomson highway believes anyone should be cast in his plays - doesn't care if the actor is non-native and playing native. i don't agree with him, though i understand his point of view to some extent. similarly, i get irked when theatres fill their "native" or "ethnic" quota by programming stories written by a member of dominant society (usually white guys). but then, here i am wondering whether you ever paint more pigmented folk.thoughts?

i'm not on the attack, i swear. i have a bit of a reputation for that, but i'm honestly not seeking prey - i just wonder what your thoughts might be as a visual artist.looking forward to checking out your latest in person.

warm regards and much respect,tarab"

Tara Beagan is a Canadian playwright, her last play "the Woods" is part of Theatrefront's four play cycle, "the Mill".

continue to next post, to do this, scroll down.

A Conversation about Hair and Colour Pt. II

Deep Sea Diver with Banjo, Deep Sea Diver with Accordion, Deep Sea Diver with Moon,

Deep Sea Diver with Guitar

all pieces are 14 x18 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$240.00 each.

NOTE: I'm printing the final half of this conversation first since, if you scroll on these things you'll miss certain points. The introduction will be in the above post. This is my reply to Tara with a little follow up.

"Hey Tara, it's a great question, and one I've thought about quite a bit in the past couple of years as I sit alone in the studio.

Colour is incredibly important in my work, but it's the simplicity of the colour that is important. I use only about five colours when I work, I use, white, black, prussian blue, raw sienna and burnt umber ( a little bit of yellow ochre) and if it needs it (like the tip of an axe) a red highlight. This choice is something that has evolved over time. If you flash through an album of my paintings you see the same colours occuring in different densities and mixtures over and over again.I worry about the colour of my "subjects" hair more than anything, it's what looks best against the sky and how it contrasts with the ground, waves, wheat, rocks etc.

The majority of my figures have hair that ranges from brown to black, and then I add a highlight to it. If the sky is more grey than blue, chances are the figures hair will be blonde. It's the compliment of the colours that make these decisions and really nothing else. I have varied shades of skin tones but yes, the figures are predominently caucasian, I have painted other races in my work, but I don't feel it's representative of me, I'm sure that if the image needed a figure of a different colour/race to be used, that is what I'd do without a second thought.

Thematically the colour of a subject, plays no role in my work, it's colourblind casting in 2D, I just paint a heck of a lot of white people.

I'm not sure if this is a complete answer, but I would enjoy continuing this discussion here.

A.S.H

Tara Beagan replies

"Incredibly interesting. thank you! i'll chew on this, with relish. it's beautiful to hear you speak (write) of your colours. makes me wonder what the writerly equivalent is. "

(And then we just started joking around about how I do descriminate against birds as crows are cooler than pigeons.)

As always the Opening for, "Come On Pilgrim" at the Cameron House is Sunday, May 2nd from 5-8 pm with the Ron Leary Band.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.S.H

Prometheus

Prometheus III

20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00

I don't think I posted this Prometheus when I finished it, so here it is.

Come on Pilgrim

at the Cameron House, Opening Sunday, May 2nd 5-8 pm

with Ron Leary and his band

Expect quite a few more of these posts, fewer words, but lots more pictures!

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Tall Girl at the Beach

The Tall Girl at the Beach

18 x 24 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00

I felt so bad for her that I immediately started painting another one to keep her company.

COME ON PILGRIM - Opening on MAY 2nd at The Cameron House, reception from 5-8pm with Ron Leary, I believe it will be a trio of musicians, that's three.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn

UPDATED: JULY 21, 2011.
All work is property of the artist, no use without permission.

The March of the Deep Sea Divers cont'd...

The Moon

14 x18 inches, acrylic on canvas $220.00 unframed

It has been confirmed that Ron Leary will be playing the Opening of "Come On Pilgrim" at the Cameron House on May 2nd, from 5-8 pm. we hope to see you there.

I am currently in the shop building frames, this week I've made about twenty one frames and still have to finish about a dozen paintings, but will still find the time for your commissions.

Here's a link to his MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/ronleary

The SUNDAY CHALLENGE! reposted from facebook for your enjoyment

THE SUNDAY CHALLENGE IS HERE!!!!!Who has the better disguise ? Bird Disguised as Cat (Left) OR Cat Disguised as Bird (Right) to Vote, tag yourself on the side that should win.Results to be posted TONIGHT!thanks to Ian Philp and Meghan Thompson for suggestions

The SUNDAY CHALLENGE! began as a conversation between myself and Ian Philp ( see: Milk Run, The Press Club, Jay Clarke and the Jones) at the Press Club, I was talking about how some paintings of mine are purchased instantly, whether it's the day I hang them or if someone sees a photo online and how unpredicatble it is, who knew that a tea cup full of Deep Sea Divers or a Desperado riding a chicken could be so popular. That you simply can't know what people will like, or even will comment on, that some events/ social media become wildly popular while others never get off the ground. You're better off doing your own thing and let people find you, how do some bands become popular while others languish. etc. etc.

At some point it was said, "What is more popular ? A Bird disguised as a Cat ? OR a Cat disguised as a Bird? Well, we decided to find out, and the SUNDAY CHALLENGE! was born. I proposed I plant a seed and then do the paintings and then find out 1) If people even care 2) If they will vote/ debate 3) If someone would buy the work without prompting.

I posted the status, "What is more popular ? A Bird disguised as a Cat ? OR a Cat disguised as a Bird?" On Thursday or Friday and received several comments, one being, "Aha aha ha ha ha ha ha!" which I took to be a good sign, but also there was a very important piece of information from M. Thompson, that the Cat disguise HAD to be of an Owl - well with that kind of interest there was no turning back, I started painting.

I finished the pieces early Sunday morning, I even got up early on Sunday to make sure they were (pretty much ) finished.

Here is the Highlight Reel of the day the first SUNDAY CHALLENGE! was posted

11:00 PM - The SUNDAY CHALLENGE! is posted

12:06 PM - Bird as Cat has a strong lead at 4 - 2

3:40 PM - Our First Tie 5 -5, strangely among the sexes, B.as C has received no MALE votes

4:45 PM - Cat as Bird takes the lead at 9-7 votes

6:30 PM - It's a 10 - 10 tie at this point I've received 3 OUTSIDE votes from either mad craft shoppe members (which is the group I run on facebook, it has 980 members), friends of friends, or people who have been annoyed in the newsfeed, also other paintings in the "Come On Pilgrim" photo album start to get tagged as people I'm not "friends" with on fb

7:45 PM Cat as Bird pulls ahead to a strong 13 - 10 lead and holds it.

8:00 PM Cat as Bird wins 13 - 11 and the first SUNDAY CHALLENGE! Enters the History Books.

11:00 PM one more vote is cast.

QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK

Well right now I'm in the middle of painting new work for my show at the Cameron House which I'm hanging May 2nd, I would like to do at least one more SUNDAY CHALLENGE! this month.

Would you participate ?

Do you think others would participate ?

I was surprised to start to see people ringing in that I did not know, that maybe were members of my facebook group, "the mad craft shoppe".

Were they asked by a friend to vote ?

Why do you think that happened ?

If you would like to purchase either/both of the paintings featured in this weeks SUNDAY CHALLENGE! they are $ 140.00 each/ $160.00 framed but as a SPECIAL SUNDAY CHALLENGE! Deal you can have them BOTH framed for $300.00 all the best, hope to hear your thoughts/ feedback today

A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com