If you'd like to meet me on Friday at the Wilson 96 (615 College Str. just East of Grace) and see the work that's hanging there, I too will be hanging there and having a drink after work. Come on by!A.Shay Hahn
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Wilson 96, Friday 6-8pm Meet me
If you'd like to meet me on Friday at the Wilson 96 (615 College Str. just East of Grace) and see the work that's hanging there, I too will be hanging there and having a drink after work. Come on by!
The Wilson 96, The Cameron House until the end of March
Lady with Two Axes, Lady with an Axe9x12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$140.00 each
at the Wilson 96 until the end of March
Currently my phone is broken, I just found out, so I'll have to get it replaced in the next day or so, so email or facebook will be the best way to reach me until then. I rarely use my phone (I know, what's his problem) so it did take two days for me to even check if it was working. Got home from Cuba, returned some calls and then I guess it went kaput some time in the past two days.
A.Shay Hahn
A.Shay Hahn's Art Lesson For Beginners. #1 "If you paint a white shirt on a man and you forget to add a collar, your fans will think you painted a nice picture of a Dentist."
Monday, March 14, 2011
Old Havana
Old Havana is great, it's a crumbling beauty for sure. I really enjoyed the city, it's not overcrowded and you can get around on foot really quickly. Here are some things you should know.If you think having 2ply toilet paper is important (see post below), you may also need a TOILET SEAT, we ate at a nice boulevard style restaurant and there wasn't a toilet seat to be found in the washrooms, this includes the WOMEN'S WASHROOM. So ladies, do your stretches.
"Good Cuban cuisine " means, "Okay food", "Highly Reccomended" might just mean, "Passable" I didn't find the food in the city to really be that great, I'd reccomend keeping your expectations low.
If you are young or even look young, you will have people UP YOUR ASS all the time, "Hey, where you from ?" means, "I am going to get close to you and annoy you." I had to just keep walking so I wouldn't freak out on anyone, that's why I look like this in these photos (see above). If you are old or look old, you won't get hassled as much. I've never enjoyed being rude as much as I enjoyed being rude in Old Havana.
You can also walk around and not be hassled, folks mainly approach you outside your hotel, but after you are clear, you're alright to head out without being bothered.
The National Gallery is a great way to kill an hour and a half, really enjoyed alot of the work I saw there, next trip I'll check theInternarional Collection, which is a separate building, I just wanted to see some Cuban art that wasn't a painting of an old wrinkly guy holding a cigar or Che Guevara or Castro.
If you see some musicians playing STOP and check them out, it is impossible to find a bad live band in Old Havana, stop and check out every band you see. I don't know about buying cd's, the live sound of Old Havana is probably hard to capture in a studio.
The air in Old Havana is polluted, it's not horrible, but you may not be used to poor air quality so don't exert yourself too much, take breaks from walking, especially from walking in the sun after breathing the air. Yes, we love taking pictures of the old cars, but it comes at a price.
You can totally crash the mini bar in a Cuban Hotel, it's that cheap, you can also buy beer in vending machines.
I would go back to Cuba next year for a vacation, no problem. It was great.
A.Shay Hahn
Super Club Breezes, Jibacoa, Cuba
Before we left Toronto I was about an inch away from quitting painting full time. I've been hustling nonstop since November and it's really taken it's toll, I am not kidding, I was just about finished with this artist and social networking bullshit, so getting out of town was a must. Unfortunately I am a task oriented guy and it took me at least two and half days to get used to not doing anything at all but reading and lying about.
Here are some quick impressions of our Hotel which I highly reccomend if you are childless (or have sent your children off to school/ camp/ relatives/ prison, etc.) and just want to chill.
Go BEFORE or AFTER March Break, our hotel never felt like it was at full capacity. I'm sure it was much different there this week.
If you like 2ply or even 1 ply toilet paper (whatever a ply is) bring your own, the toilet paper in Cuba is functional NOT comfortable.Get an "Ocean View" room, this means you have a patch of green to walk out on and don't face another building, can't reccomend this enough, but you can't have room 1208, that's my room.
Cubans have yet to master Italian cooking or get close to figuring it out, we reserved at one of the restaurants at our hotel and ate possibly the worst meal we both have ever had, seriously, I'd rather eat the food prepared on "Just Like Mom" than ever touch Italian food at this resort.
Bring a travel coffee mug, the big silver kind, for your drinks, it will keep them cold in the sun, everyone there was doing it, the drinks you are served are the size of the old orange juices you'd get for breakfast at McDonalds.
The food at the buffet is REALLY GOOD you do not have to put salt on it, I don't know what's up with people and salt. I watched a guy salt his food for a minute and he was eating sausages. You don't have to do it.
Bring home lots of booze and coffee for your friends, there really is not much to buy in Cuba and it's cheap.
Make your peace with Papaya, Pineapple, Guava and fibrous Oranges, you will be eating alot of them and no other fruit. I ate five whole pineapples in a week and was awarded a pineapple for my efforts.
If you don't want to mingle, you don't have to, most couples just kept to themselves and read and swam and had drinks, there is no pressure.
All in all, we really enjoyed it, next post OLD HAVANA!
p.s Our inflight movie on Sun Wing air on the way over was "Secretariat" which, near as I can tell is about a woman who abandons her family to go talk to a horse. It was crazy stupid.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
The Wilson 96,the Chairs By Day
The Chairs By Day20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$440.00
Only about three more small things to finish painting before I am officially on vacation, of course there are three hundred non painting related things to do before I leave on said vacation.
A.Shay Hahn
The Wilson 96,The Chairs At Night,Cowbell Restaurant
The Chairs At Night
20x20inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$440.00
This is the kind of work that I want to showcase at Cowbell Restaurant in April, a series of 10 or 12 simple pieces, just the best of what I do stripped down. I will be posting a second piece later today and will hang them both at The Wilson for this month.
cheers,
A.Shay Hahn
The Wilson 96, Mariachi and The Music of Tom Waits
Mariachi with Drums and a Washboard Devil3 @ 8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
SOLD
at the Wilson 96
I've had this long frame kicking around for a couple of years and could never decide on a triptych to put in it, upon realizing that Toronto has an insatiable appetite for paintings of Skeletal Mariachi I knew what I had to do. I also had this washboard Devil all on his lonesome and figured the two of them could use a friend. Hanging this today at the Wilson.
If you love the music of Tom Waits, be sure to try and catch this at the Theatre Centre http://www.theatrecentre.org/showdetails.php?id=104 I'm sure it's going to be incredible, I won't be able to go so I hope someone out there reads this and goes to check it out.
best,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
March, the Cameron House, the Wilson 96, the Vacation
Orange III (little black dress)14 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$260.00
at the Wilson 96 in March
I have been extended for the month of March at the Cameron House (408 Queen West) , so you have lots of time to head down and see what's there. I will also be showing work at the Wilson 96 on College n(615 College) in the month of March and will post photos soon of what is going to be there. I will not have work at the Press Club this month, but will post the name of the artist showing there and any links about them I can find.
The shoppe will be closed for a week at the start of March and I will get back in touch to answer any queries later in the month, if you are interested in buying a piece of course you can buy directly from the bar staff at either venue. Some fun things at the Wilson 96: Tuesday night Trivia is awesome! If you're a fan of trivia bring a team or join one when you're there, that usually starts around 7:30, Samantha Martin and the Haggard play on Thursday nights and are a great roots/rock/blues band, you have got to hear Samantha sing, it's a soulful, throaty howl that reminds us how few people can actually sing Rock n' Roll. http://www.myspace.com/samanthamartinmusicsite there's the link to her MySpace site.
You can join the fb group, "The Wilson 96" to find out about more events at the Wilson and here's a link to the Cameron House site to find out who is playing there in March, http://www.thecameron.com/
A.Shay Hahn
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday at the Cameron House, Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers!
Head on down to the Cameron House today from 6-8pm for a great set of sing along, drink along songs from Lil' Jimmy's Chicken Pickers. You will enjoy yourself.
A.Shay Hahn
Friday, February 25, 2011
Hang on St.Christopher, 4 days left at the Cameron House
Hang on St.Christopher10 x12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$160.00
Getting up at 6am always helps when you have a studio full of work that is 3/4 finished, so we're making good time today. As always I'm curious about feedback so email me with your thoughts or feel free to leave comments/criticism here at the blog.
I forgot to mention the strange compliment/observation I heard last night at the Cameron House, one of the bartenders told me that folks just can't decide which painting to buy, they like them all, that's great to hear.
To see other things that I do in the studio you can go to the Links section and check out the alphabet letters I create at my blog, (aptly titled) "The Alphabet Shoppe" or see the models and scenes, character designs for my long (really long) gestating Graphic Novel, "Any How Town".
best,
A.Shay Hahn
Woman with Two Axes
Woman with Two Axes
10 x 12inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
SOLD.
This falls into the "muckity" category of my process that I discussed a whole bunch of posts ago. As a method it seems to kind of come and go depending on my moods, "muckity" painting is when I usual one or two brushes and never wash them, wipe them yes, wash them, no. I like just applying colour over colour until I feel the piece is finished, it keeps me from relying too heavily on my usual palette, I have to balance the painting with dabs of red or green, raw sienna etc. instead of planning everything.
As much as my work is about the central subject I find currently I enjoy just laying in colour, maybe when I'm fifty I'll be full on into abstract painting, who knows, so if you like paintings with people, get them now. I'll be exhibiting some work at Cowbell restaurant in April and I may just work with skies and trees for that show, almost abstracted landscrapes, this thought has been rolling around in my head for quite some time. Will see how I feel about it when I get back. But it would be nice to just lay out 10 or 12 20 x20 inch canvases and just get muckity with them without huge concern of if the thumbs are on the right side of the hand.
A.Shay Hahn
madcrafshoppe@live.com
Fringe Season Three, Woman with Hammers
Woman with Hammers10 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$160.00
I can't wait, I'm supposed to wait but I can't, I've just watched the first Two Seasons of Fringe and really enjoyed the show, Planetary meets a more amusing X-Files, what's not to love ? I never enjoyed the X-Files it was a long standing disagreement that I had with the entire York University Fine Arts Department, my argument was simple, "How effective are two agents that catch every disease that they investigate, get their asses handed to them in a first fight AND can rarely explain the unexplainable?!". Anyways Fringe is much better, there's alot more punching on this show, and I like that.
Trying to finish about eight pieces before I go on vacation, I've got about four days to do it, and I suppose I'll have to watch the Oscars too, when really, The Social Network is the best film of the year, period, and the more I hear people discuss the Oscars the less interested I am in them. The Vanity Fair Hollywood issue is out and I do enjoy reading that, if you've never read it in the past they've done great articles on the making of the Graduate, how the mafia was involved with the Godfather, bisexual turmoil on the set of Rebel without a Cause etc. great old Hollywood stuff, it used to be more known for the Annie Leibowitz star photo portfolio but it's been a few years since anything new or relevant has been done with V.F and celebrity photography.
Anyways, it's 6:48 Am and there's work to be done.
Cameron House comes down March First, check it out,
A.Shay Hahn
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Mariachi! Five Days left at the Cameron House
Mariachi (Guitara) Mariachi (Drummer)both pieces, 8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
SOLD
Here are two more Mariachi who are hanging at the Cameron House, if you go down today I believe you can see Chris Coole and John Showman playing, they are both incredible musicians from respective acts, New Country Rehab, Foggy Hogtown Boys, The Creeking Tree String Quartet, Crazy Strings etc. if they are there it's not to be missed. Last day to see the show at the Cameron House is the 28th.
A.Shay Hahn
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Cameron House, final week
Untitled 30 x 30 inches, acrylic on canvas
commission
This is the final week of my showing at the Cameron House, the work will be up until the 28th, not sure who is on the walls there after me. I'll be moving some of the work to the Wilson 96 for the month of March, have yet to choose a date to invite the entire Internet there for a drink, but I'd encourage you to go to the Cameron this week.
It seems that my business cards are disappearing at a steady rate which is always a bad sign since I've never had someone contact me who has taken one of my cards, yes all the information on them is correct.
This week I'm finishing a couple of 10x12's , and some smaller pieces so expect a few things to show up this week.
A.Shay Hahn
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Today at the Cameron House
Come on down to the Cameron House today if you'd like to meet me, discuss the work on the walls and listen to the great Ron Leary, I'll be there from 5-7 ish.
cheers,
A.S.H
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Skeletal Mountie Madness!
Mounties8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas,framed
SOLD.
It's Mariachi and Devilish madness at the Cameron House, I can't seem to keep them on the walls or paint them fast enough, commissions for them keep coming in which I am very happy about but I need a break for them to finish an important commission.
Thursday come to the Cameron House to hear Ron Leary play. Wednesday you can see Josh Cockerill play in the front room from 6-8pm here's a link to Josh's myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/joshuacockerill
all for now, back to work and Season 2 of Fringe, I have no idea what happened in Season One
A.Shay Hahn
Friday, February 11, 2011
Banjo Commission, Cameron House bands
Mariachi w/Banjo, 8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
commission ($80.00)
Here are some great bands playing at the Cameron House this week that are really worth checking out, on Tuesday the 15th from 6-8pm, check out Alejandra Ribera making a return engagement in the front room
CORRECTION: sorry folks, Alejandra will be doing the Tuesday dates at the Cameron House in March not February, my mistake. You still have to go see her.
and on Thursday the 17th in the front room from 6-8 pm it's Ron Leary with Dean Drouillard and Adrian Llawshyn (sp?). I will definitely be in attendance on Thursday.
Hopefully next week there will be a little less running around and a little more work being done in the studio.
A.Shay Hahn
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Global Commission
Here is the 2nd block in for a commission of a Globe piece, there are too others (see label "Come On Pilgrim"). I was really very happy to be asked to do this. The piece is 30 x30 inches and I rarely get to work this large. I'll have another photo posted tomorrow so you can follow it's development. Figure placement took awhile to get right, hopefully it will meet with approval, I tend to work all over the place when I paint, it helps me tie the tones of the piece in, and when working this large, I find it very helpful. It should be more difficult, but it isn't.Going down to the Cameron House today to hang "the Fire Watcher" and maybe a "Prometheus" piece.
A.Shay Hahn
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
The Red Devil Jug Band
The Red Devil Jug Band, Washboard Player, Gut Bucket Bass Playerboth pieces 8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
SOLD
I didn't just want to do Mariachi Skeletons for the Cameron House/Tom Waits Project I figure that mixing it up with some suave jug band Devils was the way to go, so when a couple of Mariachi's are sold at the Cameron, I'll bring these boys down and hang them. Let you know when that happens.
A.Shay Hahn
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
The Firewatcher
The Firewatcher 18 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$380.00
Is it Firewatcher or Fire Watcher ? Send me a message and let me know, hard at work a great commission to finish this week and some half finished little things that I've been working on since December.
You can currently see my work at the Cameron House, 408 Queen Street West Toronto and at the Press Club 850 Dundas West, and guess what ? They are within walking distance of each other, to see what is on display at each venue please scroll down if you hate words and love pictures feel free to join my facebook group, "the madcraftshoppe".
cheers,back to work
A.Shay Hahn
Fall Fashions, Three Skeletons, Stolen for a second time
Fall Fashions (three skeletons)10 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
STOLEN ($160.00)
Thankyou all very much for your kind words regarding the theft of the above painting from the Press Club on the 20th of December. I put up a poster with my contact info and a photo of the painting. Dropping in last night to the Press Club for a quick Stiegl it came to my attention that someone has now stolen the photo of the stolen painting. Is this image that popular ? If you'd like to commission one let me know, share your thoughts, I always thought I should do another maybe an 18 x 18 inch size, more detailed bones, a very dry bone coloured background etc.
A.Shay Hahn
Tom Waits Project, previews
Left: The Shadow Boys (are breakin' all the laws) SOLD, Cameron House Records painting Not For Sale, Dontcha Know There Ain't No Devil (that's just God when he's drunk) $160.00Here are a couple of additions to the show at the Cameron House, a "mini preview" of the Tom Waits Project, which will be fully mounted (eep.) at the Cameron House in May. You can also purchase your Cameron House records TShirts for $20.00 (scroll down to see design) while you're there. I will be hanging out at the Cameron on most Thursday evenings if you'd like to meet in person, but if you want to buy and I'm not around it's perfectly alright to pay the bartender if you want to take your purchase home. On February 17th, Ron Leary is filling in for Corin Raymond and he always puts on a good show.
all the best,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com
My Side of The Country, A Canadian Musical
Here's a link to the site for "My Side of The Country" a Canadian musical written by Grant Tilly, you can read about the creative team, hear songs from the show and follow the development of this very cool project that is using my "Canadian Girl" as it's logo. http://www.mysideofthecountry.ca/ . To see more of the "Canadian Girl Project" here at the mad craft shoppe just click on the label, they can be commissioned in all shapes and colours and environments. A.Shay Hahn
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Cameron House, West Wall
The Night Tree 12x24 inches, acrylic on canvas framed $340.00, Fox with Fiddle $180.00,Crow with Drum $180.00
Deep Sea Diver with Gretsch $260.00, Robot $260.00, Deep Sea Diver $220.00
all work acrylic on canvas, framed
Deep Sea Diver $220.00, Orange SOLD, Grapefruit $260.00
all work acrylic on canvas, framed
Untitled 12x 12inches, acrylic on canvas, framed $160.00, Dubble Bubble $260.00,
Popeye $260.00
Queen of Birds, 20 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
ON HOLD
The Cameron House Show is up and looks great here are some shots of what is there this week as I am positive that it will change quickly, which of course means tomorrow I'm off to the carp shop to build more frames. The Mariachi Skeletons will not be there for long, so if you like them I would go and get them today. If you want to see one of the best live bands in the city Run With The Kittens play the front room tonight so I would check them out if you haven't seen them. You can buy the work directly from the bar staff provided you pay cash and it is the correct amount or exceeds the listed price.
You can also get your Cameron House Records TShirt at the bar $20.00 each (scroll down to see them).
Many thanks to C. Ferraro and the gang at the Cameron for the oppurtunity to use those beautiful walls, walls that make up the best bar in the city.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com
Deep Sea Diver with Gretsch $260.00, Robot $260.00, Deep Sea Diver $220.00
all work acrylic on canvas, framed
Deep Sea Diver $220.00, Orange SOLD, Grapefruit $260.00
all work acrylic on canvas, framed
Untitled 12x 12inches, acrylic on canvas, framed $160.00, Dubble Bubble $260.00,
Popeye $260.00
Queen of Birds, 20 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
ON HOLD
The Cameron House Show is up and looks great here are some shots of what is there this week as I am positive that it will change quickly, which of course means tomorrow I'm off to the carp shop to build more frames. The Mariachi Skeletons will not be there for long, so if you like them I would go and get them today. If you want to see one of the best live bands in the city Run With The Kittens play the front room tonight so I would check them out if you haven't seen them. You can buy the work directly from the bar staff provided you pay cash and it is the correct amount or exceeds the listed price.
You can also get your Cameron House Records TShirt at the bar $20.00 each (scroll down to see them).
Many thanks to C. Ferraro and the gang at the Cameron for the oppurtunity to use those beautiful walls, walls that make up the best bar in the city.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com
Cameron House, February, East Wall
The White Rowboat, acrylic on canvas, framed$440.00
Mariachi Sketetons 8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas,framed
SOLD
Piano $260, Lady with an Axe $220.00, Women with Birdhouses SOLDacrylic on canvas, framed
Mariachi Sketeton SOLD, Fisherman $180.00, Waiting for the Lake to Freeze $340.00all pieces acrylic on canvas, framed.
The Cameron House Show is up and looks great here are some shots of what is there this week as I am positive that it will change quickly, which of course means tomorrow I'm off to the carp shop to build more frames. The Mariachi Skeletons will not be there for long, so if you like them I would go and get them today. If you want to see one of the best live bands in the city Run With The Kittens play the front room tonight so I would check them out if you haven't seen them. You can buy the work directly from the bar staff provided you pay cash and it is the correct amount or more than the listed price.
A.Shay Hahn
Monday, January 31, 2011
Mariachi, kick ass palette
Mariachi (fiddle)8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
eighty maybe one hunnert dollars
Hanging the Cameron House show tomorrow at noon and then going to build frames for a bunch of new work and then adding that new work to the Cameron House, it never ends. As always I can't stress if you see something you like pick it up early, February is a quick month and my shows at the Cameron House attract alot of buyers, which makes me a very lucky man.
A.Shay Hahn
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Press Club, West and East Walls, Feb.2011
East Wall- A Quiet Place to Call My Own $160.00, Boy With Trumpet $160.00, An Idea is Like a Storm $180.00, Baseball Goon $160.00, Rescue Dog $140.00, A Cup of Crows $160.00, Rescue Dog $160.00, Man with Hammer $200.00
East Wall -The Sisters (the White Glove Test) $180.00, Rescue Dog $140.00, Canadian Girl $180.oo, Hot Love Cold Taps $60.00, Prometheus $240.00 (I think)
. West Wall- Last of the Snake Killin' Girls $340.00, Fencer $100.00, Deep Sea Diver $100.00, sign with my name on it, not for sale
West Wall- Raised by Plastic Wolves $340.00, Last Adventure of the Dog Faced Boys $340.00, Prometheus $340.00the back wall at the Press Club has the crows and foxes and some kids letters all are $40.00 each you can see those if you scroll down on this blog.
A.Shay Hahn
Cameron House Records, T-Shirts are here!
Cameron House Records T-Shirts are now available at the Cameron House $20.00 each, they come in a variety of sizes (don't ask me what those sizes are) and look exactly like the photo above. On the back of course is printed, "This Is Paradise".A.Shay Hahn
p.s let me add to those who follow along a great and easy way to see my work, without all these words is to joing my group on facebook, "the mad craft shoppe" it's mostly just photos of paintings and will quickly let you see prices and locations of paintings.
Mariachi!
Mariachi (Guitara II),Mariachi (Drums) Mariachi (guitara), Mariachi (accordion)SOLD8 x 10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
eighty dollars each, can be commissioned
I always have paintings of musicians at the Cameron House, I'll be bringing down the remaining Deep Sea Divers and the "Bremen" (Fox and Crow on bicycle) pieces to put up and I thought I'd do these smaller mariachi/Day of the Dead folks to keep them company, there will be two more posted, with a possible fifth either later on today or tomorrow.
UPDATE 2:55pm Here's the drummer!
A.Shay Hahn
Hanging the Cameron House on February 1rst
Untitled12 x 12inches, acryic on canvas, framed
$160.00
Sorry to have been away so long last week was incredibly busy with running back and forth to the many places I have art hanging to get some pieces together for a private showing. When you have work hanging in three places it can get a little crazy travelling all over town. But that's (almost) finished now and I have the weekend (thanks J.B) to get back to finishing work that is going up at the Cameron House on Tuesday.
Here is the first of three pieces from the sketch pages I had posted below. I don't have too much to say about it right now, but I did enjoy using some colours that I usually avoid, yes green and untainted blue and yellow I'm talking about you. I quite like the tones of the piece and the vibe.
I'll be posting what is currently at the Press Club later this eve and then photos of the Cameron House on Tuesday eve. Many thanks to Mitzi's Sister and the Wilson 96 for the chance to have some work hanging in January.
best,
A.Shay Hahn
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Wilson 96 and sketching....
I just wanted to write a few notes about my process,preferences, artistic peccadilloes etc. this came up out of a conversation I was having at the Wilson 96 while the Steelers killed the Jets in the ground game. I was talking about why I love to do posters for bars/bands/ TShirts etc. (see the label "Pub Life Sketches or the blog ANY HOW TOWN) why I don't charge that much for it, why it doesn't seem to happen enough. The main reason I love doing these poster is that it's a chance to really draw, my friend S.Power said, "but when you're here, you draw all the time". No, no I don't.
A comparison is in order. The Top illustration "Exhibit A" is a drawing of a Tiger playing guitar in the reeds, this fulfills my criteria of what a drawing is, I rarely if ever, get do to drawings because when I go out to sketch I produce about seven pages of "Exhibit B" in about 2-3 hours. This short hand is much like a comic book artist's "Thumbnail" pages, which are breakdowns of what size panels, what action goes onto one comic page, for me this is how I compose my paintings. What you see above are several sketches of people sitting in trees, mostly trees that have fallen into the water, or are growing out of the side of a river bank.
If there is a check mark, chances are I'll give it a shot when I'm in the studio. These sketches were done on Wednesday of last week I hope to be posting at least three of the finished works at the end of this week. I wanted to do something different from my usual grounds, introduce some new colours and character to my palette/language, these "tree folk" have been running around in my head for awhile and I couldn't concentrate on any Tom Waits project stuff. Any notes included on these pages either relate to what the images should feel like or make absolutely no sense at all.
Why don't I spend more time on sketches ? Then you'd get to draw more ! These thumbnails get me to where I'm going really fast, since I usually work in series if I can draw about 40 of these squares I have a bunch of stuff to choose from, drawing takes too much time and I'll probably change something in the composition when I'm painting anyway so these guides are all I need.
When I finally get some time to draw it will be for my Graphic Novel/ Kids series, "ANY HOW TOWN" which you can read about if you follow the link, in the links section. I've been going crazy looking at Peterson's "Mouse Guard" series and the comic,"The Stuff of Legend" that size of comic would be perfect for Any How Town.
The sketchbook size that this page is from is 8 x 11 " which is so cool looking it has become a favourite, the pens are micron 0.3 I think, I grind those poor bastards down into nubs, but really they're $3.00 each, so who's the real poor bastard ?
Expect alot of posts this week, for warm ups I am painting a skeleton mariachi band, so expect one of those a day and hopefully at the end of this week I'll have three or five nice 16x16 or 18 x 18's to show you, that will be hung at the Cameron House for the month of February.
(If sometimes these posts make no sense it is because I never go back and reread or edit them.)
A.Shay Hahn
Aflockalypse, Apocafish, etc
Here are some scans I did a couple of weeks ago when all the birds were falling from the sky and the fish were washing up all over, I'm going to add a new scan every couple of weeks, developing positions and scenes etc. it's good fun.
A.Shay Hahn
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