Thursday, April 07, 2011

The Press Club, April 7th 2011

So one of my top favourites from the "Lady with an Axe" series sold, so I brought over these two Deep Sea Divers (ON SALE!) and here's the pricing again.
Axes (short hair) $180.00, Fox/ Crow (centered) $40.00 each, Man with Hammer $180.00, Woman with Two Axes (blonde hair) $180.00, Deep Sea Divers $200.00 each (SALE!), Fox with Fiddle $180.00, Mariachi with Maracas $80.00, Woman with Two Axes $140.00, Woman with an Axe SOLD, A Cup of Crows $140.00, A Quiet Place$ 140.oo


and you better get down there if you love the Divers, the Bon are playing next weekend and it's going to be a great garage/crazed rock show.


best,

A.Shay Hahn

Storm Troopers! (keeping the mood light today)


Storm Trooper Disguise, Storm Trooper Beer Goggles

6x6 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

both are SOLD ($40.00 each)


Getting back into doing my "one a day warm ups" but didn't really have an idea of what to do as a series. The Internet is chock full of people of having fun with Star Wars characters so I figure I'd get on the bandwagon. I always loved the look of the Storm Troopers as a kid but of course was disappointed that they were sold invidually, why didn't they sell 5 packs of them ? So I settled on abusing the Storm Trooper over a series of small pieces, these two both sold each day they were posted. I may do a few more, but you know may, I may not.


A.Shay Hahn




Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Sea Mine (s), Be Mine, Kiss Me


Kiss Me 5/75, Be Mine 6/75

8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas

$100.00 each


A couple of years ago, maybe three, I used to paint water towers with messages of love written across them. Then two years ago I was painting beer logos on the sides of pigs, you can see the "Stiegl Pig" hanging proudly at the Press Club and now I've moved onto sea mines with candy heart message.


Sea Mines fascinated me as a kid, this danger under the water, the long battleship chains anchoring them in place, there was something so dangerous about these silent weapons, anyways before I get too romantic about it here a couple of "Be Mine Sea Mines" for you to enjoy, remember them around Valentine's Day and order one for your lover.


Check out "Beam and Struts" there are paintings and process notes by me can be seen/read by clicking here http://beamsandstruts.com/ many thanks to TJ Dawe for the invitation to contribute, it's a great site with some very interesting writing.


I've got some commissioned work to get back to and will be hanging some paintings at Cowbell. I may get a couple more 8x10's up tonight, we'll see if I have the steam


best.

A.Shay Hahn




Tuesday, April 05, 2011

The Press Club, April 5th 2011

Woman with Two Axes (short hair) $180.00, Fox/ Crow $40.00 each, Man with Hammer $180.00, Woman with Two Axes (blonde hair) $180.00, Fox with Fiddle $180.00, Mariachi with Maracas $80.00, Woman with Two Axes $140.00, Woman with an Axe $140.00, A Cup of Crows $140.00, A Quiet Place$ 140.oo


Here's a shot of what's on my dedicated wall at the Press Club and to folks I've been emailing about work from the Cameron House, you can see it if you scroll down on the blog, and please get back to me as I will be moving some work to the great Cowbell restaurant, if you'd like the work before it goes there that would be wise, I hang the show on the 1oth so holler at me this week.

Check it out,

A.Shay Hahn

Cape Breton Tartan (Canadian Girl)

Cape Breton Tartan (Canadian Girl Project)

 10x12 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

commission ($160.00)


I am now completely crosseyed after toning this tartan. Go to the label "Canadian Girl" to read about the flags and see other commissioned flags and read what people have to say about her. All images are property of the artist and cannot be reproduced or used without consent.

If you are here to see the work that was hanging at the Cameron House, just scroll down to the end of this page.
                                                                                  cheers,

                                                                              A.Shay Hahn
                                                                    madcraftshoppe@live.com
          all images are property of the author.
follow on twitter @madcraftshoppe
          facebook Andrew Shay Hahn (the mad craft shoppe)



Friday, April 01, 2011

For Beams and Struts,Artist Feature. Attn: TJ Dawe

This is cribbed from notes written today where I am trying to introduce myself and my work for a small feature on the great and mighty group site, "beams and struts" I have been asked by Mr.TJ Dawe to do so. I will attempt to do this without lapsing into Third Person or referring to myself as "the Artist" or "Failed Puppeteer turned Painter". There will be many corrections.

Andrew "Shay" Hahn


When I look back through all the notes scribbled daily in sketchbooks or conversations I've had about my work, I've settled on the fact that my approach to painting is that of a diarist. My mood dictates what I'm going to do, I know that my sense of humour figures prominently in my work, that I enjoy the absurd, the juxtaposition of objects and working in a series, over time these elements have become where I start when I sit down to draw and hopefully I end up with a few pages of sketches that I can take to the easel to try.


I strongly believe that the only rules for my work are that there are no rules. Every idea is a good idea, no matter how strange (Deep Sea Diver musicians, Cowboys riding chickens, Women who turn into bouquets of flowers etc.) and is worth attempting, as long as the composition and technical work is sound.


I have a very simple structure, I take two things and put them together in a composition, more often than not, they are two things that are possible, presented in a unique way, a woman sleeping in a tree, a woman holding an axe, it is the presentation that makes it mine, anyone can choose to represent these things, that they are practical, mundane, but shown in the medium of painting through my eye, that's my style in a nutshell.


I try to avoid identity, I like to try to reach for the universal, removing the identity of the figure has been a great success to demonstrate this, the viewer can insert themselves into the image this way. If I render a face, a distinct kind of clothing (as opposed to the neutral black, white and brown clothes that I use as a uniform for my figures) it distracts from the simplicity of the image. The simple image, the "impact" picture is what I'm looking for, you have to see it and get what's going on, if it gets muddled along the way it's time to start over. This has been the dominant element of my "style" or "visual language" for the past two or three years, it's what I am known for.


People note that I'm pretty prolific, I post a finished piece or work in progress almost every two days, but this is all I do, it's my only job. I paint nine hours a day, five days a week, so I hope that I would be called, "prolific", otherwise I'm just wasting a hell of a lot of time. It's my favourite thing to do, it always has been, since I was five years old, painting has been my constant, I was lucky to find it early, I'm still chasing it down to this day.


A.S.Hahn


(Hey, TJ anything else ?)



Last Weekend at the Cameron House, where to next ?



This is the last weekend to see my work at the Cameron House, I'll be taking the work down on Sunday, so you have today and tomorrow to head over (408 Queen West) you can scroll down on the blog to see what is hanging there.


Once that stuff (stuff, he calls it, stuff!) comes down I'll be posting a photo of my dedicated wall at the Press Club (850 Dundas West) look for that picture to show up here on Sunday. There will be axe ladies, smaller mariachi etc. there for you to purchase. I may even begin to show some of the April Grid Diary work there but I'm not sure yet, depends on a grand scheme to have someone else build frames for the show, that's right I may have 75 small frames made to display the grids.


I'll be moving a bunch of work to Cowbell Restaurant in April, everything should be hanging there by the 10 th of April. Here is a link to their revamped and very cool website http://www.cowbellrestaurant.ca/


that's all the news for now, many thanks to S.Power and everyone at the Wilson 96 for their support. As always we'd love to hear from you, please send an email, or leave a comment here on the blog.


I get to paint my girlfriend's basement this week.


A.Shay Hahn

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Tonight's Sketches, Last Day at the Wilson 96


Here's a treat of some sketchbook pages for April hope you enjoy the window into me head, and now the repost

Hey there folks, just a quick note, today is the last day to see my work at the Wilson 96 (615 College Str. right across from the CHIN building and the Royal and a few store fronts West of Dragon Lady Comics). Drink Specials from 5-8pm, where can you get a $5.00 Guinness, or Sir Perry's Cider or Warsteiner during the week in Toronto ? There is such a place, it's the Wilson 96. I have hung the figures from the first 4 of 75 grid paintings and there are four "Lady with an Axe" pieces there also, I have also lowered some prices for today only. Also. last day at the Cameron House is Saturday the 2nd, and I have reduced some prices there also, it's fine to pay the staff at either location.


cheers,

A.Shay Hahn


Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The April Grid Diaries 4/75

Captain Ahab

8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas

$100.00


Ah the man himself, I'll come back and write some more about this guy.


A.Shay Hahn

Eeyore, The April Grid Diaries, 3/75

Eeyore

8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas

$100.00


I never had any love for this fella growing up, but as I got older I understood more what he was all about. He reminds me of some lonely mopes that I've met in drinking in pubs.


A.Shay Hahn

The April Grid Diaries 2/75

Samuel Beckett

8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas

$100.00


My man Samuel Beckett, I may also do the whole cast of "Waiting for Godot" but it's early days yet for that.


A.Shay Hahn

The Six Million Dollar Man, April Grid Diaries 1/75

The Six Million Dollar Man

8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas

$100.00

Here's the guy who kick started the idea to do "The April Grid Diaries", and do you know how cool he is ? He has a jacket with his own picture on it and it says, "the Six Million Dollar Man" who else but a six million dollar man could get away with that ?

Monday, March 28, 2011

Globe and Mail Mention

Currently on the easel.

‎"Hahn’s creamy paintings of axe-wielding, storm-swept ladies are as Canadian as a hangover cure (but far more appealing)."


Thanks R.M Vaughan for the G&M mention of the show at the Wilson 96. Sometimes it pays to google yourself. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/rm-vaughan/geoffrey-pugens-vigilante-women/article1956675/print/



Cheers,

A.Shay Hahn


The Plan, Where To Find Me, March 27- April 3rd.



Here's the first grid of 25 8x10 canvases, there are hopefully going to be 3 grids of 25 for a total of 75 paintings to be completed by May First 2011.


I was hanging around in my head yesterday, looking at a bunch of notes in a sketchbook when it really settled in that I wasn't having fun with my work. I was bogged down by worry and stress and the act of painting was too much, I was building models for Any How Town (see links section this blog, woefully lacking updates) and I just didn't want to paint, it was a bloody pain, it made me feel tired.


I thought that "the Tom Waits Project" would get things kick started in me to get going, but that just felt like work added onto work, which when your only form of income is painting I really don't need any more stress, I couldn't really find the "in" that I was looking for, and I think my work already looks enough like his lyrics, that if I do find something inspiring in his work to paint, I'll just use it as a source title and that's all.

Cuba was a nice break and I found the work of a few artists really inspiring but I didn't draw or sketch a single thing while I was there, hell I only took about 23 photos and to come back to NO SALES was a huge drag.


Yes, things were looking dire and on top of it all ( I don't edit my blog in case you notice tenses flying all over) the only freaking paintings that were selling this month were the Skeletal Mariachi, which are fun but aren't really that challenging, I have at least 30 better paintings hanging all over this city that you can invest in , but people's wallets were speaking ($80.00 each, how can you go wrong) and I think also people just think these little 8x10 pieces are groovy.


So why fight it, let's just be groovy for awhile, things just started up again in me, I wrote the words, Six Million Dollar Man in the same sketchbook that I'd been staring blankly at and did six pages of notes and sketches. I'm happiest when I treat my work as a diary, I just paint whatever, whenever, no real planning, if I want to paint the Six Million Dollar Man, I will. So "the April Grid Diaries" are what we're doing, they may be hung as they are completed at the Press Club in April, they may be framed, maybe not, just keep coming back and having a look, I want to do about two of them a day.

Where To Find Me

The Wilson 96 (615 College Str.) I am taking my work down from the Wilson 96 on the 31rst. You can have great fun there on Tuesday at Trivia, it really is a blast, or you can check out the amazing Samantha Martin and the Haggard on Thursday. Monday to Friday 5-8 there are great drink specials, there is an ATM onsite and you can pay the staff for my work if you don't have time to meet me.

The Cameron House (408 Queen Str. West) My work will be hanging at the Cameron until the 2nd of April, great bands to check of this week, if you like well written roots rock check out Joshua Cockerill on Wednesday, check out Alejandra on Tuesdays , this may be her last one, not sure, get there early people love her, and I think Fish & Bird are playing this Thursday, also of course "Kevin Quain and the Mad Bastards" on Sunday nights, I mean do I even have to mention this Toronto Institution ? You don't know who he ...what ? Shame on you, anyways there is an ATM on site and you can pay the blah blah.

Online You can find me on Twitter by clicking that "Follow Me" thing over there on the left, it will direct you right back to this blog in a nifty little loop. You can find me on Facebook at the group, The Mad Craft Shoppe and you can find me on Tumblr at "the mad craft shoppe" or "mad craft shoppe" I can't remember which. I am available for commissioned work, from TShirts and Band Posters (see the label "pub life sketches" or "TShirt Designs) or commisions (see label "commissions"). You can check out the link to my crazy letters for kids, "the alphabet shoppe" in the links section (it's where the top photo of this post comes from) or my ongoing series of childrens books / dioaramas / graphic novels / amusement park for mice over at the link "Any How Town" which needs a huge update.
Any ways there's lots of cool shit to see here that I've done and will be doing. If you've found your way here via business card or however you got here, please send me an email to let me know, we really appreciate your feedback. .


all the best,

A.Shay Hahn






Saturday, March 26, 2011

Saturday In The City, The Chicken Pickers at the Cameron House

Hey folks, if you are looking for somewhere to have a pint and hear some great songs, and of course catch the last week of my work at the Cameron House (408 Queen West), head on down to see, "Little Jimmy's Chicken Pickers" from 6-8pm. If you're early you can catch Sue and Dwight playing their last Saturday Matinee show at the Cameron from 4-6pm. If that's too early and you want to go out later you can go to the Wilson 96 (615 College Street) and see some of my work hanging there, that show comes down on the 31rst.
And to those who are out at the TFC Opening Match, have a blast!
Or you can do both, it's up to you.
A.Shay Hahn

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Mariachi Accordion!

Mariachi Accordion (well, really it's a concertina, or is it ?)

8x8 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

SOLD.

at the Cameron House until April 2nd.

Well, it's a hell of a day outside ain't it ?


A.Shay Hahn


madcraftshoppe@live.com


New Mariachi! at the Cameron House until April 2nd

Mariachi! (Good Time Maracas)
8x8 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$80.00
at the Cameron House until April 2nd

The show at the Cameron House comes down on the 2nd of April (you can scroll down to see what's there) here's a new skeletal Mariachi that I'll be hanging there today, along with a friend who I will post shortly. I also have work at the Wilson 96 (615 College Str.) until the end of March (scroll down to see a bunch of that stuff also).

If you grabbed a business card of mine, please send me an email, it would be great to see that people are using them.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com


Sunday, March 20, 2011

Lady with Two Axes (short hair)

Lady with Two Axes (short hair)
11x14inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$180.00
at the Wilson 96 until the end of March

We're on a bit of a run with the Axe Series, I have a couple more that I'll finish this week and then get back to the long neglected, "Tom Waits Project" expect some more writing about that and an announcement. I also have three more Jug Band Devils on the go that I'll post soon. Paintings are at the Wilson 96 and at the Cameron House until the end of the month.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com


Friday, March 18, 2011

Lady with Two Axes, The True Romantics

Lady with Two Axes
11x14inches, acrylic on canvas, framed
$180.00
at the Wilson 96 until the end of March
Due to a heroic screw up on my part I will not be in attendance at the True Romantics show at the Wilson 96 tomorrow, but you can be and I reccomend that you check this band out here's a link to their fb event
http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=7504818668&view=all#!/event.php?eid=134768233259457&index=1 and they were kind enough to really promote my work there, so I hope this shout out to them helps too. Keep your rock and roll bluesy, sexy and dirty.
You can hang with me there this eve from 6-8pm,
A.Shay Hahn

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Irish Flags ONE DAY SALE!


Irish Flag

10x12inches, acrylic on canvas

$100.00


For TODAY ONLY at the Wilson 96 (615 College Str.) these Irish Flag folks are only $100.00 each (unframed, cash only) . They'll be hanging above the bar,stop by the Wilson 96, they're opening at 2pm. There are four different Irish Flags available to purchase

Happy St. Patrick's Day


A.Shay Hahn


madcrafshoppe@live.com



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!
A.Shay Hahn

The Wilson 96, The Cameron House until the end of March


Lady with Two Axes, Lady with an Axe
9x12 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

madcraftshoppe@live.com


Super Club Breezes, Jibacoa, Cuba

 Have just gotten back into town from a much needed vacation with my best girl, we went to Cuba for a week and stayed at a small all inclusive (see title of this post). I think the youngest you can be to be allowed to stay there is fourteen, it may be sixteen, I can't remember.
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 Day
20x20 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

madcraftshoppe@live.com

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 Devil

3 @ 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

madcraftshoppe@live.com


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

madcraftshoppe@live.com


Friday, February 25, 2011

Hang on St.Christopher, 4 days left at the Cameron House

Hang on St.Christopher
10 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 Hammers
10 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

madcraftshoppe@live.com


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

madcraftshoppe@live.com


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!


Mounties
8x10 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

madcraftshoppe@live.com


Wednesday, February 09, 2011

The Red Devil Jug Band


The Red Devil Jug Band, Washboard Player, Gut Bucket Bass Player
both 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

madcraftshoppe@live.com


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