Working Title "The Brave Crossing" Jewelry Box Diorama

Let's hope that all my pals over on facebook can come up with a better name than, "The Brave Crossing" for this amazing diorama, I love it.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Where Tin Men Are Made, Jewelry Box Dioramas

Still doing some paint touch up on these pieces, but I'd like to formally introduce you to my new obsession, jewelry box dioramas, the above are "Where Tin Men Are Made I & II" I'll be talking about how they were built over on the Any How Town blog (see links, right side) but here at the mad craft shoppe I'll just be posting the finished pieces. Expect alot of these two show up in the next two weeks, I am truly obsessed with making them.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Press Club Dedicated Wall, Tuesday Nov,8, 2011

All Rayguns, CHIMPANZEES!, Mariachi, Red Devils and the Six Million Dollar Man are

$80.00 each you can get two Rayguns for $150.00 if you act fast, "Sand Pail" is $160.00, the Press Club is located at 850 Dundas West. Back to work finishing some commissions, work to hang at Cowbell and also my new obsession, jewelry box dioramas, it's pretty messy round here.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

RAYGUN Wall at the Press Club, November 4th

Press Club Dedicated Wall: rayguns, mariachi, red devils, deep sea diver and Six Million Dollar Man are $80.00 each, two rayguns for $150.00, each is 8x10 inches,acrylic on canvas, framed

Violin and Sand Pail are 10x12inches,acrylic on canvas, framed and are $160.00 each.

back to work,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

White Buoy

White Buoy

18x18inches, acrylic on canvas, unframed $400.00

this will be the back cover for the Unseen Strangers new record, I love this guy, for something so simple he really carries alot of weight in the painting, very happy with it and can't wait to see the CD when it is fully assembled.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com
Flying Chairs and paintings from the Royal Families come down on Friday, head to the Wilson 96 (615 College Str.) to check them out. And the wall of Rayguns is still up at the Press Club (850 Dundas West).

Domestic Bliss at the Press Club, Monday Oct 31st Poster

Tonight@The Press Club...Domestic Bliss Mondays continue with rockers The Rough Notes! $5 pints of Stratford, cheap nachos, chili and pulled pork. mini corn breads too! see you there, kids!

What else do you need to know.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Woman with Two Axes, commissions

Woman with Two Axes

11x14inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

commission

Sorry to have been away for so long working on a bunch of different things and getting close to finishing some of them. Here's a commission for an axe piece, would love to stay and chat and yes my posts have been bried lately but there's much to do. If you are interested in commissioning something for Christmas now is the time to get in touch.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



HUSK "Hot Corn" cover design first proof

First Proof, Needs Tweaking.

Here's the companion design that goes with the "F'n'R Stew" cover design a few posts down  and later on I'll post a link to band camp to check out the music you can stream and purchase. There may be two more done in this style, we'll keep you posted.

It's getting to the time of year where I reccomend you contact me if there's anything you'd like to commission for Christmas gifts, yes, it seems a long way off but my dance card does start to fill up right about now.

Paintings from my show "the Royal Families" (see label right) and the beautiful flying chairs will come down on the first of November, they are currently at the Wilson 96 (615 College Street, the Royal Families pieces are $160.00 each or two for $300.00) also the wall of Rayguns is at the Press Club, (850 Dundas West) don't forget to go to "Domestic Bliss Mondays" at the Press Club for Beer Specials, $7.00 nachos and $5.00 chili, prices to good to miss, music by Lamburger with Poor Ol' Jim.

and tonight at the Wilson 96 the below is happening

Sunday Supper! Chilli- the return.

Chilli night was such a hit we have more. Come on by for a bowl.

Beefknuckle is playing tonight from 6-9. To celebrate we have $5.00 Pints of Mill Street Organic and $4.00 shots of Jag all night.

(apparently they spell Chili with two "l"s, must be a College Str. thing)

Send us a question, we'd love to hear from you,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Canadian Girl Project (w/Jamaican Flag)

Canadian Girl (w/Jamaican Flag)

11x14inches,acrylic on canvas,framed

commission

The leaves are blowing and the wind is howling, fat grey skies spit hard bits of rain and here I am inside, cozy and content watching , "The Black Donnelly's" on Netflix and painting this lovely lady. Enjoyed the change in size for this piece, usually the Canadian Girls (see labels, right side) are done on 12x12 or 10x12 but to get a good sense of the Jamaican Flag and to satisfy the request of the client I got to something longer on the horizontal and it turned out quite well.

Lots of commissions happening right now, another album, a smiling monkey and a few other things that will keep me amused for quite some time.

A reminder to head to the Wilson 96 (615 College) to see flying chairs (this is the weather for them) and pieces from "The Royal Families" (see label, right side) and the Press Club (850 Dundas West) a mere ten minutes away to check out the Rayguns!

have a cocoa,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com
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RAYGUNS!

Here are the final three ray guns, each is 8x10inches, acrylic on canvas, framed $80.00 each or two for $150.00 a fine decor item for your home.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Chimpanzee (w/jester hat)

Chimpanzee (w/jester hat)

8x8inches,acrylic on canvas,unframed $80.00

Slow start to the day so far, usually I leave all this internet stuff til lunch when I need a break but just having a hard time getting into gear this morning.

have a great day,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Chimpanzee with Genius Lightbulb Helmet

CHIMPANZEE! (w/genius lightbulb helmet)

 8x8inches, acrylic on canvas, unframed, $80.00

Working away on a few small things right now, another chimpanzee and two or three more RAYGUNS! Tonight at the Press Club it's Domestic Bliss Mondays! with a live musical performance by the Goodtimes!

Lots rolling around in my head right now re. new directions for my work, keeping the technique loose, blops of colour etc.

hope you're Monday is treating you well,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Chimpanzee with a Sailor's Hat, Attila Richard Lukacs at AGH

CHIMPANZEE! (w/a sailor hat)

8x8inches, acrylic on canvas, unframed $80.00

Had a nice grey afternoon in Hamilton at the Art Gallery of Hamilton checking out the Attila Richard Lukacs show, here's the fb link with all the info. https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=204314649634654  it's well worth seeing if you're a fan of his work which I was. His paintings were a great inspiration on me when I was in University there were only a few of us who were intertested in figurative painting so it was nice to know that someone was out there in the world succeeding at doing the same. What really blew my hair back was the Tanenbaum collection, it's a must see of French paintes, where Lukacs fails in technique these pieces really succeed in their fine application of layers and glazes, amazing stuff.

The hat on the Chimp above is from Lukac's painting "Michael" which you can see at the AGH, just my way of tapping my cap to a great influence.

cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Loosening Up With Chimpanzees

CHIMPANZEE! (w/viking helmet)

 8x8 inches, acrylic on canvas, unframed $80.00

Yesterday I was feeling a little stiff and trapped in my ways, I hadn't just pushed paint around in awhile and missed the sensation of blopping colour in places with no finished images in mind. The night before I was out for a pint and just sat and read one of my sketchbooks that I hadn't picked up since May (I usually have two or three of different sizes in circulation so some ideas get lost in the shuffle) I noticed I had a lot of notes about just painting freely, pick an object and paint it, no plan, no series and there was a list of about thirty images to paint, don't plan just get to work.

 I missed that feeling so yesterday I just sat down in the studio and started to paint some chimpanzees, or what began as chimpanzees, then I decided they needed more colour, something unique and asked friends on facebook what kind of hat a chimp would prefer to wear and received about twenty five suggestions. I started with the image above and am very happy with it, I may do one a day for awhile until I feel like I'm using paint properly again, it was a good day and a good lesson for me just to roam around the canvas and add colour.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



F'n' R Stew album cover, 10 years in the making

This album cover originally started out as a two panel mural for a recording studio, I was asked to do the preliminary sketch for Twang Records probably in 1999 or 2000 I'll have to ask Carl to confirm that. The studio was busy and there never seemed to be a good time to do the piece and time went on for all of us. I was contacted last week for permission to use the drawing as an album cover for Twang Records (project details still secret, I'll fill you in when the album comes out). I couldn't possibly just have that sketch printed and we decided to advance the idea. I wanted to keep the comic book aspect of the sketch intact,  I didn't really want to paint it, I thought that doing a bar scene that may have taken place in the Haight or London in the late 60's would be best and then add the idea that it was an underground comic or leaflet/poster handed out at gigs. The next image was the block in for the second drawing and the bottom image is the final, I think it captures the spirit of the times quite well and has a very cool rock'n'roll feel.

This is my fourth album design this year, I've done Dany Laj "the match, Shotgun Wedding Band "OK Alrite", Twang Records "F'n"R Stew" and am still working with the Unseen Strangers on their album cover, each is different in design from the other and that's what I like about working with musicians other collaborators I get to flex another part of my brain producing something unique that serves both the music and the identity of the band, the whole album sound, it's alway interesting....hmmm I have more to say about this, but I have some work to do.You can see all my designs, posters, T'shirts etc. if you click the label "Pub Life Sketches" or TShirt Designs
cheers,
A.Shay Hahn

New Series Block Ins (tentative)

Early days on these, not happy with anything that's going on in them, but I wanted to continue the "conversation" I was having with myself about the flying chair paintings. That furniture can represent people pictorially so somehow these are portraits, or images of folks. I'm still trying to figure it out I may trash the whole thing, but this is where my head is at right now, a lack of figures, exploring objects in a plane.
yours vaguely,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com
p.s Ray guns are already selling so if you like'em best get to the Press Club (850 Dundas West) tout suite and head to the Wilson 96 (615 College Str.) for flying chairs and paintings from the series "The Royal Families" (see labels section to the right).

The Cameron House 30th Anniversary Celebrations

This week is the 30th Anniversary of the Cameron House, my second home, make sure to stop by to see some music this week. Here's a facebook link to Cameron House records to read about events and etc. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1634977327174.2082579.1618943436&type=1#!/cameronhouserecords

Here's a link to read an article on "the Grid" about the genesis of the label and the TShirt designs  done by yours truly and available at the bar (see pic above)  http://www.thegridto.com/culture/music/cameron-house-records/

and here's the facebook link to the 30th Anniversary event week https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1634977327174.2082579.1618943436&type=1#!/event.php?eid=153491618077596

the paintings posted are from my last show at the Cameron House, "The Royal Families" selections from it are hanging at the Wilson 96 (615 College Str.) until the end of the month.

head to the Cameron, have a pint, hear some tunes and be a part of the best bar in Toronto.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

I feel a new series coming on.....

I don't have a show booked for December for the first time in years, usually I would have a show at the Cameron House or the Press Club for November or December-January as one of my  "big" shows which happen twice a year, November and May. This year I'll be showing at Cowbell from November - January and I'm working on just a few new pieces for the walls there but have been so busy with commissions and writing/building Any How Town that I don't have alot of new work, not the numbers that I'm used to. I work in series I like to take one or two themes and work on 15 + paintings from around those themes (birds, books etc.) but suddenly late in the game I had a great idea for a series of paintings, I may not be able to show it in December, they may not get shown until April or May but there's something in the works folks and I'm very excited about it.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

RAYGUN Wall at the Press Club, Monday Oct 10th

All of the RAYGUNS! are now up at the Press Club and you can get two for $150.00, why ? Because who am I too deny you what you want.

have a great day,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Domestic Bliss at the Press Club, Monday Oct 10th

Tonight at the Press Club it's "Domestic Bliss Mondays"! Beer Specials! and I'm thinking there will be NACHOS and CHILI at great pieces and be entertained by the musical stylings of Ray whimsey's Sweet Piece, I"ve seen Ray play a number of times and he always brings the show. So undo another notch on that belt and head down to 850 Dundas West for both a hoot and a holler and perhaps a gobble.
 I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who visits the blog, checks out my work, commissions stuff and comes to my shows, I'm so thankful that I get to do this for a living and I owe it to your support and interest.
I hope you've had a great holiday weekend with close friends and family, best
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com



I am thankful for RAYGUNS!

RAYGUNS! 8x10inches, acrylic on canvas, framed $80.00 each

These aren't at the Press Club just yet, but they will be, I'll letcha know, have a great Thanksgiving Weekend and hug the one ya love.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Decorating Your Home with Rayguns

Rayguns!

8x10 inches,acrylic on canvas, framed

$80.00 each

at the Press Club

I just can't stop painting these Ray Guns, they really cheer me up, not that I'm depressed, let's say they keep up the good mood to which I am most accustomed, I've got two more to finish today and I will also be doing a couple of Han Solo blasters that may get up here Saturday or not til the end of the long weekend.

The first time I did the Ray Guns I think I did three and they were bought by the same person I've seen them hanging as a group in her home and they really look good, that's your decorating tip for the day courtesty of me, A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Press Club Dedicated Wall, Friday Oct. 7th

All the Rayguns, Mariachi, Red Devils and the Six Million Dollar Man are 8x10inches, acrylic on canvas, framed and are $80.00 Each, the Deep Sea Diver w/the Black Strat is $200.00 and the Lady with an Two Axes is $180.00 (why these two pieces haven't sold yet boggles the mind)

Hey I know I just posted one of these but I wanted to get the rayguns up on the wall at the Press Club for the folks to see, the other work that was there is not sold and is still available (see entry below). What has sold in this photograph is "the Running Man" in his very cool skeleton suit, he has been replaced with the black/silver raygun that you'll see if you just scroll down a touch.


and head to the Wilson 96 to see work from the Royal Families and some wonderful flying chairs.

A big thank you and congratulations to anyone who went out and voted yesterday and found a place to do it, a woman I gave directions to yesterday was told on the phone to vote at the Charles Public School on Manning Str. which is currently being demolished and turned into town homes, I wish I'd taken a picture of that (UPDATE there it is), you almost got away with it you sneaky Hudakian Invaders.

have a great day,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A Raygun Salute for Steve Jobs

Raygun

8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$80.00 each

Sad news last night, I respect the innovators, fighters and the rebels more than anyone else and when one passes it only encourages my resolve to continue what I'm doing irregardless of the slow times, the broke times, the indecisive times, just sit down and make something, just keep making things, folks will come around, if it's what you were meant to do, it's the only thing you should be doing.

Thank you Steve Jobs, you were a fighter and you will be missed.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

RAYGUNS!

RAYGUN!

8x10inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$80.00each

I have a couple more of these on the go right now and I really dig'em, I'm thinking I may do some larger scale versions maybe 24x18 or so down the line. These will probably end up at the Press Club on the dedicated wall this week, I'll let you know when that happens.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

MARIACHI! at the Press Club

MARIACHI !

8x10inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

$80.00 each

at the Press Club

Folks you gotta head down for Monday night  "Domestic Bliss" Nachos ($7.00) and Chili ($5.00) at the Press Club, I will continue to post what band is playing the events here at the blog with all this gloomy weather and grannies getting arrested on Wall Street you gotta have a little warmth in your life, nacho warmth, chili warmth, beer special warmth and the healing warmth of rock n roll.

Also the Deeper Sea Diver with Acoustic Guitar sold, so I added these fellas to the wall also, they too are 8x10 inches, acrylic on canvas, framed $80.00
I can't believe I still have this Six Million Dollar Man Doll painting, it rocks.
cheers,
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Nuit Blanche at the Wilson 96

Hey there, while you're out and about nuit blanching be sure to head up to College Str, to see my work at the Wilson 96, yes I am a one man nuit blanche event. I won't be there to see you but do stop by to check out the amazing chairs (see above and in posts below, $500.00 each/ two for $900.00) and work from "the Royal Families" (see labels) each piece is $160.00 (or two for $300.00) the show is up until the end of October and will change as work sells, the Black Canadian flag girl is there Rae Johnson if you're looking for her and so is "the Man Who Stopped to Read" also,

Drink specials for Nuit Blanche are $5.00 White Russians and $5.00 pints of Mill Street Belgian Wit from your bartender Kev.  Also at the Wilson 96 enjoy the day after Nuit Blanche with, SUNDAY SUPPER with Dave Picco (6-9pm) On the menu this week is Cottage Pie ( like Shepard's Pie but with beef) and salad. $15.00 or $20.00 with a pint of Mill Street or a glass of wine.
A.Shay Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

Press Club, Dedicated Wall Saturday, Oct 1st

Let's see if I remember what everything costs, I know the diver with the strat is $200.00 and I'm pretty sure all the other larger pieces, man with hammer, the axe women, the falconer are either $180.00 or $200.00. The diver with the acoustic guitar is $140.00 and the Red Devil and the Running Skeleton are $80.00 each. Be sure to head to the Press Club for "Domestic Bliss" Mondays where I believe the beer will be cheap and they will have their kitchen open and will be making nachos. How can you beat dat ?

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Angel In A Rowboat

The Angel who could not swim II

12x24inches, acrylic on canvas, framed

commission

It's always best to sit on a piece for a day or three before delivery, I wasn't sure if this piece was finished and went back and forth with adding something else to the composition, what is most obvious now is that if I kept going back and forth trying to find something to add there was obviously nothing I needed to add or I would've known already.

Trust your gut folks, that's what it's there for - and for digestion.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn where to find my work in Toronto

Deep Sea Diver w/ Banjo (night) / Deep Sea Diver w/Banjo (Day)

CD cover Options,18x18inches, acrylic on canvas

for the Unseen Strangers upcoming CD

$400.00 each (unframed)

After dropping a 18 ft. 2inch thick board across my legs and feet in the shop yesterday I decided I wasn't quite back to 100% full health and wisely stayed home to work in the studio on these two pieces and a commission and I believe that was the right choice.

I'd like to point you towards College Street to go check out the Wilson 96, (615 College Str. across from the Royal Cinema and the CHIN building) my work is currently hanging there and will be up for the month of September and October, tonight is TRIVIA night there, it's a helluva lot of fun so get a team together and head on down. In November you'll be able to see some new work at the wonderful Cowbell restaurant, you can also check out my dedicated wall at the Press Club on Dundas West. ( I have to get a photo up of what's there, apologies for the delays).

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com