Second Bicycle Piece, Popular Mechanics

Here's the second in progress Bicycle piece for popular mechanics, I have two more that I've started blocking in and am really enjoying the loose approach that I'm using. Each is 20x20 inches, acrylic on canvas, I'm sure they're going to be a hit.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn's "Popular Mechanics" Works In Progress

Just thought I'd give you a little taste of one of the pieces I'm working on for the November show at the Cameron House. If you look at this piece and the "propganda" work that I've been doing I think you'll get a sense of the "cumulative colour" approach that I'm using for this show.

Note: Ignore the figure on the right, she's a mess.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com 

Postive Propaganda at the Wilson 96

OBSERVE, CONSUME, REALIZE

each piece is 16x20 inches,acrylic on canvas

$300.00 each
(You have to click on this and check it out in a larger size, it looks awesome)

Don't these just look incredible as a group! Head on over to College Str. and check'em oot!

A great and inspired gift.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com
and like I said, you can commission your own, just keep it to seven letters. Also taking commissions for Deep Sea Divers, Canadian Flag (or any flag) women, Mariachi you name it - Christmas is coming folks, give your people some art. And don't forget to check out "the alphabet shoppe" (see links, right side) to see the kids letters that I do - sure to put a smile on your face.

A.Shay Hahn, Compassionate Propaganda at the Wilson 96

NURTURE

16x20inches,acrylic on canvas

$300.00

at the Wilson 96, 615 College Str. Sept-Oct.

(Continuing thoughts from the past two posts)

What I think I like most about the Chinese Propaganda posters is the sense of making the most mundane task look heroic and worthy of merit, the farmers and welders depicted are given iconic representation that elevates what they are doing, these artists could make mowing the lawn look awesome.

Also there is a sense of the universal when you identify with the figure and their task most of my work in the past three or four years has focused on a lack of identity, the figures are turned away or wearing masks or are Deep Sea Divers it is a lonelier, solitary approach. In the work of the propaganda artists the people are inclusive, a single figure represents an entire population and is working for the good of the population.

I think it's inspired to try and do this now as a kind of artistic social activism.

BUT also you can commission your own painting, just keep the work you'd like to use to a maximum of about SEVEN letters.

(to be continued next post.)

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn "OBSERVE" at the Wilson 96

OBSERVE

16x20inches,acrylic on canvas

$300.00

at the Wilson 96 (615 College) for Sept.-Oct.

This is the first of the six Propaganda pieces that I painted using a mainstay of propaganda posters and my own work - the pilot. I hadn't yet decided how I would "coopt" the form for my own style/approach. I was focussing more on application of colour and brushstroke. I should have shot some details to show the layers but I'll make sure to do that from now on.

This is probably the most straight ahead of all the pieces.

I'll get more into the process of the text in the next post.

Have a great day sending the kids off to school

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn "Positive Propaganda Pieces" at the Wilson 96

CONSUME

16x20 inches,acrylic on canvas

$300.00

Awhile back my friend J.Mote and I were talking about our mutual love of Communist Propaganda Posters and he'd asked if I'd ever done any of my own spins on the form. I thought this was a fantastic and inspired notion so I went home and got to work learning the form as best as I could.

Also at the same time I'm messing with my style and palette and trying to work cumulatively by just dabbing different colours all over and trying to make it work. Figure usually begin with a rough crimson outline and then go from there. This was the Second of the attempts "CONSUME".

Meant to inspire folks to consume knowledge.

More thoughts and notes on these new works as I post them this week.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn at the Wilson 96,Sept-Oct.

Many thanks to S & G Power for the oppurtunity to hang my work at the Wilson 96 for the months of September and October. Some of the prices have changed, the framed 10x12s are still $140.00 but the larger work has gone up (not too much) with the exception of "The Woman Who Loved Cocktails" which is now $340.00. Head on over to College Str and have a look and maybe go to dinner at Red Fish while on College and let Chef David Friedman cook you up some great sustainable seafood dishes.
There is also some NEW work at the Wilson 96 and I'll get to that in just a minute. It's fine to pay the staff (Cash only) and there is an ATM on site.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



New Constant Companion

 Sometimes I gripe and groan that people never read my blog and then along comes a gift that gives me hope that my posts do actually reach people out there in the Internet. Here is the new coffee cup that sits beside me as I work on "Popular Mechanics" for the Cameron House in November.

many thanks to D&C Parker

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.Shay Hahn and Red Fish, Read All About It!

Life Jackets

each piece is 24x24 inches,acrylic on canvas

$500.00 each

at Red Fish

contact me at this email address to purchase.

Many congrats to Chef David Friedman on the opening of Red Fish here are two great reviews of the restaurant from Toronto Life

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/opening-daily-dish/2012/08/17/introducing-red-fish/

and blogTO

http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/red-fish-toronto

all the best,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

(I have no idea why this text is blue and underlined.)

A.Shay Hahn, Bacon, Chairs and Press Club Additions

This One Goes All the Way Up To Bacon (dials)

6x6 inches,acrylic on masonite, framed

$40.00 each

The Chairs By Day II

20x20inches,acrylic on canvas,framed

$400.00

Here are a couple of additions to the show at the Press Club, the first "Chairs" sold as soon as it went up. This is the last 20x20 frame that I have (and may ever build).

The "Bacon" dials were a hilarious idea from my good friend P.Forst, and they will look great in your kitchen.

So friends head on down to the Press Club and pick up a painting or two, they're bound to bring joy and fulfillment to your life and if your life is already full of joy, send one of your depressed friends.

Also be sure to head to Red Fish, Chef David Friedman's new restaurant on College Street for some of the best sea food the city has to offer - I also have some great paintings of Life Jackets on hanging on the walls there, you can scroll down on this blog and check them out.

cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

A.Shay Hahn and a Lady With An Axe

Lady With An Axe

from the ongoing series of the same name

16 x 20 (?), acrylic on canvas,framed

$200.00

at the Press Club (850 Dundas West, Toronto)

If you want some definitive A.Shay Hahn artwork you can't do better than buying a Lady With An Axe

people love her, I love her, and so will you. I wasn't going to do two of them for the Press Club show but I've been watching alot of Olympic sports and I figure maybe if I added a couple of these it might have a chance at being a trial event next year.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

A.Shay Hahn, Press Club back wall

Press Club Dedicated Wall, June 28

RAYGUNS! $80. ea/ two for $150.00

Red Fish, The Real Anchorwomen of St.Johns, Caesar (Canadian Girl), Woman with Two Axes, Canadian Girl, Tribute to Maurice Sendak, Real Anchorwomen of St. Johns II, Ballad of Daniel Larusso, The Man Who Stopped to Read, Violin

all 10x12inches,acrylic on canvas framed, $140.00 each

Here's another look at the back wall of the Press Club, if you can't find something here that you like, I'm just going to have to give up on you as a person.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

The Press Club, A.Shay Hahn is up on the walls for August

Grapefruit $200.00, The Chairs By Day $400.00, Lady With An Axe $180.00,

Scarecrow $180.00, Skeleton Suit $180.00, Deep Sea Divers $140.00 each, The Woman Who Loved Cocktails $280.00, Calm Dials $40.00 each, Dog on Stilts $140.00, Pick Axe $140.00, The Fire Watcher $280.00, GOON! $180.00 ( I think), Orange $200.00, Prometheus $200.00, Piano $200.00

Here's whats up at the Press Club plus my dedicated wall at the back, head on down to 850 Dundas West to purchase, you can pay the bar staff and there is an ATM on site.

have an Olympic day

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

deviantart

ShayHahn

twitter

@madcraftshoppe



Lady with an Axe and Skeleton Suit

Lady With An Axe (red hoodie)

Skeleton Suit

12x16inches,acrylic on canvas,framed

$180.00 each, at the Press Club

Here are two more new pieces hanging at the Press Club (850 Dundas West) go check em oot. I'll be posting the whole show today.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



MARIACHI! and MR. Moon the Ukelele Crew

Mr.Moon and the Marichi!

each are 8x10inches,acrylic on board

framed, $80.00 each

These will be going up at the Press Club next week (850 DundasWest) you gotta be there to get'em ! All proceeds are going to my purchase of a banjo-lele which I promise to learn to play after I get married.

Which I am doing in about one week.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

deviantart

ShayHahn

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

The Woman Who Loved Cocktails

The Woman Who Loved Cocktails

I think its 18 x 24? 20x 24 I'll have to check

acrylic on canvas,framed (big frame!)

$300.00 ( I think)

Sorry I'm really scattered right now getting stuff together in the studio to finish and take to the Press Club (850 Dundas West) to hang this eve.

This is a great piece.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Deep Sea Diver (w/Banjo)

Deep Sea Diver (w/Banjo)

10x12inches,acrylic on canvas,framed

$140.00

Going up at the Press Club today!

Yes the final guest for the kitchen party band has arrived, I've taken all the new/old work over to the Press Club and will be hanging it today (photos to come). So please be sure to make your way to 850 Dundas West and have a look.

Really having a great time over on Deviantart, can't believe I didn't join earlier, nice to get quick responses to work as it's posted and have chats with other artists.

enjoy your day.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

deviantart

ShayHahn

P.S Red Fish had their POS knocked out by the rain storm and have delayed their opening until Saturday

Deep Sea Diver (w/Accordion)

Deep Sea Diver (w/Accordion)

10x12inches,acrylic on canvas,framed

$140.00

at the Press Club this week!

Yes our Kitchen Party continues with the arrival of the accordion player, I wonder who will be showing up next?

I am currently buried under a mountain of work,  I hope I can get the rest of the work for the Press Club finished today and tomorrow, I thought I would be hanging mostly older work but it turns out that I've sold most of my older work, which I suppose is a good thing for my career but sure ramps up the challenge of finishing and filling the walls.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

deviantart

ShayHahn

Deep Sea Diver (w/Acoustic Guitar)

Deep Sea Diver (w/Acoustic Guitar)

10x12inches,acrylic on canvas, framed

$140.00

Here's the second guest to show up at the kitchen party, will be hung at the Press Club Thursday (I think) and if you like em go get em there by, they's go right quick.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

deviant art

Shay Hahn

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

Deep Sea Diver with Fiddle (Deep Sea Kitchen Party)

Deep Sea Diver (w/fiddle)

10x12inches,acrylic on canvas,framed

$140.00

Here's the first of four Deep Sea Divers having a good old fashioned Kitchen Party

I'm not posting the photos in frames, I'll be framing them all when they're done and taking them to be hung at the Press Club on Thursday.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

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@madcraftshoppe

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Andrew Shay Hahn (the mad craft shoppe)

Deviant Art

ShayHahn

Red Fish, A.Shay Hahn, Deep Sea Divers

Looks like Chef David Friedman will be open for business on Thursday the 2nd and you can go to 890 College Str. after 6pm and have some of the best seafood you have ever eaten. Very proud of you Chef David and I wish you all the best.

Expect ALOT of posts to come your way today and tomorrow and the next day, I am finishing about eight pieces right now and they will be hung at the Press Club on Thursday, I'll probably post four more times today about that, so watch your twitter feed and respond accordingly.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

facebook

Andrew Shay Hahn (the mad craft shoppe)
deviant art
ShayHahn

Red Fish, life jackets, Press Club Wall by A.Shay Hahn

Life Jacket 1 of 4

24x24inches,acrylic on canvas

$500.00

The life jackets will be hung on Monday at Red Fish 

 " former Fishbar chef, David Friedman, is slated to open in the next few weeks at 890 College Street (formerly home to Mitzi's On College). The new restaurant will be involved in Slow Fish Toronto and will feature an Ocean Wise approved menu." (from blogTO)

Not sure of the opening date, it may be this week, but I get to go for a tasting, I'll get some shots of the interior and I'll let you know the full details as I get them.

You can scroll down and see the other lifejackets, they are available for advance purchase as I don't believe they'll be hanging at Red Fish very long before they go home with some lucky pescatarian.

Here is the Press Club (850 Dundas West) wall as I left it last time I was there, Rayguns! are 8x10inches,acrylic on canvas,framed  $80.00ea or two for $150.00 and all other pieces are 10x12inches,acrylic on canvas, framed $140.00

may as well spill the beans, I'm getting married in about three weeks and every sale helps

take care,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

A Dog On Stilts

Dog on Stilts

10x12inches,acrylic on canvas,framed

$140.00

A while back omeone on facebook mentioned that turkey vultures look like black dogs on stilts and the line just stayed with me, it took some time to get around to painting it since I'm busy doing the grounds for the November show at the Cameron House but I'm also working through some old sketches that I'd like to finish and have nothing to do with the concepts I'm exploring for Popular Mechanics.

I googled "Dog On Stilts" to see if any other artists had approached the concept before and came across a great sculpture by the artist Ron Pippin, it's worth checking out, didn't grab the link, it was just an image search. Our approaches are completely different so I was happy to continue with the concept and get it on canvas.

This will be at the Press Club show (about half older work, half newer) in August if it isn't picked up before then. You can go there this weekend for Press Fest all kinds of great bands for four nights in a row and check out my dedicated wall of art. Just scroll down on the blog to see what's there.

have a good one, enjoy the cool

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

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Andrew Shay Hahn (the mad craft shoppe)

CALM Gauges, limited edition

I have four of the above "CALM" dials for sale each is approximately 6x6 inches, acrylic on masonite and framed. $40.00 each. Call this excercise a little advanced fundraising for my show at the Cameron House, "Popular Mechanics" in November.

If the top left is #1, #2 and #3 sold within a half hour of posting on facebook so get them for your office while you still can.

back to work, any questions will be considered by contacting me at

madcraftshoppe@live.com

best,

A.Shay Hahn



"Popular Mechanics" finding my way

In the early stages of figuring of what the show is about, I have a few concrete ideas that I 've begun but I 'm also just trying things and seeing if I like the look, The purples and blues in this piece and the treatment of the "sky" take time to get right, there has to be a balance, and I'm not there yet.

This Harold the Helicopter ride from Six Flags is figuring pretty heavily in the language of the show, love this guy, I may remove the face from this piece, like I said I'm still playing with where the show is going as a whole. There are about forty canvases in the studio that are dedicated towards figuring it out.

I don't want to spoil the surprise by saying too much at one go, but you can see the process

over on facebook at "Andrew Shay Hahn (The mad craft shoppe)" in the Works in Progress album.

Also Press Fest is this weekend so head to 850 Dundas West to hear all kinds of great bands, chill out on the patio and check out my dedicated wall.

And if you want to check out an amazing band head over to Youtube and listen to the Paddingtons it's the best rock'n'roll I've heard in years.

cheers,

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

twitter

@madcraftshoppe

Farewell to Constant Companions

If you work at home like I do you may have developed an attachment to certain objects in your home. This coffee cup has sat beside me in the studio for over five years. He was always there for me, if I went upstairs I brought the cup, if I left him upstairs and then went downstairs I would go back upstairs to retrieve him instead of filling another cup. This cup achieved almost totemic importance in my creative process.

 Think of the things he witnessed, the secrets and curses that he heard.

He will be dearly missed, and so begins the quest to find a replacement, yes we have a shelf, a shelf very similar to a shelf in your home where our coffee cups are kept and looking through them today I was only reminded of my loss. There will be a new cup on it's way, it's been added to my "To Do" list, but the cup I find will not truly be a replacement, it will be the start of a new chapter, a new partnership and inevitably, somewhere down the road, another loss.

Thank you Mr.Rooster cup, you were a good friend.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



Small Towns Commission

 Here are two works in progress and a photo of my studio assistant being no help at all. He likes to sit right under my chair while I'm working. If you'd like to see a bunch of shots of the work as it progresses just go to my page on facebook Andrew Shay Hahn (The mad craft shoppe) there are all kinds of process shots to click through. Or follow the label (see right side of blog) and you can see Small Towns that I've done in the past - and yes they can be commissioned.

If you're in Toronto, stay cool folks, stuff your shirt with Freezees.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Trends In Toronto Art, Antlers

Work In Progress for "Popular Mechanics" at the Cameron House in November

12x16 acrylic on canvas

Just a quick note/observation/caveat to all those young painters out there who are unsure what to do with their "unfinished" looking figurative work. Please stop yourself before painting antlers (deer horns etc.) on your paintings of young girls. It's been done to death, I've seen it over four times in the past four years from at leastfour different artists - you're confusing people, you're better than that, find your language, sticking horns on paintings of kids may  look cool (sure it looks cool) but what does it really do for you except put you in a group ?

Keep your language pure, avoid antlers.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Vintage Life Jackets

Top Life Jacket #4

Life Jacket #3

both pieces are 24x24inches,acrylic on canvas

$500.00 each

Detail #4 and Detail #3

Here are two more life jackets, I'll be taking a break from them now to work on a "Small Town"

commission and speaking of small towns, congratulations to Eric Coates AD of the Blyth Festival on his appointment as AD of The Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa. I worked in Blyth for a few seasons as the scenic artist and it was a great experience, Eric is an excellent choice for the job and I wish him the best.

Holler at me if you want a life jacket, first come, first served.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com



"Popular Mechanics" Picking the Palette

The first decision I made working on "Popular Mechanics" was a change in palette and for this show (obviously influenced by the lifejackets I've been painting for Red Fish restaurant) I chose, or rather, the colours chose, Deep Crimson, VanDyke brown, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red, orange, yellow ochre and a new tone in the skies a strange mix of prussian blue, deep crimson, burnt umber and white that has really tied the "ground" colours together.

It is a "daytime" series, not alot of night time adventures for the hooded characters and puppeteers who are now ranging around a landscape that is more reminiscent of a farm or a battlefield than the river's edge or tall grasses that I've been setting my characters in for the past five years.

If you would like to see the work develop just log onto facebook and go to "Andrew Shay Hahn (the mad craft shoppe)" to see. I'm not going to post all the photos here, there are far too many process shots and it's easier to dump them in a fb album.

As I'm sitting working on the pieces one thought (and doubt) is at the forefront of my mind, that this isn't a show about my work - it's about being an artist and what it takes to advance as an artist, not staying in one place, changing things up and taking a few risks. I am very happy with this decision - the doubt is some people saying "I liked his other work better, etc" but there's no time for that. If you buy one of my pieces you are buying a piece by A.Shay Hahn, irregardless of colour, pose, props etc.

This is where my work is now - it's where it's supposed to be.

I'll be sure to let you know when the pieces are hung at Red Fish (expect the final two to be posted today or tomorrow) and as always please head to the Press Club (850 Dundas West) to see my work - all priced within the $80 - $140 dollar range (scroll down to see work on display).

send us an email

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

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