A Breather

We are giving ourselves a break from the "50 Posts in 50 Days" project. A serious summer head cold has severely gummed up the works.

a la prochain
A.S Hahn
madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts #23, Thomas Pynchon - weekend sale

Cover Illustration for Thomas Pynchon's "V" by Mark Penberthy, 1990.

The above is the cover of Thomas Pynchon's "V" one of my favourite books, I used to read it every summer along with,"To Kill A Mockingbird" but haven't touched it in about five years, it's time to get back into that habit. I posted the cover to compare it against the work that I've been doing since, "A Field Story" and "Silver" up until now. I hadn't thought of the book in a couple of years, even though it was sitting almost directly in front of my easel in the book shelf. There is something about the simplicity of the cover, the pose, light and application - it's left a great impression on my work. Ages ago I'd titled a painting, "The Whole Sick Crew" I never finished that piece, maybe I'll try it this weekend once I shake this cold out of my head.

Also for the weekend ALL of the Above 12 x 12's are on sale for $100.00 each unframed, instead of the usual $120.00

Will be posting more movies reviews tomorrow, Sissy Spacek in "Katherine" and maybe one more if I can stay up long enough tonight to finish it, it's something about F.Scott Fitzgerald.

We are down at Grateful Head, thank you so much Lysa Fina, we will be hung at Fleur De Lis next Tues. I believe, stay tuned for informations abouts thats.

best,

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts #22, more Book Thievery

The Book Thief 3, The Book Thief 4

acrylic on canvas, 12 x 12 inches

$120.00 ea.

If these posts seem to be coming quickly all of these pieces that I posted today were begun on the weekend, it's only now that I get to finish them and there are three more works to come which I can hopefully finish by Saturday.

"Love is Forever" was a made for TV film starring Michael Landon as a photojournalist secretly sending articles on abuse by the Laotian Gov't to Western news agencies, he is caught, forced to leave but decides to return to rescue the woman he loves. Who goes with him even though her family will no doubt be killed, the actress who played her used to work in porn, so they changed her name so know one would now - thank you IDb.

This film looks almost rotoscoped the transfer is so horrific, it also stars the guy who played "the Equalizer" , Edward Woodward, as his friend who teaches him how to scuba dive and Priscilla Presley - what her role is in this film I can't tell you, she's just around for ten minutes of it or so.

The villain is played by Jurgen Prochnow, who has played this role in many other films, he wants Michael Landon dead, so they go into a ring in front of thousands and kick box each other - no joke.

The next film was,"Project Kill" starring Leslie Nielson as a Jason Bourne type leader of a ring of Gov't assassins who takes off to get out of the life and they chase him down and....kill him, yes, they kill him, the lead dies in probably the first, "Blow to the nose cartilage into the brain" action ever done in Western film.

Leslie used to be a serious actor (this film works both as action and a comedy- though clearly not planned by the film makers) Leslie can incapacitate two guys at once with a double Karate chop (amazing.) and spends every minute of the film, when he isn't fighting looking off into the distance at something we can't see ( inner peace, lunch table).

This film also has "mystical mind control music" because the assassins of "Project Kill" are all on injections that make them slaves to the Gov't and if they go off them they go crazy and make Naked Gun films.

These are the early days of action films had karate sequences without anyone actually knowing Karate, every woman you met wanted to bone you and instantly falls in love after a night in the sack and men in polyester slacks were dangerous to know.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts #20, Studies for a Larger Work

Woman on a Crow,

Woman on a Red Tailed Hawk

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00 ea.

These two pieces are studies for a commission, my sketches turned out nicely but I wanted to get warmed up and have my own painted references for the work to refer to - expect to see it in a couple of days.

These were finished watching (I say watching, but it's mostly listening) to a film that actually SHOULD be remade, "The Swiss Conspiracy" (1976) is a pretty fine thriller involving blackmail at a Swiss bank. W.P Hassenstein's music is fantastic, there are some great cars in the film and just enough sex and intrigue to keep you guessing up until the end - I should actually watch the ending again as I"m not really sure who did it - but one guy does fall off a mountain, which is always a great audience reward.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #19, I surrender!

Canadian Girl (white flag)

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

It seems I've fallen behind in the daily posting, but things have gotten complicated around here, my usual faith in people is being dismantled like a lego wall, brick by bright and shining brick. So today and for the next few days I will be here at the easel getting caught up on finishing work and trying to maintain my lego like confidence in the human race.

I recently purchased, "Star Power" which is a collection of 20 old films on DVD, the above piece was finished while watching the Frank Sinatra Classic, "The Man with the Golden Arm" this was back in the days of film when a guy could be named, "Frank ie Machine" and no one thought it was strange. Here are just two quick things to look for in the film, the performance of Kim Novak as "Molly" oh Golly, she's a vision and of course easy to run to when Machine "the Dealer" finally turns his back on his cloying and annoying wife Zosch. Comedic actor Arnold Stang kills it as "Sparrow" Frankie's right hand man servant, who gets all the great idiot savant lines, think of him as a dirtier, faster , street wise version of Dustin Hoffman in "Rain Man". Finally Ol' Blue Eyes strikes at our very hearts with a modern dance piece where he is going through withdrawl and flips and rolls around a hotel room that he's locked into, unfortunately it is so choreographed that it looks like some of the modern dance I saw in my student days at York University. The Bernstein score is fantastic.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Get to the Fringe Festival!

50 Posts in 50 Days #18, EAR SLAUGHTER!

Meant to get this up yesterday, but just didn't have the time (lots to do around here). Murder Squad are going on tour folks, and not just any tour, the Ear Slaughter Tour! Phone call goes something like this,

"Hey Shay, it's Murder Mike, I meant to ask you yesterday when I saw you but I forgot (musicians) and I know it's short notice but can you do a poster ?"

"Of course man Id' love t- "

"Great! Okay, what I need you to do is the skull faced cat guy you designed (see above and in Tshirt tags) smashing a guys head in with a Flying V Guitar, cuz the tour is called Ear Slaughter"

"Okay, I'll get it to you on Mon-"

*click*

And here it is, I don't have the finished artwork, I added lots more chains and shading to the figure, tried to push the high contrast, what looks great is that the dreadlocks seem to turn into chains. You know why this is so damn cool ? I'll tell you, this is my Eddie, (Iron Maiden's mascot, c'mon people) this guy up here who is quickly becoming a way to identify , Murder Squad by TShirt and Poster is my design and he's evolving as Eddie evolves, I'll probably do another couple of drawings of him for the band for that same reason. This will also be a TShirt, not sure when the printing will get done, but I'll post a photo of my Mom wearing one soon.

Expect a couple of posts today, things are nearing completion

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #17, Love Taps

Hot and Cold Running Love Taps

these can be ordered any time, I have two left,

$80.00 each

3 - 6 x6 inch canvases in reclaimed wooden frame

People just love them, a great addition to any bathroom. But if you buy one you have to pay me on time, unlike everyone else on this planet.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #16, Working with the Titans

Untitled

2- 20 x20 inch canvases, acrylic

$600.00 each

$1000.00 Diptych

more on this later, but if you are interested, buy now - she won't last.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days, # 14, #15, Revisiting...

Pilot, Woman with a City II

20 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas

commission

Finally OH Sweet Jesus in Heaven, finally! "The Woman with a City" piece, the first one and this commissioned piece were making me nuts. The posture and shadow of the figure dominated in the composition - being at the half way mark of the painting, it really became, "A painting about an Ass" the city was completely lost. As much as my good pal, L.Rooke liked that aspect of the piece, it had to change and through magic of hard work, skill and toning ( lightening the top and bottom of the work, shortening the arms, reducing shadow) - the piece now works, and works well - so disregard the post from a few days ago.

I have a ton of work to do this week, so I may not post tomorrow, but wanted to get these two very successful pieces up for you to see.

And of course something I should've added months ago, but forgot, I was asked what was the name of the show at the Cameron House, and I said, "Silver" and whoever it was (I talk to alot of people) asked why I chose that title, there was nothing "silver" in the show really, it wasn't a dominant colour, it was just a title, I realized I never told anyone why - here are the lyrics to "Silver" by the Pixies, this song inspired the beginnings of Silver - mostly the lyrics, the song was playing in the studio, actually I think it was playing while I was sketching at the Done Right Inn (which is a great place to sketch because people leave you alone, unlike the Cloak *strangle* *strangle*) and scribbled off at least ten pages of ideas. There's also a link to the video on YouTube.

Silver"

'in this land of strangers

there are dangers

there are sorrows

i can't see this lady

it is shady

i am leaving

tomorrow

tomorrow

tomorrow

even there's a reason

it's silver

it's gone

in this land of strangers

there are dangers

there are sorrows

sorrows

sorrows

sorrows

-The Pixies

Yes, I know I could just post the video, but this is not a video site, go check out Ryeberg for that, this is a site for my work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1GFWRicUmU

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

madcraftshoppe@gmail.com

50 Posts #13, Woman with Wings

Woman with Wings III

18 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas

$160.00

A.T wrote,

"This story is only a little bit about bicycles.I had a beautiful canary named Pepper when I was a child. One day I came home from school and he was lying dead in his cage, soaking wet and obviously drowned. I was devastated. My parents would not confess to knowing anything about it. I knew that they were lying. I jumped on my bike and tore off full tilt. When I was rounding a corner I hit gravel, miscalculated the brakes and hit a wall.20 years later I was at a party in honor of my parents. A woman stood up and told a story about meeting my father for the first time. She had come to our house to introduce herself. As he was pouring milk for her tea, a dead canary floated out of the jug and into her cup. The room exploded with laughter. My parents refused to acknowledge that they had never told me. I was shocked and devastated.I went outside, lit a smoke, and kicked a wall. "

The above story contains both birds and bicycles - no small feat. Below is a bicycle story from E.S

I left my pee on Dundas Street:

It's my birthday and I am riding back home with my partner. We are expecting guests for dinner. The day is beautiful and he has taken me to buy my gift. But, it didn't really work out that way.The story goes something like this::.He wanted to hear about my night with a former lover. It wasn't a topic I wanted to discuss at that moment but his pain ferments very differently than mine. Not to mention his own lethargy from a grueling break-up with his lover. I was not right of mind. My confusion took me away from him as he rode ahead. I have missed my opportunity through traffic and end up turning the corner. I hate talking. My mouth doesn't work and my brain doesn't connect. Too much is missing, like the sense was knocked out. I am still trying to recover from the blows of the night before.

Yes, it is my birthday. My naked day. My freedom day. Freedom day – that's funny. It is in the moment of conception that our freedom is revoked. Trapped in a small shell with small skin in a small sack in a small womb in a small yet accommodating belly only to be pushed through a small hole. Usually. On this particular day, freedom isn't overly forthcoming. My partner is putting on his brave face in order to hide his animosity. His laugh isn't genuine and neither are the arms he wraps around me. No, today we don't feel very free. Where does this leave me? Day dreaming. Wondering if having other lovers is where my path lies. Day dreaming. Watching my partner ride farther away from me.

Day dreaming and missing my opportunity through traffic, risking my life, then attempting to jump a curb only to crash the front tire into said curb, hitting my nearly full bladder on my handle bars and in turn – leaving my pee on Dundas St.. A puddle to be exact. I stood there, staring at the puddle under my bike, not even caring if people were around. Tears streamed down my face. The salty drops falling into my pee puddle. But it wasn't grief or embarrassment or exhaustion; I was just grateful to be pantyless in a skirt.

We'll be taking a break from the Women with Wings, as my love affair with feathers came to a crashing end with this painting. I wanted it to be a "daylight" work , so I didn't push/pull the chiascuro too much, but would like to do something similar that is "war" related - that may have to be a commission.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #12, Fearless Nazi Killer Commission

Will be out of the studio until Sunday, but I thought I'd post the almost completed, "Fearless Nazi Killer" commission, the email went something like this, " I want a painting of myself fighting Nazi's on a sinking flaming U Boat, with my dog "Megatron Scruffmeister" by my side. We snuck on board on a rowboat named ,"Jenny", Jenny is my wife's name, I name all my boats Jenny."

So after one horrible false start, (see somewhere below in the blog) we come to this (almost) completed bit of artistic mastery. It is very rare that you get a client like this coming along - I cherish them. He plans on framing the piece in heavy oak with a bronze plaque thanking his family for keeping the shipping lanes open during WW II - how genius is that ?

Hopefully when this is done I"ll have a photo to add. These kinds of commissions are usually filed under "My husband's room is in the basement", but that's fine by me, I like to see a nice big painting (this is 24 x 27 inches) beside an xbox 360.

Oh, where was I for the past two days ? Just be patient and you'll see.

New work will be posted on Sunday, lots of sketches completed.

If you'd like a picture of yourself or a loved one fighting Nazi's or zombies, zombie Nazi's (ahh Wolfenstein, I miss you) contact me below.

cheers,
A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts #11, Canadian Girl OUT OF STUDIO REPLY

Canadian Girl (Calgary Brush Fire)

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

available by contacting me

As stated in the previous post I won't be around today, Friday may be dodgy too, so here's a gal to keep you warm while I'm away. ALSO please use madcraftshoppe@gmail.com for the time being, while I sort these pricks at MSN out.

A.S.H

50 Posts #10, Woman with a City 2

Woman with a City II,

20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

commission

I'm going to post a couple more times today, tomorrow I'll be out of the studio and want to get a head of my posting if I get delayed, and can't post on Friday. This is another commission based on work from "Silver" (see tabs). For this piece and the others we are moving the subjects into a more positive/day light. I still have some toning work to do on this piece, but nothing to serious, so I thought I would get the piece posted and then get back to work.

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts #9, Death and Budgies

Woman with Wings II

18 x 18 inches, acrylic on canvas

(ON RESERVE)

I'm trying to do a third, but not having much luck with it, I may have taken this as far as it can go. Here are some anecdotes about birds, enjoy, I did.

P.F wrote:
The day after my granddad died, a swallow flew into our living room and lit on the chair where he would always sit. After a few seconds it then flew into the dining room and circled my granddad's chair and then flew back out the patio window.My dad and I couldn't believe it.

S.E wrote:
do you really want to hear about my foster budgie William? He died the same weekend as my grandfather. It's now officially more funny than touching or sad ,the timing and circumstances of William's death, not my grandfather's.

B.M wrote:
Continuing with the budgie them...When we were younger the rules were simple: Green budgies were namd Sammy.Blue budgies were named Timmy.Then one day Timmy III laid an egg.... t really screwed us up.

L.L wrote:
When I was about 10, my mom and dad did renos in the kitchen, including glueing new linoleum. They forgot to move my budgie Coco out of the kitchen, and the poor little thing died of a glue overdose.


P.F (added)
Speaking of budgies...my ex and I had a lovely blue budgie that we named Fergal. We left him with a friend when we went on our honeymoon. When we picked him up, there were 2 budgies in the cage. Our friend had found a green budgie in her backyard and thought Fergal might need a friend. We kept him and named him Seamus. Anyway, we figured that since Seamus grew up on the streets of East Van, he was a tough bastard and scared the living hell out of poor Fergus and constantly tramatized him.

C.M.T wrote:
A neighbour's daughter found a fledgling robin out of its nest, and has raised it with night crawlers. A couple of nights ago it took flight, but comes back every few hours demanding to be fed, and no one is at home, it goes to the neighbours and carries on until someone gets a spade and digs up some worms. It is beautiful, all speckled, but will come right up to your feet and loudly cheep "Feed me! Feed me!"

N.O wrote:
When I was a kid, one of my teachers asked me to dog sit her two Bichon Frise dogs. In return she would give me two of the Peach Faced lovebirds she bred. One of the dogs drowned in my neighbours pool. It was one of the worst days of my life (I'm welling up just thinking about it). My teacher still gave me the love birds, which was, I think very big of her. Lovebirds don't like to be alone, so when one of the two died, we had a to find a new mate post-haste for the widower.

S.E (Finished)
you want trauma? Come home from your grandfather's funeral to an empty cage with a post it on it:"sue - i didn't know what to do. please call me. Saundra"

M.M wrote:
our pet rat ripped the leg off our pet finch, when i was 15, at which point i figured he ought to eat the rest of it.

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #8, Spring commission

Woman with Paper Dolls

20 x 20 inches, acrylic on canvas

commission

This was a recent commission, a variant on the unfinished "Medea" piece from "Silver" which was then altered to be "Woman with Crows" (see tags, "Silver"). I do believe that this is much more successful than my original attempt, the positioning of the dolls etc, the brighter sky work to make a strong, appealing piece.

I don't have much time to write as I have several pieces to finish, but I would like to thank the folks who have sent me anecdotes over the past week, many of them will be posted here as the work they correspond to is completed.

it's a beautiful day,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts #7, Midnight Breath in the Shipyard

The Book Thief #2,

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

I've often posted how I don't listen to music while I work, people often seem surprised to hear this, I don't know why, maybe it's how they picture a stereotype of a painter working. I would think they should work in silence, but I don't much care for stereotypes.

Today I am listening to music, but music that is full of wonderful images that can roam around in my head, I was walking home from The Press Club and was lucky enough to run into Megan Hamilton on my way home, I had planned to be at her last residency gig at the Tranzac but wasn't able to make it up as I had to deliver a painting in the late evening, but there she was with good friends in tow and I was able to buy her most recent CD, "See Your Midnight Breath in the Shipyard" and I am enjoying it very much, I believe she's playing tonight at the Horseshoe, Pink Mountaintops are also playing, so if it isn't sold out, look into it immediately.

Here's a link to Megan Hamilton singing, "Sleeping on the Floor" from her first album, "Feudal Ladies Club" ( I think that's the title, correct me if I'm wrong.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHlSKWePwzY&feature=related&pos=10

That night I was also given the "Blood Ceremony" album, if you like death metal with flutes and female vocals, this is the album for you. Here's a link to "master of confusion"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWU1nJSCeWM&feature=related&pos=0

Above is the Second image from the "Book Thief" series, it's hanging at Grateful Head, where I am extended until the 1 rst of July and have hung most of the work from the 50 posts series.

have a good one,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

as a p.s if you need album art work I would be happy to work with you.

50 posts #6, Donated for Auction

Canadian Girl, Red Flag

12 x 12inches, acrylic on canvas

donated to auction

custom Canadian Girls can be ordered by contacting me here.

Awhile ago a friend asked me to donate a piece for auction to a charity organization she is a member of (more on this later) I of course agreed to donate a piece, I think it's impportant to give as much as you can if you are able. For years I would donate to auction for Theatre's in Toronto. I usually submit something small so the piece is guranteed to sell and the charity can benefit from the donation.

After The Press Club show I realized that I didn't have anything small - or more pointedly didn't have anything optimistic looking, as I think my current work is a little too "dark" for these kind of events, so I crafted up a more "old school/straight ahead Canadian Girl for the event. Here she is.

Taking the day off of painting to get out and wander the city with PPBJ (inside joke), I submitted more names for fb'ers to vote on, these came off the top of my head, "Quilted Crow, Our Lady of Goldfish and Funeral for Pynamas - now people probably figured out that "Funeral for Pyjamas" is the quirkiest of the bunch and so that's what we're doing now, I will probably use the other two titles as well.

I will also be posting more anecdotes, this time, people relaying their stories of the first Funeral they attended.

best,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts #5,6, wait how many ? The Trouble with Titles

Chimney Men, Canadian Girl/flood plain

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00 ea.

I am posting two because I am so exhausted I can't remember how many posts I'm at. Anyways I don't have much to say except, I decided to use the "Chimney Men" title. I then asked the folks on fb to send me titles and I would create a painting based around the titles I liked - this did not work - fb is really just a place for your pals to be pithy and that's exactly what I got. Too bad for them, because the person whose title I chose I was going to surprise them and mail them the piece as a gift. Oh well.

The Canadian Girl is back, she's taller, the mood is dark, I believe she's in Nova Scotia right now on the flood plain, so she's lucky to be wearing those Wellies.

off to die,

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days, #4 No I didn't forget.

The Book Thief

12 x12 inches, acrylic on canvas

from the series, "The Book Thief"

SOLD

(from the 50 posts in 50 days challenge)

Have been working on a couple of commissions so I just didn't have the time to post yesterday, I had to take a break from painting bicycles, that last one was driving me nuts, so I asked readers over on fb to vote on a title for the next series, and boy did they ever respond, (not really at all, 5 people voted) and the first title to win, was the above, "the Book Thief" the other choices were "chimney men" and "standing on ships".

I like this piece, I really like the title, it's been touched up a little since I posted it and the shadows of the arms are much improved.

Before going off to sleep I asked fb readers for another title, the options were, once again The Book Thief #2, Chimney Men and Canadian Girl, I haven't tallied the votes yet, (I believe there were six this time) but just check back here later in the day to see what title won.

BOOK THEFT ANECDOTES FIRST EDITION

N.D
hhhhhm I stole a Melody Maker mag years ago - for my love of T-Rex

S.D
You know, I did. I stole a Penguin Classics edition of Augustine's City of God from Ned Dickens' bookshelf.

C.L
I stole "The Omen" from an abandoned cottage when I was around 12 or 13. Had nightmares for weeks...

M.C
I stole a book of Poe poetry from the GRCI library. I wouldn't have, I took it by accident - but their book stealer alarm didn't go off, so I thought it was meant to be and didn't give it back.

M.M
i stole war and peace and dantes inferno from the Lindsay Public Library in 1987, i wanted to read them over the summer, but i knew i'd have to bring them back and be renewed a few times, and i already had $5 worth of over due fines, so i took em.

these are the people I choose to spend my time with.

A.S.Hahn

madcrafthoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #3, Save the Bicycles!

Save the Bicycles #3

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

from the series, "Save the Bicycles!"

More bicycle anecdotes.

M.M sent in," I remember my childhood girlfriend told me of driving her bike down a steep street and hitting a bump, flipping off, and landing on her eyeball. she skinned her eyeball."


R.F wrote, "The day I got my training wheels off I was so excited I rode my bike up the street on two wheels than had to stop and barf. I had just drunk 2 large glasses of Welch's grape juice, so it was a very memorable day."

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 Posts in 50 Days #2, Save the Bicycles!

Save the Bicycles #2,

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

from the series, "Save the Bicycles!"

Now that the camera is working properly, here is the second of the series, and here a two short anecdotes about cycling.

"Many, many years ago I worked as a portrait artist at Canada's Wonderland. In spite of the crappy pay and long hours, I loved that job. The only real hassle for me was the commute. Two subways and a bus to get up to Vaughn. The trip could take anywhere from forty-five minutes – if I was really lucky, to an hour and a half. On top of that, I was always sharing the bus with annoying groups of hyperactive kids. It got to the point where I decided that biking the 30km each day was a more favourable option. This worked out fine for the ride TO work, but coming home was a completely different story.

There are long stretches of Jane Street, north of Steeles, where there aren't any streetlights. It's really more of a highway at that point. Coming home at 10pm meant riding through these stretches without really being able to see anything. In spite of having a light and reflectors, I suspect I was pretty invisible to the other drivers as well. One night during my ride home a car flew past me. There's no way he was paying attention because he passed by me so closely that his sideview mirror clipped my handlebar – which spun my front wheel to the side, effectively bringing me to an instant stop and throwing me over the handlebars and into the street. The car didn't even slow down.

I must have been out for a few moments because the next thing I remember I was sitting in the middle of the road struck with panic because I was sure I was going to get run over, but as I looked ahead there wasn't a car in sight. I DID notice that the road seemed to be getting steadily brighter, though. Apparently, in my daze I mixed up which side of the street I was on, and I actually had my back to oncoming traffic. I turned around just in time to see a transport truck bearing down on me, probably less than twenty-five meters away. I was sure this was how I was going to die.Without thinking, I rolled onto the shoulder just in time to see the truck run over my bike which was still laying in the road. Again, this guy didn't even slow down, let alone check to see if I was alright.

While thankful that I was still alive, I was now faced with being stuck up in the middle of nowhere at 10:30 at night, with a busted bike. Then the second miracle happened. The only damage to my bike was that the handlebars were rotated ninety degrees – parallel with the frame. I easily rotated them back and was on my way. For the next few days I took the bus.

from M.S and here's one from A.M

Back in my somewhat-darker-clothing days, I used to bike back'n'forth to work on a regular basis (now work is too close). My bike at the time was a beat-up old cruiser my old boss "found in his basement" and handed off to me (presumably easier than taking it to the dump).

Of course, I immediately painted it flat black. The Boy of the time, though, had reservations about girls-who-wear-all-black-riding-dark-bikes-at-night and (sensibly) insisted I add some sort of reflective material.So I painted a skeletal structure on the bars using a white iridescent paint (source from Honest Ed's hardware section, of course).Seemed to work fairly well, but did nothing to improve my general lack of coordination.

So there I am, peddling my way home early one evening, mass of black locks tied up in a ribbon, black mini skirt and big'ol black platform boots, perched atop my undead bike. Ever safety-conscious (or at least having the intention to be), I was trying to make the best of a break in the traffic just before Dundas and Bathurst to make a turn up one of the side streets....When my tire got stuck in the streetcar tracks.

Next thing I knew, a little old man was dragging me and my bike off the road, my head spinning and my hand wet with blood as it covered a new gash in my chin.Quite the spectacle, I'm sure, though my hero said nothing.Later I realized it was because he was mute.

stay tuned for more, many thanks to the folks sending in their stories.

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

50 posts in 50 days, #1 Save the Bicycles!

Save the Bicycles! #1

from the series, Save the Bicyles!

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Have you ever noticed that in photos of hurricanes and tsunamis people always seem to have their bicycles with them ? I wanted to look at this in a series - simple as that - something catastrophic that cues into my love of large events illustrated through minute narrative moments. I mean really, if you take a look at my work , their are people on fire, running from floods, facing down unseen opponents, swinging axes, etc.

People in Toronto (and I imagine other parts of the globe) have a symbiotic relationship to their bicycles, they are like metal pets - I have neither a pet or a bicycle, but I wanted to explore the relationship and collect any bicycle related anecdotes to add to this series.

This is the first of the "50 Posts in 50 Days" series, I meant to post it yesterday, but I didn't have any batteries for my camera.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Also in the links section, check out "Seven Crowns Tattoo" this is where I get my work done by the Reverend Matthew Ellis, one of the finest tattoo artists in Toronto.

50 posts in 50 days

50 posts in 50 days begins this Sunday, June 7 th.
Why 50 posts ?
that's easy,

"Stock Ale" is not a number.

see you Sunday,

A.S.H

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Iner Souster and other news

I have been meaning to add this link for years, Iner's work is fantastic, you have to just go and see his stuff, he's like me and runs three or four separate blogs to show off his various interests, which are many.

I'll add more here later, but really just go to the link

FIFTY DAY CHALLENGE
For the next fifty days I am going to post one (hopefully two things) a day, whether it's a sketch for Any How Town (see links) a letter for the alphabet shoppe (see links) or a painting for here, so keep checking in to each location, or I'll use the madcraftshoppe as a hub to let you know where things are.

The Press Club show has come down, it was an amazing month, met alot of new folks, sold alot of work and saw some great bands. I purchased a print from Robin Richardson who is hanging there now, she has some nice line work and coloured prints that can be seen at www.misslexia.com the piece I bought is titled, "big bad birds" and I'll post a photo here later, when I get her permission. I do apologize to her as the walls now look like a firefight in Beirut due to the number of holes I bashed in them, so her smaller works look like they were facing a firing squad.

The good folks at the Press Club and I may make this an annual event, so I would (barring any changes in my life) show at the Cameron House in November and then at the Press Club in May - I like the space between, gives me adequate time to rest and create new work. What do you think ?

have a great day, if there are some blogs you reccomend please email me at
madcraftshoppe@live.com

A.S.H

The Lacuna Cabal, new link

We've just added "The Lacuna Cabal" to the links section, this is author (playwright, actor, banjoist) Sean Dixon's blogsite where he compiles notes and memories surrounding the writing of his novel, "the Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal".

I love collecting and keeping a record of reference material for everything that I create, but what I really enjoy is seeing other folks do it in a far more articulate way. If you love literature, you'll love his work, I've been a fan of his playwriting skills for many years, and we also worked together at the Blyth Festival many years ago. I also remember getting ready to do a scenic job in the backspace at Theatre Passe Muraille (I'm pretty sure it was TPM) and there was a play script with a eerily similar name sitting on a production table, luckily it said, "by Sean Dixon" under the header.

A.S.H

keepin'er loose

One Person On a Sea SOLD,

Three People Sitting, acrylic on canvas

3x 12 x 12 inches - $300.00


info to come, got to go grocery shopping. We're also going to shift focus over to our often neglected sister site, "the alphabet shoppe" (see links) to get a few new styles going for the summer, so check in over there in a couple of days.

A.S.H

for Jay Bennett, the Ashes of American Flags

The Ashes of American Flags, series of 4

8 x 8 inches, acrylic on canvas

SOLD

Jay Bennett the multi talented instrumentalist who played with Wilco on their three finest albums passed away this week at the age of forty five, this man was an incredibly talented musician and is responsible for what I consider the "Wilco sound" although some may dispute that. He left the band, just after the filming of "I am trying to break your heart (documentary on the recording of, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel) and was involved in a law suit regarding his royalties from the album. Normally the death of a "celebrity" doesn't affect me, but in this case, his talent and his young age really moved me.

Ashes Of American Flags lyrics
by Wilco

The cash machine is blue and green
For a bundle of twenties and a small service fee
I could spend three dollars and sixty-three cents...On Diet Coca-Cola and unlit cigarettes
I wonder why we listen to poets when nobody gives a fuck
How hot and sorrowful, the machine begs for luck
All my lies are always wishesI know I would die if I could come back new
We want a good life with a nose for things
the fresh wind and bright sky to endure my suffering
I'm a hole without a key if I break my tongue
Oh, speaking of tomorrow, how will it ever come?
All my lies are always wishes I know I would die if I could come back new
I'm down on my hands and knees every time I hear a doorbell ring
I shake like a toothache every time I hear myself sing
All my lies are only wishes,I know I would die if I could come back new
I would like to salutethe ashes of American flags
And all the fallen leavesfilling up shopping bags

here's a link to the video with great guitar work by Nels Kline

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka9Mqgx-5VA

RIP Jay Bennett

A.S.Hahn

Come to the Press Club, Saturday May 30th to hang on the patio from 6-8 pm.

fire.

Top, "Youngest Daughter of the Human Torch"

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

at the Press Club

Lyrics to "There's A Man In There" by Lester Bangs

I'd originally intended to do this piece for the series "Silver" at the Cameron House (see tag) but had conceived of the figure being a man. As the months wore on of doing the work I just didn't get around to it and had some issues with the "Shock" aspect of painting a man on fire. I decided to give it a go for the Press Club, I believe it turned out to be quite successful. This is one of those pieces like "Last of the Snake Killing Girls (see "Silver") or "Jerusalem (see paintings) that I love but no one will ever buy. I never hang my own work in my home, but this is one of those rare pieces that I would.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

As seen from the front

I Cannot Tell A Lie (Lady with an Axe series)

12 x 12 inches, acrylic on canvas

$120.00

Our Lady of the Blackbirds

16 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas

$160.00

at the Press Club, 850 Dundas West.

These could be placed in the "Silver" series very easily, both use similar subject matter to two of the pieces from the series, both of which were very popular for different reasons. The Lady with an Axe pieces had a visceral/power response from viewers, while "Woman with Crows" was seen as more majestic.

This may sound silly, but after situating my subjects on empty beaches and fields I've started moving them in from the coast and away from the prairies into forests full of trees, the above is the first of these explorations.

Though in poor focus (mostly deliberate) the figure's intense eyes focus on something that is not too far away from the reach of her axe, I thought the title said it all.

With the second piece I was trying to capture a feeling of motion in the birds, that they are exploding in flight around her, also, I want to make an effort with the next few pieces to keep the work loose, I don't want things to look too worked over and refined and just want to "daub" the painting on in "pellets" of colour to give it a more mosaic/motion/shadow feeling.

A.S.Hahn

When the Man Comes Around, Images of Death in my work

When the Man Comes Around

unsure of actual size, approx 4 x 14 inches

acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

SOLD

at the Press Club, 850 Dundas West.

Similarly to the "Field Hand" image (See post below) I wanted to create another image that placed one of the "flying hats" onto a subjects head. I painted the man in black walking away from the viewer and then was stuck as to what it meant, what it meant to me specifically. As luck would have it I was playing music in my studio - which I rarely ever do - and the Johnny Cash song came on. I added some small children's "V" birds to the image and there it was, a towering image of Death striding the land. The Cash song is about the Second Coming, but I just don't have it in me to paint Revelations - maybe next week.

There was never an official video made for the song, but here's a You Tube, it's also used incredibly well in the remake of Dawn of the Dead as the intro music for news reports detailing the Zombie plague.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRwebUK6Ko4

A.S.Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Pieces of a Larger Man

Field Hand with Raised Fist

Untitled (the Head of My Lover)

16 x 16 inches, acrylic on canvas

$160.00 each

at the Press Club, 850 Dundas West (between Euclid and Manning) until the 3 rd of June

These two images have been rolling around in my head for ages, they find their inspiration from an illustration that Gary Kelley did (at least) six years ago about the fall of Communism in Time Magazine, a toppled figure of Lenin was being carried by caricatured Communist workers, of the style usually found in Asian Propaganda posters. I've had the image pasted into a sketchbook for years, but never did anything with it.

When I was working on the "Flight" (commission) I was trying to adapt the image (through my own style) into an image of Margaret Thatcher as the client is Irish and had that anti Thatcher stance that I love so well, from my love of 2000 AD comics. Nothing came of those attempts, it felt one step removed from my own experience and I just can't fake that kind of thing in my work. As these two very different images suggest I started to find my own way to use the concept for my own work, the first "Field Hand" has a weight to it, that mostly comes from my love of the some what cheeky title. It almost coincides narratively with the images of flying hats that I've rendered several times in different formats (see. Lost Houses tab and the Press Club pieces). Connecting the hat of the Field Hand, I enjoy the "raised fist" pun quite a bit.

The second piece was going to be a companion (possibly a diptych) of another female worker carrying the head or another fist, I felt the content didn't make as much sense, visually as the field hand did. Instead I focused on the intimate aspect of the pose, with the woman's head affectionately leaned into the head of the statue, that she is hugging the head as she lifts it as opposed to carrying it off to be disposed, the raised and open eyes of the statue also imply an aspect of helplessness that make the piece more vulnerable than rebellious.

A.S Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Salon Style Hanging, two walls at the Press Club.

What's left of the West wall that is still available, top black bird with blindfold ($40.00), Rotten In Denmark ($160.00) . East wall, "The New Dress" ($300.00), Campfire Dolls Circle ($300.00), Untitled (School Play) ($300.00), "Eisler on the Go" ($120.00). I never took a shot of the the second West Wall, but I think everything on it was sold. I did of course add the hair braids interspersed around the walls, I also brought in "Raised by Plastic Wolves" and "Woman with a City" and the Rooster Rider images from The Pop Goes the Cowboy Show. So go on by the Press Club, you have until the 3 rd of June.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Fearless Nazi Killer, commission

Early days for this, but this is the "background" for a really exciting commission, it will have to be painted in layers due to it's complexity. This is the back two layers, the night sky and flaming German Uboat tower, next will be the central figure and canine companion, then the last "layer" will be the attacking enemies. Stay tuned as it develops, it will be alot of work, but hope to have it finished by the end of next week. Expect something in the style of "pulp adventure" novels/posters, think Indiana Jones as a battling Scotsman.

Hair Braids, Chignons, Ponytails etc.

Top Ponytail, Blonde Braid I, Blonde Braid II, Auburn Braid

each piece, 8 x 8 inches, acrylic on canvas

$40.00 ea

Auburn Bun, acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

16.5 x 16.5 inches

Blonde Braid, acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

16.5 x 16.5 inches

both $120.00

Available at the Press Club until the 31rst of May.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

would like to write more, hands recovering from landscaping injury

Hitchcock, the series

Rebecca (SOLD), Psycho $60.00, The Birds (SOLD)

each piece is (approx.) 11 x11 inches with reclaimed frame, acrylic on canvas.

A salute to the women of Hitchcock, Joan Fontaine, Janet Leigh and Tippi Hedren.

Rotten In Denmark, the series

To Be or Not To Be (SOLD), To Thine Own Self Be True (SOLD), Rotten In Denmark $160.00

each piece acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frames (approx.) 14 x 14 inches

at the Press Club until May 31rst

I've been searching high and low for a used copy of Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet" after a few weeks I found it for 15.00, and watched/listened to it over and over, here's what came out.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

More images, having a really great time

Top

Canadian Girl 2009, (SOLD) Lady with an Axe (4), (SOLD)

17 x17 inches, acrylic on canvas/reclaimed wood frame

Lil' Phoenix (SOLD)

11 x 11 inches, acrylic on canvas/ reclaimed wood frame

available at the Press Club, Sat. May 9th, 6-10pm

I'm going to be hanging the show on Sunday at the Press Club, this is a good day as everything should be ready to go, unfortunately I will be missing the wedding ceremony of two of my good friends who are getting married that day, nothing I can do about it, but it bothers me nonetheless.

For the rest of this week I'll be putting all the hooks and wires on these pieces, labelling things and spending time at the Press Club staring at the walls and trying to previsualize where I'm going to be hanging which pieces. I intend to use three walls, there are two available usually but Mikael is letting me cover the space. I like this idea not just for the possibility of selling more work than I could on two walls, but because when my friend Madame Hair hung her show there, she covered the space and it looked active and wakeful.

I've not stopped painting either, I'm adding new smaller works (see above/below) as the week goes on, having a really great time in the studio (even though last night I had a terribly strange dream that my Father moved me out of this space without my approval, no idea where that came from). I added the Canadian Girl as I hadn't painted one in 2009, even though it differs from the usual presentation of the C.G (See labels, Canadian Girl ) I wanted to make sure she was represented, the image "Lady with an Axe" falls into the same category, people always ask if there will be more of them, there is something about that image that really hits people in the chest,so I decided to oblige. The Lil' Phoenix was created as a mini counterpoint to the painting from the Film Stills series, "Red Birds" as I thought it would be cool to have a small one on the wall opposite the piece when I hang it.

Currently thoughts of Hamlet as bouncing around in my head, I was able to purchase a copy of Kenneth Branagh's full version this week (For an incredibly low price as it usually retails for $36.00, gulp) and the colour palette of the film astounds me and is moving my thoughts about my own palette in a new direction.

I'm finally taking down the work from the Done Right Inn, all of the pieces are from "Silver" (see tag) and there are three that I'd like to have at the Anniversary Show, or at least hang them after the sale once there's some space free on the walls. I also believe that Tony and I are taking down Pop Goes the Cowboy this weekend, but I have no idea if that's going to be Saturday, Sunday or Monday (note to self, call Cameron House today).

I'm excited about doing a "Salon" style show, I want people to just take a piece off the wall (pay for it, of course) and take it home with them, I want it to be exciting for people, that if you come with $60.00 you can have a couple of beers and leave with some art under your arm, that people will get into the intended spirit of the event.

A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

or try

madcraftshoppe@gmail.com

A. SHAY HAHN

invites you to join him and celebrate

four years of The Mad Craft Shoppe

Saturday, May 9th

6-10 pm

the Press Club

850 Dundas West

music by

Lil' Jimmy's Chicken Pickers

madcraftshoppe.blogspot.com

News etc, more to come

Three birds

acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame, 9.5 x 9.5 inches

price TBA

First up here's the link to the article on the Liberty Boot Company from Saturday's Globe and Mail.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090426.wINClibertyboots0425/BNStory/incubator/
I've also added another link down below, "Adventures in Schnooville" is a wonderful, personal blog kept by a modern dilletante named Schnoo, it's a good read, her honesty is to be admired.

The event on Saturday at Grateful Head will be rescheduled, probably in the first week of June due to unforeseen unforeseeenstances, stay tuned to this space as more is known, the work is still there, hours and directions are listed in a post below.

We hang the show at The Press Club on Sunday, I'll be adding more images to the blog this week, really looking forward to this party to celebrate the past four years of hard work, really I've been working as a professional painter since 1996, but it's only been the past four years that I've been able to say I do this work "full time". The Opening is Saturday, May 9th from 6-10 pm, it will be a hootenanny,bring friends, the patio will also be open so we can chill outside if it gets a little too busy indoors.

In brain news I will be painting and listening to Hamlet over and over again, current thoughts are that the next show, at the Cameron House in November (that's right facebook no more pesky invites for awhile) will be based around, inspired, motivated by the melancholy Dane, not sure how, but it's a strong gut feeling. There may be sketches cropping up here through the summer.

Also welcome to the world Jack Vincent Sutton and Dekker Quinn Kozak-Goebbels !

There will be more news throughout the day as I get caught up on things around the Shoppe
A.S.H

Long boards

Woody Guthrie Concert

Eisler on the Go

acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

12 inches x 30.5 inches

price TBA

available at The Mad Craft Shoppe's Fourth Anniversary Party at THE PRESS CLUB,

May 9th 6-10 pm

ya gotta be there to get em.

more to come.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Fourth Anniversary Sale at the Press Club

All Pieces
acrylic on canvas, reclaimed wood frame

price TBA

available at THE PRESS CLUB (850 Dundas West)

Sat. May 9th, 6-10 pm

Here are some of the works that will be available, for advance price inquiries contact me at

madcraftshoppe@live.com

more to come.

ATTENTION: Still have to tweak the email function so just copy and paste the address into your email message. sorry for the delay.

Just A Touch More Liberty

Untitled (Top) Bandida (middle) The Lone R_______

acrylic on canvas,16 x 20 inches

two hundred and fifty dollars

from the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House, March 29- May 4rth

Opening Reception, Wed, April 1rst, 6-8 pm

I had a couple more in me, actually I have two more after this to add to the series, the Opening was a blast with The Innards Bros., The Rattlesnake Choir, an ocean of chili a ton of chicken wings and smiles all around, thatnks to all who came.

To purchase contact A.Shay Hahn

madcraftshoppe@live.com

The Alphabet Shoppe, here are some directions

I recently had someone try to show a friend the kids letters that I do, but they were unable to locate it, so if you haven't visited this site or my other two blogs (yep, two) before here's how to get to "the alphabet shoppe", just scroll down the right side of this blog, past the "labels" section, until you get to "links" where there is a link posted that says, "children's letters, art for the kids " This will take you to the alphabet shoppe blog site, which I also run, and there you can see all the groovy art for kids and the young at heart.

To get to "Any How Town" my online comic go the link (same section) that says, " Any How Town, A.S Hahn's online comic.

I hope this helps,

A.S.H

Anniversary Party at the Press Club and other locations

Patsy Cline

20 x24 inches, acrylic on canvas

four hundred dollars,

from the show "Pop Goes the Cowboy" (see info below.)

It's coming folks, the mad craft shoppe will celebrate their 4rth Anniversary at The Press Club (850 Dundas West, between Euclid and Manning) on the 9th of May from 7-10 with a "Salon" style show of many works old and new and incredible celebratory prices. Lil' Jimmys Chicken Pickers will be playing. It's gonna be a hootenanny, stay tuned to this space for more news.

Pop Goes the Cowboy at the Cameron House, March 29th - May 4rth, Opening Reception April First from 6-9, with Col. Tom Parker and The Rattlesnake Choir.

Grateful Head, new and old works, April 1rst - May 29th, right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park on Dundas, see posted hours below.

The Done Right Inn, works from Silver, hanging there until they come down, which may be never, Queen West right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.

Grateful Head, showing in April and May

Scissors I & II

24 x20 inches, acrylic on canvas

$400.00 each

showing at "Grateful Head" April 1rst- May (?)

Dundas & Montrose (right across from Trinity Bellwoods Park)
1006 Dundas Street WestToronto, ON

Hours of operation:Monday: 1pm - 7pm Tuesday: 12pm - 8 pmWednesday: 12 - 6Thursday: 12pm - 8pmFriday: 12pm - 8pmSaturday: 11am - 6pmSunday: closed

I'll be showing work from, "Silver", "Fables" and a few new pieces at Grateful Head for the month of April and also May (I think), there won't be an Opening for this exhibition, but feel free to drop in to have a look around and get your hair cut at the cool salon, cds by local artists are also available here.

madcraftshoppe@live.com

see you at Pop Goes the Cowboy on Wednesday, 6-9 pm.

And God Created...Redux

And God Created...The Cow

And God Created...The Horse

acrylic on canvas, twenty four x twenty four inches

$400.00

from the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House,

Opening Reception, April 1rst, 6-9 pm

I was never happy with these two pieces, never had the right focus for either piece (See tag to the right) so I thought it would be great to pull them out for this show and fix them up, The skies were too blue, the figures were too blurry, the hands looked like really cheap, knock offs of (insert artist's name I forgot here) hands. This is when I enjoy myself most as a painter, I have so many cheap plastic dollar store animals lying around I just pick them up, figured out a reasonable hand position and did them. Originally I'd wanted to do an entire series of them but got sidetracked with other things. I

Two Hundred and Fifty Posts.

I don't usually just blog for blogging's sake, but I'm just having a bitch of a day. I'm pretty lucky/disciplined when it comes to my time at the easel. Today it just isn't happening, nothing is going as planned, I find myself distracted and bothered etc. So I will go have a bath and then maybe work on some things that are completely unrelated to Any How Town, Pop Goes the Cowboy or anything else, maybe that will dislodge this fist sized tumour that has lodged itself in my head.

Had a hot bath, had supper, went for a quick,brisk freeze my ass off walk, met a friend for a pint, asked friends to send me some random words to construct a drawing around, starting drawing, was enjoying that and just messed the board, this day is a total write off. This kind of shit should not be happening right now.

A.S Hahn

Fringe Kids submissions

This was a pleasant distraction for a couple of days, these were submitted to the Toronto Fringe for their "Fringe Kids" poster contest, which is probably painfully obvious and not worth typing, but I did anyway. Not sure when the winner will be announced. I like them both.

Little People, Large Animals

Untitled (Ostrich), Untitled (Pig) SOLD Ares (third) Desperado SOLD

acrylic on canvas16 x 20 inches

two hundred and fifty dollars

From the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House,

Opening Reception, Wed, April 1rst, 6-8 pm

madcraftshoppe@live.com

Still haven't fixed the email link, so copy and paste in your provider to contact me.

Here's a link to the Rattlesnake Choir myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/rattlesnakechoir

Col. Tom Parker will also be playing. It's gonna be a party folks.

A.S Hahn

More Liberty ( I like the way that sounds)

from top

Royal Eagle, Sunflower, Opium, Killaz 2, Butterfly '06 2

27.5 x 20 inchesmixed media on illy board$500.00from the series, "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House, March 29-30.

Opening Reception, Wed, April 1rst, 6-8 pm

UPDATE I guess I should note here that these are NOT finished pieces, I've continued working on all the boards for the show so things have improved greatly. The finished boards will be posted at the end of the week before I hang the show. I would not hang any of these in their current state.

Liberty Boots, POP GOES THE COWBOY, cont'd

This was the first piece that I started when the idea of the show was proposed, it feels like an overdone sketch, but really isn't very successful, I doubt that it will be included in the show. It's pretty immature, but you have to start somewhere and since I don't usually sketch this is where I began. I like the lettering and will use them in the next "Killaz" piece, which I"m starting now (5:15am) .That hat, which is based on the "Killaz" toe design looks fucking ridiculous and I'm punching myself in the balls for even conceiving of it.

A.S.H

I can't be happy with the work, until I'm happy with the work, so there may be some big changes to these pieces the closer we get to the date of hanging the show, I thought originally I would do nine pieces and be done, but since I"m working in a different way than usual I have to keep coming back to the pieces and changing them and doing new ones. I had to get this far with the work, in order to break the rules.

Killaz,

Psychedelic Devil

Butterfly '06

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

Matchbox Rooster

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

Here's four more, read all about it below.

POP GOES THE COWBOY at the Cameron House

Brody Rocks

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

Classical Bugs

27.5 x 20 inches, mixed media on illy board

$500.00

The Opening party for "Pop Goes the Cowboy" at the Cameron House will be on April 1rst from 6-8 pm, there will be a band, maybe Rattlesnake Choir and perhaps we'll be blesses with catering by Mimi. Pop Goes the Cowboy is the Liberty Boot Co.'s yearly show of Tony Bennatar's amazing cowboy boots, this year he is joined by yours truly, A.Shay Hahn, I'm illustrating nine or ten different styles of Liberty Boots for you to marvel at.

A.S Hahn

Theatre Series

The Lighting Designer

sixteen x twenty inches

acrylic on canvas

SOLD.

more on this later.

Had to use most of the day to continue touch ups and corrections on the last two pieces from the "Flight" series, there were aspects of both pieces that were driving me batshit and could not let them leave the studio as they were. It's 2:42 and I feel much better about both of them and can now move onto "the Liberty Boot" project which will now eat my entire weekend. So I hope the weather sucks even worse than today so I won't be tempted to leave the house until I have to work at the pub.

A.S Hahn

Best laid plans.

Always feel like a bit of a liar when I post something and then I realize that what I think is possible ends up being impossible, I may have a couple of pieces for Friday, but instead of finishing them all, I started a new piece for the Liberty Show, so that's six on the go right now. I also realize that I originally intended to do 10 pieces for the show, but if I want them all to be at a quality that I am content with I can only do nine.

While I'm throwing myself into this new venture, I would reccomend buying something.

Saturday Update: It's great having a short break to look at the six pieces, I am confident that I can finish one a day for the next six days (starting Monday) and have them posted, then work on the next three. This is the best route that I can take, luckily each of the six is more than halfway completed so I should be able to get through them in fine style, it's the lettering that kills me, and the layers, they kill me too. Stay tuned for some hot cowboy boot action.

A.S.H

Lots of news...cont'd.

Hey folks, hop on over to my online comic "Any How Town" to read about why I'm even bothering to do an online comic. See the links section.

best, A.S Hahn

Oh and I almost forgot, click the One Thousand Fiances Tag, I forgot how much I love those paintings until I put them in a row together, someone should buy the remaining three as a set.