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ROTA Ye J Rat ONT A Ler NLS Slt Tigh AY VFI GN > 1 ot Dadi) Ha AL ALANA I A Sa MR SCH RI L Cinta AS ln aA d id bch inci H 5 NAO 2» r 4 \ > ¥ r 4 y y Much of his work has been New York City streetscapes. SECOND A N ew le ei SECTION "Ya ever see those movies about the Indians who are so keen they can hear a twig SE * » | RZ L4 or 2 3 » LYRE 4 y | ® - Ph i re it was painted. Elliott with painting of Fifth Ave. photographed from whe MNS Fa Ral ¥ w TALE SRL ET YT rid 4 AEA 0) PRITINRANINE A AFORE IA BE FRPRI SOTERA A Th VV SNF, SR ATER Elliott stretches a canvas Yorker in Scugog: snap?" smiles Elliott Kos- loff, reflecting on the city's crime problem, "Well, New Yorkers are like Indians. They're always listening for the twig snapping behind them." Not that Elliott dislikes New York. After living there all his life and painting New York streetscapes for almost half his life, the 40-year-old artist claims there's simply no other place like it in the world, despite the muggings and rapes and high crime. So what's a big city Jewish boy doing in the Scugog hinterlands? 'Maybe I'll learn to paint a cow..." Elliott, whose informal ap- pearance and manner re- flects someone half his age, was born in Brooklyn 40 years ago. Asked how he maintains his youthful ap- pearance and attitudes, Elliott says he doesn't quite know. "I guess it is when you have an interest. My art keeps me this way... alive and interested." What will probably happen, quipped Elliott, is that he'll go into a slump, "and collapse all at once instead'. Like most people of his profession, Kosloff puts a great deal of value on experi- ence. He readily admits that the move to Scugog Town- ship a couple of months ago will probably effect his art, although the decision to move here wasn't that care- fully thought out. When the invitation to move to a vacant farmhouse north of Manchester was issued, Elliott and compan- ion Rose Walsh took no longer than 90 seconds to decide to go. But Rose and Elliott won't parrot the often-heard criticism of the rat race. "We both love New York. I'm a New Yorker...it's in my blood and I guess it always will be," said Elliott. "The move here to us is a new experience, a chance to grow." How long will he stay? "We have no ideas about moving on..back to New York. I suppose you might call it permanent move... Learning to paint a tree but don't ask how long 'per- manently' is." If life experiences helps create good artists, then Elliott is well on his way. Son of Russian-Jewish immi- grants of "peasant" upbring- ing in New York's '""Brown- stones' district, Elliott's artistic skills were starting to show at 15 years old, when cartooning was his main interest. He enlisted in the army at 18, however, and was stat- ioned in Germany. "I tried to be a good soldier," smiles Kosloff, with a slight hint of sarcasm. "I thought I might turn into one...but I never did." He concluded that it was 'beyond the capabilities of a young Jew- ish boy from Brooklyn to do it, "But I tried." , Aided by the G.I. bill (fin- ancial assistance for post- service education) he atten- ded one of the best-known art schools in the city. A couple of years at the Cooper Union School and he knew whatche wanted to do for the rest of his life. Although he still considers himself a "struggling artist', he's to the point where his reputation, cre- dentials and experience are more than enough to interest most galleries anywhere. His paintings have gone for as high as $2,000., but he readily admits that it cer- tainly isn't "the high-priced stuff". Personal success, Elliott points out, can Mardly be measured by ~ the selling price of a painting. But he's had a one man show in New York, and his work hangs in some of the best galleries. He's been painting for about 20 years now. His favourite subject for the past 10 years has been the city of New York. He's painted some of the most famous streets in New York "1 literally painted on the streets," said Elliott. After only a few weeks in Scugog, Elliott marvels at the quiet of the place. "You open the window and you hear...nothing," he said. "In New York, the noise just never stops." "It's something you have to get used to..." i ir Co RITR SICA N vo TN ES -~ AT LR ROC ys IAD BG ~ x v ELTA vey a a Wy ; { £0 Be k. 3