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81 Friday 1981 JeanAlain Raffaili lives to paint By Linda It peaceful setting- trees rolling hills and a craggy face of Ihe gara Escarpment decor in a fresh blanket of Tranquil exudes from every corner of this luxurious farm setting off Highway north of Mil For 3G year old French bom painter Jean Alain It is the perfect way His refuge from city chaos Is an old chicken house on the farm con to an outdoor The oil and artist who is recognized across Europe with stu In France and Mex calls Milton home for several months every year A student of the art academies of Sienna and Florence he has also died at Alxen Provence BARBERS GIFTS AMD JEWEUEBY Store Expansion Complete OVER SQUARE FEET OF DISPLAY SPACE INCLUDING A greatly expanded line of furniture Items made In oak pine or cherry A3 WELL AS Beautiful leather chairs couches and love seats larger collection of western Items featuring boots vests hats bejts denim blazers jackets etc Motorcycle leather garments Beautiful new spring and summer fashions n elegant leather and suede A Groat Race TO Visit During March Break OPEN DAYS EVERY WEEK Monday Friday a Saturday Sunday 10a m 6pm imtheccmtub TllCCftCR0S5inij and Strasbourg In France More recently his works hove won him grants from Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council In September he presented his first public Canadian Exhibition at Gallery in Tor onto of abstract and a scries of still life though art has played an important role it has only been during he past seven years Jean Alain I as attempted to make It his means of support It is not easy being and he admits lit must be prepared to do other work to support his first Thai Is not cult for seasoned globclrot he has crisscrossed the world as an airline steward lor years for Air France and a private African airline He has been a gardener and a dishwasher Trained In hotel management he ran a hotel business In France and has worked in Paris Germany and England He now frequently merits his artistic income with his cooking talents at the farm home of his Milton The artist has always worked paint or to learn more about painting Jean s arrival in Canada came about quite unexpectedly seven years ago He was catering on a luxur yacht in Monte Carlo when he met up with the owner of ihe Mil Impressed with his work and obvious cation the man the artist to Canada to spend some time paint Ing He accepted Jean Alain We are open Monday through Wednesday for fight snacks andunches Thursday and Friday we are open until 8pm for dinner Drop in on Saturday we are open from noon until 3 lie 72 Mill St 8771237 rked for two weeks The first time I came was in the fall I had never seen such colors There was a sense of openness space I wal ked the Bruce Trail every day Here you can find peace Every year that first occasion he has re turned lo the Milton farm from Europe in time to catch spring Two years ago he be came a landed Canadian immigrant During his stay in Canada he will spend Ihrec or four months painting in oils and His converted old chic ken house studio style Is nothing new He remembers renting a cheap studio In Italy a century castle chamber near Florence Cold and damp it held few of he romantic con notations found in fairy tales He feels his extensive I ravel has benefitted his art Undefeated champ Once again the Rabbit Diesel has the best fuel economy in Canada Rabbit Diesel BAZ MOTORS LTD 8776288 or Toronto OPENSA1VRDA FOR SALES- It gave me an outlook More than anything else I am aware of In many ways it was a training a means of pre paring myself is an art isl He describes as in abstract ex press ion is His work has included nude studies flowers and sports scenes such as horses and water polo Much of the art has been done in the Spcysidc and reflects his love of color Always the color is vivid It is very import ant Unless I am sad and the colors arc then sad and grey he said Like any other artist his work is means of self expression 1 always paint It is my way to express my self All your feelings A painting can take anywhere from lo three or four months complete He points out not every piece of artwork can come out as planned Not everything can be good You have to des troy a lot to get one that is really good Fascinated by other mediums he has with lithography In addition to oils and There are no financial guarantees as an artist but that doesn seem to bother Jean Alain find it difficult to part with some of my work is like a diary something very per And while success is sweet it is not necessary I love painting so much that I don feel I have to succeed I would rather fail something that I like than in something I don like he explained Critical of com painters whose sole purpose is an in come he avoids painting what sells I hope t stay honest with my work You must always bo yourself and true to yourself He feels fortunate to be doing something that has few lies I feel lucky to be able to do lhing3 I want when I want ho said But artist also leads a lonely existence by common standards When you wanl to be an nobody can interfere Your work mast be your first priority That Is why so many live alone like a monk A bachelor he finds hard sometimes to be alone but he doesn Continued on 15