These four young artists really made an impression in 2003. Look for them to grow in 2004
Oscar de las Flores
He draws incredibly complex scenarios that mix baroque and Mad magazine styles.
DESCRIBE YOUR ART : "Grotesque and impudent yet forceful and elegant."
IN 2003 : Popped up in group shows at S.P.I.N. and the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, and won top spot in the annual juried drawing competition at the John B. Aird Gallery.
2003 HIGHLIGHT: "Trinidad Carnival, for sure – everyone must experience it."
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION : "To get a dealer."
LOOKING FORWARD TO : "Travelling to some unexpected country."
UPCOMING FOR 2004 : "I will be participating in some group shows in 2004 and will try to land a solo somewhere if I get lucky."
Tiff Izsa
DESCRIBE YOUR ART : "Not painting. Not for sale."
IN 2003 : Made a splash with smashing programming at her temporary Ne Plus Ultra Project Space, then returned to art-making with a great solo show in which she covered an entire the Katharine Mulherin gallery space, inside and out, with cardboard.
2003 HIGHLIGHT: "Impermanent relocation to Düsseldorf, Germany."
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION : "To come to terms with the fact that whenever I tell a person I'm an artist they will almost certainly ask: What do you paint?"
LOOKING FORWARD TO : "Fame, fortune, adventure and a challenge. Call me an optimist."
UPCOMING FOR 2004 : "I've been working on an idea for a site-specific intervention/installation for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, as well as various other activities as yet unconfirmed."
Nathan James
DESCRIBE YOUR ART : "Thievery."
IN 2003 : His paintings, worked up from borrowed imagery and given some serious flair, appeared in shows at Greener Pastures and Gallery Death.
2003 HIGHLIGHT: "Sonya."
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION : "Be a better listener."
LOOKING FORWARD TO : "Michael Jackson's trial."
UPCOMING FOR 2004 : "Group show at Fran Hill in January and a duet with Andy DeCola at Gallery Neubacher opening March 4."
Derek Sullivan
DESCRIBE YOUR ART : "Loosely taped together."
IN 2003 : Worked his way into two group exhibitions at YYZ, the earlier of which displayed his skill at constructing architectural model worlds with post-conspicuous-consumption items.
2003 HIGHLIGHT: "The view from the top of Victory Tower in Berlin, hung over, 8 am."
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION : "Road trip to Marfa, Texas."
LOOKING FORWARD TO : "Midnight, December 31, and Mercer Union's Dirty New Year's Eve Party."
UPCOMING FOR 2004 : "Research and drawing, plus a project for an independent designers fair at the Gladstone in February with James Carl and Christy Thompson." 
thmoas@nowtoronto.com