ARTIST: Roy Slavin, Slavin Studios
Painter of “nowhere man” series

Roy Slavin is ‘bashful’ about calling himself an artist. He is an experimentalist, a machine builder, an automation junkie, a programmer, a painter, an engineer, a skier, a lawyer, a husband and most importantly, a grandfather. An accomplished businessman, he retired from a career as CEO of several public companies in the industrial automation area at the age of 55. It was only then that Roy discovered he could combine his industrial background with the creative process to make engaging works of art.

“Nowhere man”, the namesake of Roy’s paintings, was inspired by the lyrics of the Beatles song of the same name. “Since my early twenties I’ve been compelled by the idea that I am a nowhere man in a nowhere land making nowhere plans. In reality, I’ve accomplished a lot, but have always felt that I am still nowhere. Perhaps the figures in my paintings are along for the same ride.”

The figures in Roy’s paintings do portray this sentiment. Usually solo or alongside similar figures, the ‘nowhere man’s’ slightly tilted head gives the viewer pause to consider where he may be going or from where he came and inviting you to come along for your own, personal journey.

Roy’s process involves working with plaster impregnated gauze, acrylic paints, concrete, netting, and other industrial materials. These unconventional elements all find their way into his 3-dimensional pieces and emanate into spectacular bursts of color on playful textures to drive a mood that is both captivating and soothing all at once.

Slavin gets a unique feeling or finds himself wrapped up in a story that drives the creation of each of his pieces. He paints them in ‘mood’ and chooses the colors, positions, medium, and situation specific to each piece. He is in a constant search to find new ways and new media on which to develop the nowhere man characters.

Roy’s neighbor, a middle school art teacher, inspired him to study art…which he did just long enough to know he prefers the casual, abstract nature of his nowhere man pieces over more formalized styles. “I started out as an artist painting with acrylic…then started trying all kinds of mediums…and methods of applying those mediums to canvas. I soon realized that this constant experimentation with material and process was an essential element of my artistic expression.” Roy is clearly a slave to the industrial, technical side of his creative process.

Born and raised in DC, Brooklyn, and Detroit, Roy Slavin is now nestled in beautiful Laguna Beach, Ca. with his wife, Melba, an accomplished potter.

Roy Slavin does have a point of view. And we’re glad he shares it with us through his art.

Nowhere Man - The Beatles
He’s a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans
For nobody.

Doesn’t have a point of view,
Knows not where he’s going to,
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man, please listen,
You don’t know what you’re missing,
Nowhere man, the world is at your command.

He’s as blind as he can be,
Just sees what he wants to see,
Nowhere man can you see me at all?
Doesn’t have a point of view,
Knows not where he’s going to,
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man, don’t worry,
Take your time, don’t hurry,
Leave it all till somebody else
Lend you a hand.

He’s a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans
For nobody.