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Roy Uptain

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If you are interested in learning more about my art process or have a question, please shoot me a message. I’d love to hear from you.

royuptain

“Personal Problems”/For S.U. (Modular Memorial “Personal Problems”/For S.U. (Modular Memorials Series) 
 Laser printed copy paper April 2024
@samfox_mfa_va @1800_g_cadd
Where have all the flowers gone? Charcoal, flower Where have all the flowers gone? 
Charcoal, flowering apple tree, Chemlights
March, 2024
@samfox_mfa_va 

How do you keep searching for meaning, connection, belonging when you feel alone in the dark? 

When I was in boot camp, we would go on long ruck marches that would last late into the night. Carrying 80 lb. of gear along miles of dirt road and forest trails in silence and pitch dark has a way of wearing on you mentally and physically. Often, soldiers would become exhausted and fall behind. Sometimes, drill sergeants would leave glowing Chemlights along the path, showing them the way forward through the night. 

In these stressful circumstances, Chemlights became a symbol of hope for me. They also remind me of our limitations. Each Chemlight is unique in how long it emits its light–but all eventually fade. Our time is limited, but it gives us a chance to bring love and light into this world. For me, this piece is a reminder to choose hope and find other people to share my light with, even on dark days when it's all too easy to feel lost and alone.

#artinstallation #memorial #contemporaryart
A Few Notes on Bear Attacks and the Absurdity of D A Few Notes on Bear Attacks and the Absurdity of Death/For M.U. | Video Projection on Mylar Blanket | October 2023

Emergency blankets, made from vaporized aluminum and a thin sheet of plastic, are one of the most common items found in first aid and emergency response kits. Their light weight and ability to repel wind and water while retaining body heat make them useful during natural or man-made disasters or during personal emergencies like hypothermia. They are also used in substitution of a body bag to cover a corpse, thus becoming an accidental shroud–an impromptu memorial. 

This work is an in memoriam for my brother, Mark, who died from a grizzly bear attack in 2018. The light projected onto the emergency blanket is reflected back onto the walls and visitors. It creates rich fractal patterns reminiscent of northern lights or the light reflected through forest leaves and the crystal-clear pools of mountain streams like the ones where Mark taught me how to fly fish. 

This work creates a space of quiet where beauty and loss are allowed to mingle as a vibrant and joyful life is remembered and its passing mourned. 

#newmediaart #artinstallation #memorial
07.11.23 (Modular Memorials Series) Laser print o 07.11.23 (Modular Memorials Series) 
Laser print on copy paper 
February, 2023

After the stillbirth of my third child I started taking night walks with my camera and capturing moments of a world that felt unfamiliar—strangely untethered. The photo in this piece comes from that time. I think of this work as much as a shroud at it is a photo, painting, or object. 

#samfox #mfa #installation #
Happy Saturday from the mighty muddy Mississippi # Happy Saturday from the mighty muddy Mississippi #stl
Here is the Q&A portion of my artist talk on PAINT Here is the Q&A portion of my artist talk on PAINTING//WAR. I hope you find something meaningful in it. 🇺🇦
Id like to share a few of the insights I’ve had Id like to share a few of the insights I’ve had after painting the war in Ukraine for a year. Thanks to @goedickes_scarlows for the opportunity to show these pieces. And thank you to everyone who came out to participate in this conversation. 🇺🇦
If you’re interested in my latest series and wou If you’re interested in my latest series and would like to learn more about my paintings and process, I’d like to invite you to an artist talk followed by a Q&A this Saturday at 2:00 PM @goedickes_scarlows Can’t wait to see you there!
#ukraine #ukrainewar #abstractpainting #contemporaryart #researchbasedart #oilpainting #contemporarypainting
Zed | 36”x36” | Oil on canvas #ukrainewar #c Zed | 36”x36” | Oil on canvas 

#ukrainewar #casualty #abstractpainting #contemporaryart #researchbasedart #oilpainting #contemporarypainting
Having a tea at @goedickes_scarlows and feeling th Having a tea at @goedickes_scarlows and feeling the support of all the friends and family who are cheering me on. Thank you all. 🫶
Here are a few of the paintings I’m taking over Here are a few of the paintings I’m taking over to @goedickes_scarlows for my exhibit opening next Monday. I hope they start interesting conversations about the way we envision war. #ukraine #ukrainewar #abstractpainting #contemporaryart #researchbasedart #oilpainting #contemporarypainting
UXO | 30”x40” | May 2022 | Oil on Canvas Here UXO | 30”x40” | May 2022 | Oil on Canvas  Here is a little bit of my thought process while I’m painting. 🤔 #ukrainewar #russianmissile #abstractpainting #contemporaryart #researchbasedart #oilpainting #contemporarypainting #gravitysrainbow
Smoke/Popasna, September 2022, 36”x48”, Oil on Smoke/Popasna, September 2022, 36”x48”, Oil on Canvas

On July 2nd, 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a Russian ammo depot in Popasna in Eastern Ukraine.

Watching this video gave me a sense of deja vu–like I had seen this image before and knew I would see it again. 

I had seen this image in hundreds of paintings and history books. But most of these images came from news coverage I witnessed while the events unfolded. 

Historically, clouds have been used by artists as a vehicle for exploring concepts at the core of their artistic vision. As Sotheby’s says in an article about Study For Clouds (Contre-Jour) by Gerhard Richter, “Clouds, being clouds, are intangible, shapeless, formless, always in flux. They are a boon for artists wanting to symbolize a subject matter out of their control.” 

To me, the substitution of serene cloudscapes with smoke (from tear gas, wildfires, terrorist attacks) is a sign of our times–a world out of our control.
Here’s something a little different for day 9 of Here’s something a little different for day 9 of figuary. 🤪 Why does figure drawing (or in this case a combo drawing and digital composite) matter? It reminds us how many roles we try to fill, consciously or unconsciously, for ourselves and others. #figuary2022 #figuredrawing #drawingchallenge
Bare. Open. Naked. Exposed. 🙈 One thing I real Bare. Open. Naked. Exposed. 🙈

One thing I realized upon moving back to Wyoming from Georgia was how few trees there are here. 🌳 Trees obstruct the view and create layers out of places as objects and homes are revealed and hidden. It's like the landscape is playing a constant game of peek-a-boo. 

In Wyoming, everything is out in the open. There is an air of directness in the way that places reveal themselves that is reflected in the way people address each other. It can be both refreshing and abrasive. 

I think these photos capture a piece of that complexity. 

#wyomingthroughthelens
🎨 + 📸 + 🏘 = 🎉 I love painting. But I 🎨 + 📸 + 🏘 = 🎉

I love painting.

But I've also noticed that I love snapping photos of different things that catch my eye. I find myself drawn to the shape, color or aura that a place or object has. 

Also, much of my painting is tied to the place where I am from. I find that walking the streets and having photographs from around town adds a crucial aspect to my creative process. 

So I'm taking a page out of the #ChristopherWool playbook and adding #streetphotography to the mix. I hope you enjoy these snaps.
With my most recent painting, I introduced a new m With my most recent painting, I introduced a new material into my studio practice. Wallpaper is amazing! 💐
I’m happy to advocate for one of my favorite art I’m happy to advocate for one of my favorite art organizations. @art_321_casper has been doing tremendous work creating a safe space for authentic creative expression. 🎨 Also, @stengelmedia is where it is at for next level videography! 🎥
Drawing experiments with figures. Those eyes thoug Drawing experiments with figures. Those eyes though. 👁
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 #drawing #sketching  #letsdraw #draw #painting #digitalart #penandinkart #penandinkdrawing  #figuredrawing #portraiture #portraitart #drawings #realisticdrawing #realisticart #realism #instaart #arte #art #makeart #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist
Drawing experiments with plants (Acanthus mollis) Drawing experiments with plants (Acanthus mollis) and plane wings...
#drawing #sketching  #letsdraw #draw #painting #digitalart #penandinkart #penandinkdrawing  #figuredrawing #portraiture #portraitart #drawings #realisticdrawing #realisticart #realism #instaart #arte #art #makeart #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist
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© 2023 Roy Uptain