Meet Wiliam Day!
William Day is an American painter known for his large-scale compositions of colorful shapes and energetic marks. Now living in Boulder, Colorado, Day can often be found in his studio working on multiple pieces at the same time. His process leads him to create paintings in series, each focusing on different nuances of the human experience. His works are comprised of textures and complex layers demonstrating his interaction with a canvas in a moment. These series of paintings all nod to certain periods of Day’s life that bring years of intensity, joy, spirituality, conflict and resolution to the canvas.
Learn more about William in our Q+A below!
How did your business come to exist?
A turning point in my life were the events surrounding September 11th, 2001 when my wife Aimee narrowly survived the collapse of the World Trade Towers. After that experience, I ended up leaving my career in finance and went on to study architecture, which in turn led me to painting. I knew I had to change so I could adapt to the world, embrace my creative spirit, and start living from my heart, and that's when my artistic soul came alive. I believe we all reach a point in our lives where we have to make a choice and it's a call to action. To act from a place of authenticity within ourselves, while sometimes not knowing what and when that is, but still a place where we are reminded we can do great things. When I decided to move from acting from a place of fear to instead a place of courage and adventure it became a very spiritual journey. I learned to let go of that fear and work from the heart. That's when I started to embrace the creative side of myself.
What are you known for?
I am known for creating a series of large-scale arrangements of colorful shapes and innate energy, each series reflecting on a concept around the human experience. Working in oils and acrylics, my work digs deeper into the relationship between these contemporary structures and layered textures, helping people find a personal connection to my paintings. I primarily work in my studio in Boulder where I can create these often towering pieces. My goal is to always change how we inspire each other through art and to help heal through more of a positive relationship with the people around me.
What are you working on right now?
Each year I tackle a different emotion or premise to explore. Right now I am working on some conceptual ideas around rebirth and freedom. I am asking questions like, "how do we move forward in a time of a pandemic?" And "how do we help each other rediscover joy and curiosity again?". I want viewers and collectors to look within themselves to change the narrative when experiencing the work. To be able to take a deep breath and open their minds to being curious, hopeful, and playful again.
What is your biggest challenge?
The constant challenge is to believe in yourself and trust what you're creating. To connect to people but to also stay curious and to learn how to see and be receptive to new things around you; to be open so you can receive these incredible spiritual influences and curiosity triggers. I often find that I need to be in a place of joy and happiness so I can create joy and happiness within my work. Sometimes that can also be a challenge to pull from those emotions; to figure out what I'm going to say to the world and say something that will make an impact.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in every experience in life using my family, community, spirituality, and looking inward. I have also found inspiration in the call to action I felt after 9/11, and found the motivation to pursue my art. Those events shattered my confidence, hope, courage, and from that darkness arose this incredible light. I was allowed to realign with my creative self, and that is a sustainable source of inspiration is something I draw on to this day.
Get in touch with William
Instagram: @willdayart
Website: www.willdayart.com/
Check out Will Day’s show at Black Lab Sports in Boulder! Now through mid-August!
BOULDER, Colorado (MAY 4, 2022)- Will Day to open his 2022 solo show titled “BREAKOUT” at Black Lab Sports in Boulder. Day, a painter known for his large-scale and contemporary abstract style, will exhibit his new collection of paintings that reflect Day’s theme surrounding reset and breaking out.
His work speaks to a unique set of trials and tribulations of our contemporary times. He views the entirety of the world through a lens of abstraction, bringing the intangible elements of life and the universe into visual representations.
“Making the familiar look new,” Day says about the artwork. “How can we break out of the old and find the new? I want to be a spark and provide an outlet to engage people to be more curious and hopeful.”
“My intent with this body of work is to reflect nature resetting and renewing. It was my goal to share these emotions on canvas, using vibrant colors and heavy textures that I have not used before but nevertheless felt familiar to me.”
Among the work, attendees can expect to see Day’s painting “Rising” in the show, a multilayered, vividly textured piece true to his contemporary abstract style. Using the purity of colors seen commonly in the spring season, Day replicates the explosion of nature’s renewal in bold brush strokes and arresting visual elements. This fresh portrayal of spring is only rivaled by the season itself.
The exhibit will be hosted by Jean-Paul O'Brien of Black Lab Sports. “Will Day is a key component to our ecosystem, questioning the world around us,” says O'Brien. "I hope you will be inspired and challenged by Day and his latest collection.”
If you are a local artist/crafter/maker/indie business owner and would like to be featured on our blog, please fill out this form or contact Ashley at ashley@westandmainhomes.com with questions...we can't wait to learn all about you!
