A Radiant Conversation with Will Day
Photo credit Kori Stanton
William Day is an American contemporary abstract artist based in Colorado who draws from his origins in architecture. Will’s work has been displayed across the USA in galleries such as The Messinger Gallery, The McLoughlin Gallery and elsewhere. Will’s work can be found in private and public collections worldwide that include the Denver Broncos, and Water for People, and elsewhere. I had the honor of asking Will some questions about the themes he tries to create through his art, and how his background in architecture influences his art and so much more.
UZOMAH: How does abstract art help you tell a story?
WILLIAM: My paintings are a rebirth; they are an immersive dance of color, movement, curiosity, and intuitive inspiration from the collective subconscious. They allow me to transcend beyond myself. This is how I create a dialog with the world around me. The stories then unfold onto the canvas. The most recent story I’ve been experiencing lately has been that of hope, the spirit of wonder, and reconnecting to our true joy in life.
U: What about experimenting with different tools and techniques or even oils, and acrylics do you like most in bringing out your most desired result?
W: Since I was a child, I’ve always been very tactile, incredibly curious, and a different thinker, I love the purity of play while painting, experimenting, and exploring while in the flow of expression. I utilize the tools to bring the most desired result, and a tool for me is anything that can become an extension of my arm.
“SERENDIPITY,” 60 x 48 inches acrylic, oil stick & pencil on canvas 2020
U: They say writers often have or can have writer's block. Have you ever had a time where you did not want to paint?
W: Almost every day I put so much physical, emotional, and spiritual energy into my paintings, that burnout is easy to come by. There is a delicate balance of going between intense inspiration and complete burnout. So I have to find stillness to regenerate that energy once again. I have to allow for time to sit and experience my work as an outside viewer to step away from them and allow me to re-address the painting and have a new conversation with it.
U: How would you describe your artwork to someone who has never seen it?
W: It is emotion on canvas. My paintings are resurrections of the essential human drive to explore and be curious. They are timeless stories of past, present, and future. It’s about an uncovering of music and sounds that emulate all around us, translated into color, shape, or line. They are not defined by symbols, or pop culture because I am not here to distract the viewer; I create to connect the viewer with their heart.
“IN THE HEART,” 95 x 74 inches acrylic, oil stick & pencil on canvas 2021
U: Are you more focused on technique or are you more emotion-driven when creating art?
W: My artwork begins with emotion. Then the story that needs to be told comes to me and once that connects then colors begin to emerge from that story and technique is necessary for orchestrating all three together.
U: How do you use line, shape, and color to contribute to the mood or meaning of each piece that you do for clients that when finished, leaves them with a personalized experience from the art piece?
W: I’m leaving an imprint of emotion for the viewer. The meaning becomes about the observer finding their journey, their love, and a new way to find joy. I use shapes, lines, and colors to do that. For me, it’s about letting go and allowing space for the viewer to interpret and find their voice to tell their most authentic story.
I want to challenge the viewer to let go of ego while viewing my work. I want to tap into your heart and spirituality and connect with people who want to play. A playful mind is necessary to move forward, refocus on joy, refocus on solutions for our future, I put a massive amount of excitement into my paintings, I want that to come across.
U: What are the themes you are trying to communicate with your art?
W: I want to connect to my viewer’s heart through my paintings. I open up my own heart and connect to the universe and from there it’s all about the joy of discovery. “Walk in Love, Live in Grace.” Bob Golf once wrote, and this has become my mantra for my work and for myself.
“THE GOLDEN HOUR,” 48 x 48 inches acrylic, oil stick, marker & pencil on canvas 2020
U: What are some things about art that make you so passionate about it?
W: What makes me passionate about my work is that I feel like a kid again, and I want to share that feeling, to remind others it’s essential to find playful moments in life. It’s a new opportunity to discover, learn something, and emotionally connect to a new color and story. This brings a tangible interpretation to my soul that I experience through color, space, and time. It’s therapeutic, it’s raw, it’s authentic, to wake up and create something that isn’t perfect but discover something new that no one has seen before, is absolutely priceless.
It’s an exciting time to be an artist, we are in a renaissance, rebirth, and an awakening is happening. And I want to be a part of solutions and help guide others to find their joy.
“SLAY THE DRAGON,” 95 x74 inches acrylic, oil stick, marker on canvas 2020
U: How has your background in Architecture helped in how you create art?
W: My master’s degree from Pratt Institute was a major part of cultivating my creativity and artistic narrative; it was the most eye-opening experience as a creative that I could have ever encountered. Architecture taught me not to be afraid to use new tools and try new things, even if it doesn’t always work out the way you want. You have to be open-minded to explore and experience new things in order to create. There was a creative spirit all-encompassing during my time at Pratt, utilizing math, science, design, engineering, painting, photography, altogether and it was enlightening. Learning to apply interdisciplinary approaches gave me a foundation to understand the importance of building something up, it is very similar to how I design and narrate as a painter. When I paint I am layering, building a base, a foundation of different layers that come from this 3 dimensional way of thinking that architecture taught me to develop. It allowed me to think beyond 2D surfaces and create layer upon layer of structural composition. It taught me to be innovative and find new ways to solve problems.
Working with Gensler, a large innovative global architecture firm, allowed me to think big and expand my thinking beyond myself. I had the opportunity to design and walk through spaces visualized by artists' creations coming from nothing. This is the true story of hope, creating something from nothing. This approach with art and esthetic spaces while being inspired by a sense of place, and the environment, all creates a dialog that unfolds into this artistic narrative. The unique form and one of a kind art transcends the norm and allows the beholder to awaken to its beauty.
“HOPE,” 88 x 74 inches acrylic, oil stick, marker & pencil on canvas 2020
U: How do you use art to see the world, and manifest it with colors?
W: I use art as a way to tell stories through colors. These stories become past, present, and future based on my emotion, my experiences, and all of the places I’ve been throughout the world. Color is the most essential way to raise the vibration of hope and start a dialog between people to truly connect to their hearts. Color transcends the human spirit into a place that allows us to lower our guards connect on a deeper level and bring out incredible emotions to express and start that dialog of “what if?".
U: What is your favorite experience as an artist?
W: My favorite experience as an artist is waking up with new eyes and an open heart to rediscovering my joy every day and finding hope in knowing that what we do matters.
This work grounds me and keeps me young. When I am seeking my joy and humble with my work I am my most authentic self and I shine my light to help others heal, generate positive self-questioning, and bring people together. Art connects me to my journey with an unspoken dialog with the world. If you never get on your journey you can never find that love and sensation. I love to help people discover that.
For more updates on Will’s art please go to his site, and follow him on Instagram.
