By Brittany Knupper
For Will Day, the realization that he was an artist came early, but the journey to fully embracing that identity was a winding road of self-discovery, tragedy, and rebirth.
It began at age thirteen in a Darien, CT art class. “I was using watercolors to create a fall landscape and something clicked,” Day recalls. “I felt a freedom of expression I’d never experienced before.” He still keeps that childhood painting in his studio—a reminder of the spark that would eventually ignite a full-time career.
From Finance to Fine Art: The Turning Point
Day’s artistic voice was further shaped during his time with the Peace Corps in Tunisia. Despite language and cultural barriers, art became his universal language. The experience defined his style, weaving creativity back into his daily life.
However, it was the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, that served as the ultimate catalyst. Day’s wife, Aimee, worked in the World Trade Center but was miraculously not at work that day. Given a “new lease on life,” the couple determined to make the most of every moment. Day left a career in finance, briefly pursued architecture, and finally surrendered to his true calling: painting.
A Study in Contrast: “Wonder” vs. “Noir”
Day’s portfolio showcases a dynamic range of emotion and color.
- The Color Series: In works like “Wonder,” bold pinks and vertical bars capture curiosity. Its companion piece, “Friendship,” mirrors this composition, representing a bridge where two souls connect.
- The Noir Series: In contrast, series like “Grey Ice” evoke a cold, frozen horizon. Others, like “Ohm” and “Namaste,” feature thick black ink-like strokes with pops of neon, blending meditative themes with the energy of street art and graffiti.
Day treats physical movement as meditation. He works on large canvases laid on the studio floor, using construction tools to create layers and texture. Each painting begins with a single mark. From there, he builds relationships between colors, forms, and surfaces. Over ten years of painting full time, he has learned to embrace mistakes and prioritize play.
The “Omaha” Commission
One of Day’s most significant challenges was a commission titled “Omaha,” a tribute to Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
The project was a journey of “darkness into light,” requiring Day to find clarity within chaos. Embracing his own vulnerability, he created a piece that captured a memory while embracing the future. The painting now hangs proudly in the Broncos Stadium.
Art as a Guide
Ultimately, Will Day sees himself as a guide. His goal is to navigate viewers away from the everyday and toward a bigger picture—a space of hope and inner peace.
“Art is an everyday struggle,” Day admits, but he remains grateful for the journey and for his own guides: his wife Aimee and their two children, Spencer and Abigail.
Will Day’s work can be found at pop-up shows in Denver and Boulder, CO. View his portfolio online at willdayart.com.
