b.1940

A native of Orange County, California, Bruce Sanford Day grew up on an orange ranch in Tustin. As a child, he played in the sunlit corridors of the orange grove his grandfather planted in 1908. He developed an extensive butterfly collection, which inspired and influenced his feeling for shimmering light and color. Another fascination was his grandfather's art studio. Unused since his death, the studio contained all his portrait and landscape paintings and drawings. Bruce spent many happy hours in the quiet studio trying to copy his grandfather's art. Grandmother recognized his natural gift for drawing and bought Bruce his first artist's materials when he was six years old and continually encouraged him to draw and paint.

Bruce studied art in high school, however, being a teenager in the "50's", he also found a new love: hot rods. He obtained an "old" 1940 Chevrolet Coupe and he became engrossed in mechanics, car clubs and cruising. He also drew more hot rods than anything else in art class.

During his time in the Air Force and the California Division of Forestry he continued his art studies through correspondence school. Bruce's devotion to his art grew to such an extent that he decided to enter Monterey Peninsula College in 1968 to major in art. He transferred to Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles where he studied under Professors Lauser Feitelson and Harry Carmean. He later attended California State University, Fullerton to continue his discipline in painting and drawing. In 1968, Bruce began his career fully committing himself to his art as a life long pursuit of creating a visual celebration of people and nature.

Since 1972, Bruce has lived in a canyon of Saddleback Mountain in Orange County where he still finds magic in the shimmering color and light that once gave flight to his imagination as a child. His inner vision remains as strong today.
 

PERSONAL STATEMENT
 To me, creativity takes precedence over a polished technique. The mood and feelings generated by my paintings are important to me. I deliberately impart an intended emotion. My goal is that the first impression, or feeling, remains after a complete viewing.
 
 I paint from my heart, with the intention of bringing happiness into
 the lives of others.
 
 MEDIUM
Oil, oil pastel, prisma color, pencil

 SUBJECTS
Landscapes, children, figurative studies, portraiture, commissions
 
 EDUCATION
Monterey Peninsula College
Art Center College of Design, L.A.
California State University, Fullerton
The rest is called "brush mileage"
Professional, full time artist since 1971

EXHIBITIONS
Anaheim Museum
California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibit
Carmel Art Festival "Plein Air Carmel"
Long Beach Museum
Mission San Juan Capistrano Annual Plein Air Exhibit
Newport Beach City Gallery
San Bernardino County Museum
Bowers Museum Plein Air Exhibit "Sights of Santa Ana"

MEMBERSHIPS
California Art Club, Pasadena
Laguna Plein Air Painters

SEMINARS & JUDGING
San Bernardino County Fair
Southern California Art Leagues

TEACHING
Chapman College, 1990: Life Drawing, freshman through graduate classes
Private lessons and workshops in Plein Air landscapes, life
drawing, and portrait painting

BENEFITS
Silverado School Inter Canyon League, disaster relief fund
Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary
Volunteer Fire Station #16
St. Joseph Hospital Foundation
Albuquerque, N.M. Earth Day
Educational Fund of Orange County
Irvine Valley College Chorale
Riley Wilderness Park, Orange County
California Art Club Scholarship Fund
Bowers Museum, Santa Ana
Mission San Juan Capistrano
Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Capistrano Valley Conservancy
Donna O' Neill Land Preserve