W. Percy Day Paintings

Walter Percy Day, known as W. Percy Day, was a British film art director and a pioneer in the realm of matte painting, a visual effects technique that combines live-action footage with painted imagery to create the illusion of an environment that is not present at the location of the filming. Born on September 7, 1878, in London, England, Day began his career as a stage painter before transitioning into the burgeoning film industry.

During the early part of the 20th century, Day honed his skills in matte painting and became one of the foremost experts in this field. His career spanned several decades, in which he worked on numerous films and contributed to the visual storytelling of cinema. He was especially active during the 1930s through the 1950s, a period when the film industry was rapidly expanding and embracing new techniques in special effects and production design.

Day's work on the 1933 film 'The Private Life of Henry VIII' and the 1936 film 'Things to Come' were particularly noteworthy for their groundbreaking visual effects. His craftsmanship and innovation led him to work on major productions like 'The Thief of Bagdad' (1940), where his use of matte paintings was instrumental in creating the film's fantastical settings.

One of Day's most significant contributions to the art of matte painting was during his work at the Denham Film Studios, where he mentored several artists, including his son, Peter Ellenshaw, who would also become a renowned matte artist. Day's influence extended beyond his own projects, as he helped to establish matte painting as a vital tool in the filmmaker's arsenal for creating otherworldly landscapes and expanding the boundaries of on-set locations.

W. Percy Day's legacy is preserved in the artistry he left behind in the many films he worked on. He passed away on October 15, 1965, but his contribution to the art of film and visual effects continues to be celebrated by art historians and film enthusiasts alike. His pioneering techniques laid the groundwork for the modern visual effects industry, which continues to evolve with new technologies while still relying on the foundational methods developed by artists like Day.