Gladys Day - San Diego Artist, Born around 1891, England

Gladys Day - San Diego Artist, Born around 1891, England

San Diego is in the land of southern California, where the sun and shores create an idyllic place for artists.  Gladys Day was one of those working artist.  Unlike many of her contemporaries, she needed to use her illustrative talents to support her family.  She painted local houses and gardens in watercolor, using them to support her family of five during the depression.  She continued to paint picturesque Coronado scenes, which she sold from 1934 on.  In the early days, prices were frequently in the 25 cent range.  Which means, she had to prepare a lot of watercolors to support her family.  

Day took an outdoor landscape art class from Alfred Mitchell in 1929.  Mitchell was one of San Diego’s most important artists and is heavily documented, as well as his work is highly sought after.  Clearly Mitchell influenced Day’s work.  A popular San Diego artist book, “Second Nature” shows the work of Mitchell and you can see how he influenced her work (for example:  Mitchell’s painting called “On Our Porch”).  

Day’s medium of watercolors was perfect.  If you are only going to sell your work for pennies, then you need a medium that is inexpensive also.  Her painting of the Coronado Car Ferry - the “Silver Strand” (below) with the city skyline in the background shows the 1950s cars all loaded and ready to disembark at the dock.  The vehicles on ferry are brilliant colors of red, orange and green.  The bay consists of long and short strokes of blue and green water with spots of reflection.  In the distance, you see a pink thread in the sky showing an upcoming sunset.      

This painting by Day shows the iconic period and the importance of the ferry system for San Diego.  It is a watercolor on paper, image size approximately 16 X 11 inches, and newly framed and conserved.

Watercolor Detail

Day moved to Chula Vista, CA with her husband in 1920.   One of her children, Margaret went on to marry Hamilton Marston.  Marston was from a power-house civic centered family that was successful in business and San Diego development.  Day continued to paint well into her eighties, according to a Bridge and Bay reporter that interviewed her.  The watercolor illustrated here came with a tag giving Day’s address as 581 Del Mar Avenue, Chula Vista, CA.  The title on the back of the watercolor is:  “San Diego and Coronado Ferry” however, the painting is clearly the Silver Strand Ferry at dock.  

Gladys Day Signature and Title

The great mystery for me today is why we don’t see more of her work on the art market. Where did it go?  Did it disappear because it was inexpensive at the time?  What is the bigger back story of an artist who used her skills to make a living?