The
Struggle
 William
Roy Brownridge was born in 1932 in the heart of the Western
Canadian prairies, a tiny dot on the map called Rosetown,
Saskatchewan. Bill was the youngest of five children
in a family like many those days -- poor and struggling to
scrape out an existence amidst economic depression.
His dad worked hard, striving to gain seniority with the Canadian
Railway as a Telegrapher/ Station Agent, and seeking any and
every other avenue at extra income.
Upon arrival,
Bill was immediately more than just another mouth to feed.
He had Spina Bifida and club feet. His medical history is
so long he has since forgotten some parts of it. Suffice
to say that his condition deteriorated to the point where
the amputation of one leg and part of his other foot was necessary.
And he was still just a boy. If not for the deep supportive
nature of his family, and the immeasureable love of his mother
Vivian, things might be very different today. But his
family was always there and carried him through the tough
times, and even today his two sisters Kay and Gwen still nurture
and assist him in many ways.
Naturally,
his disability shaped his life. You might say he became
a "Master Compensator". Having to sit for long stretches
of time, Bill started to draw, then paint. He began
to see the possibility of art as a way to escape his immobility
- to gain some degree of independence.
His formal
training at the Alberta College of Art provided a jolt of
learning and excitement. His world suddenly expanded
and he saw that someday his skills as an artist could earn
him a living. He graduated as a Graphic Designer and
quickly plunged into the world of advertising. Those
years were very rewarding, as were his years as a husband
and then a father of his own five children.
Still,
he'd always dreamed of devoting himself strictly to personal
expression through painting.
Now, he
is finally pursuing that dream.
Viewpoint
|| My Story || Gallery
|| Commercial Galleries
|| Bill's Outreach || Contact
Contact Us:
info@heartofhockey.com |
