Orillia Ont. artist inspires many with creations while fighting Parkinson's disease
An Orillia Ont. man with a debilitating disease is being celebrated for his continued drive to do what he loves the most.
Michael Harding has been painting for the better part of 60 years but was rocked when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
"it's made stroking the brush more difficult, for sure," Harding told CTV News. "But I still love doing this."
Harding, now 76 years old, said his disease makes it challenging to speak and operate like he once used to.
However, through his own drive and the support of his family, he keeps at it the best way he can.
"He now signs all his work with M.Harding/P.D., because he wants to differentiate between his work from before his diagnosis," said Rose Harding, Michael's wife.
Rose said he's incredibly proud of her husband's never-say-no attitude.
"The day I met him, he drew me a painting and I couldn't believe it," she added. "He just whipped it up with his quick brush strokes. That's what Michael does, he's very good and creative."
Harding has created over 150 paintings and gave some to family and friends this weekend at a private display.
While he's been approached to sell his work in the past, he said he prefers to keep it in the family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Attempt to have murder charge quashed against alleged serial killer dismissed by judge
A motion filed by the man accused of killing four Indigenous women in Winnipeg to have one of those murder charges quashed has been dismissed by the judge – weeks before the start of his trial.