Artist lets his mouth do the drawing

ARTIST AT WORK: Will Pardee draws a picture of a house in the studio of his home in Fremont. Pardee became a quadriplegic from a diving accident in 1982. The following year he took up drawing. His work is in about 30 art shows a year. Below are two of his sketches on greeting cards. The one to the right is a drawing of the Grand Haven lighthouse.

Fremont artist eyes graduating, with honors,
from Fundamental Bible Institute of Holland, in May

By John Burdick
Staff writer

Will Pardee is paralyzed from the neck down and needs help with basic everyday tasks such as washing up, dressing and eating.

But don't tell him he doesn't enjoy a quality of life.

He's an award-winning artist and is the favorite to be the valedictorian of Fundamental Bible Institute of Holland. And he has a loving family that stands behind him.

"The Lord is our life. That's the bottom line," said Pardee from his Fremont-area home. "I know this wrecked body is only temporary. I'm looking forward to a new body in heaven. "

Using a pencil clenched b~between his teeth, Pardee, 38, has drawn several hundred pictures. Most of his art work is nine-by-12 inches. He's also done many 5-by-7-inch and 12-by-16-inch pieces. It takes him anywhere from a week to three months per picture depending on the size and detail.

His favorite drawings are of pets, lighthouses, wildlife and ships. In his living room are several of his drawings such as deer, a wood duck, chicks, the tree in his backyard, a Model- T pickup truck and a bass.

"His art work is fantastic," said the Rev. Larry England, director of the Fundamental Bible Institute of Holland land.. "He just bypasses his handicap, goes forward and does whatever he wants to accomplish. "He's a blessing to everyone he comes in contact with," England added. "He melts me. I know that." Pardee and his wife, Sarah, will both graduate with six others from the Fundamental Bible Institute on May 24. If ceremonies were h~ld today, Pardee would be valedictorian and Sarah the salutatorian, England said.

"He can answer any oral exam I ever give him," England said.-"He just spits out the answers left and right."

England also praised Sarah, for her dedication in caring for her husband. "She is a real Biblical Sarah," he said. "She loves him with all her heart."

Despite the hardship of being a quadriplegic, Pardee said he has a lot to be grateful for.

"There's been a lot of good things that have come out of this," he said. "It has drawn us closer to God. It's made us trust him more."

Added Sarah, "It has drawn us closer as a family. Our daughter Rachel is a wonderful help."

Rachel, now 19, was just 2-years-old .When the accident occurred in 1982.

The Pardees were with relatives having a family fun-day tubing down the Muskegon River. Later, Will became paralyzed after diving into the river from an eight-foot embankment. His brother-in-laws Mike Christenson and Vern Daniels rescued him.

"If I hadn't had help to drag me out of the water, I would have drowned," said Will, who was an avid sportsman who loved to hunt and fish.

He spent the next seven months at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids. Then he was transferred to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation for three months of physical therapy.

While he was in the hospital, his wife, Sarah, read a book by Joni Erickson Tada. She too was paralyzed from a diving accident and took up, drawing pictures with her mouth.

"He was bored and needed something to do," Sarah said. "I suggested he try drawing like Joni did." ...

Will's first picture was of a tin coffee pot. He also drew several sailing ships. He found drawing with a pencil clenched between his teeth difficult at first.

"I wouldn't say it was easy. It took a couple of years to develop," he said. "I started out doing mostly ships just for fun, just for something to do."

His first art show was in Fremont in 1984. He's been active ever since. He has several ribbons from art shows, including the Greenville Danish Festival, the Fremont Art Fair and Hastings SummerFest. .

His drawings will be exhibited at the Westshore Mall Spring Arts and Crafts show April 23-24.

The Pardees attend up to 30 art shows a year all over the state and also northern Indiana.

"It's a gift from the Lord. I've never had any training -- "just a lot of practice," Pardee said. "Without God we would be a lost cause. Without the Lord we would be most miserable.". .