Artist donating paintings to fire departments

By: 
Larry Limpf

The artwork of David Overholt will soon be gracing stations of 10 area fire departments.
The Walbridge resident last week began presenting paintings to members of fire stations as a way of saying thanks for their service and to commemorate Fire Prevention Month.
Overholt began the project in June and finished the acrylic paintings last week. They feature images of turnout gear – boots, coat and helmet and an axe – stacked in the foreground. The helmets have the logo and badge design of each respective department.
In all, Overholt plans to donate paintings to the Troy Township, Northwood, Jerusalem Township, Pemberville, Rossford, Harris-Elmore, Perrysburg Township, Allen-Clay and Lake Township departments. Those with more than one station will receive a painting for each station.
For Overholt, painting is a labor of love and this artwork represents his gratitude for first responders.
“I’m always looking for something or some way to pay back,” he said last week.
He credits Lake Township Emergency Medical Service personnel for saving his life after suffering a heart attack several years ago. In 2016, he presented two paintings to the department to say thanks.
“On the way to the hospital in the ambulance I passed and they brought me back with CPR,” Overholt said at the time. “I wanted to do something for the department that saved me. It was very cold that night and I remember them wrapping me up. I said ‘I must have fallen asleep,’ when I awoke in the ambulance.”
For Overholt, Oct. 14 also marks two years of offering weekly art classes at the Lake Township community room. About 10 area residents have been attending his classes and they will have their first exhibit Oct. 18 at VFW Post 9963 from 5-8 p.m.
The post is located on Main Street in Walbridge.
Except for minute details such as numbers or other small features, Overholt uses his fingers to apply the paint instead of brushes.
“I was never taught how to paint with brushes,” he said. “I blend and mix the colors with a brush but apply the paint with my fingers,”
For information about his art class, Overholt can be reached at 419-509-6450.

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