HEROES ON CANVAS

Taylor Bielecki’s work on display at Limerick Fire Department

ROYERSFORD >> There are people who consider emergency personnel, teachers, and sports figures heroes.

For 26-year old Taylor Bielecki of Royersford, her heroes were the doctors, nurses and support staff who had a big impact in making her life manageable in dealing with cerebral palsy since she has been afflicted with the disease since the age of 3.

“I am one of the lucky ones who has cerebral palsy only on half of my body. I had to have surgeries and exercises in order for my body to get strong for me to function in my daily life, be able to play sports, and operate a car,” explained Bielecki.

She periodically has to go to the hospital for checkups and for retests.

“While I am doing my retests, I look around the room and see patients who are not as fortunate as I am. I hope these patients who observe me can find hope and determination and that despite their medical issues they can still look forward to a productive life,” said Bielecki.

Her personal history alone is one to be marveled at. She graduated from Spring-Ford Area High School in 2013 then entered Penn State University’s main campus, where she dualmajored in fine arts and English.

She graduated from there

in 2017, where she received dual honors with bachelor’s degrees in fine arts and English. Currently, she is in her junior year at Pratt University in New York City. Next year, she will graduate with a master’s degree in fine arts.

Ever since Bielecki was 6 years old, she had images in her head, where she would quickly find a sheet of paper and just draw. At the age of 8, she became a huge fan of the X-Men action heroes series.

“I just loved drawing those super cool characters,” stated Bielecki.

She also draws television and music entertainers. She has works in progress of the character “Sergeant Hank Voight” played by actor Jason Beghe of “Chicago P.D.” and Elvis Presley. “I just adore these people. ‘Voight’ works with his crew doing what it takes to get the job done and his dedication and compassion for making Chicago safe for its citizens is exemplary. Elvis was so kindhearted with his family, friends and his fans. And, of course, there is his music — like ‘Hound Dog,’ ‘Return to Sender’ and ‘A Little Less Conversation,’” explained Bielecki. It has been almost seven years and Bielecki has accumulated a large collection of drawings and oil paintings — so much in fact that she has shown off her works

PHOTO BY GIL COHEN — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Thomas Walters, president of Limerick Fire Department, with Taylor Bielecki, 26-year-old cerebral palsy patient whose work was shown at the Limerick Fire Department firehouse.

PHOTO BY GIL COHEN — FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP One of the paintings of firefighters in action by Royersford’s Taylor Bielecki, a 26-year-old artist who is dealing with cerebral palsy.