By Oliver Lees
When John Damrow suffered a stroke at 42 years of age, he had to entirely rethink how he was going to live his life.
“I went from a corporate highflyer, to nothing. No work, no job,” Mr Damrow said.
“I saw my peers opening businesses and getting promotions, it was kind of demoralising.”
After having built a successful career in telecommunications, Mr Damrow tried in vain to find something new to occupy his time, as his stroke left him unable to do things he’d previously enjoyed, like playing golf and skiing.
He tried going back to university and volunteering at the Woodend Neighbourhood House, but these things didn’t give him a sense of purpose and Mr Damrow said he suffered several bouts of depression.
But his fortunes turned five years ago, when he saw a flyer for a watercolour painting workshop led by renowned local artist John York.
“In secondary school I actually did a lot of art and I wanted to be an art teacher, but after my partner became pregnant I felt I needed to find a more stable job,” he said.
“I thought I had become a robot, I was working stiff, I didn’t think I had a creative bone in my body.”
“But I really loved it and it gave me a new sense of purpose.”
Inspired by Mr York, who similarly retired from a life of engineering to switch his focus to painting, Mr Damrow has been developing his skills in landscape painting.
He said given that his stroke didn’t affect his right hand, he could still paint without any issue.
“I find it [painting] very meditative, when you make something and it’s good you get an amazing sense of satisfaction.”
Mr Damrow’s art will be featured at the 33rd Castlemaine Rotary Art Show, which is running from June 11 to June 14.
