Bountiful teen battles back from near‑death, now competes to become 'America’s Most Artistic Kid'

BOUNTIFUL — A Bountiful High School student is vying to win “America’s Most Artistic Kid” — a contest created by well‑known artist Bob Ross.

Getting to this point hasn’t been easy for 17‑year‑old Ledger. Four years ago, during a baseball game, a ball traveling 70 miles per hour struck him in the face — a hit so severe he almost lost his life. The tragic accident broke his nose, shattered facial bones and left him with a traumatic brain injury. "I still cry almost daily because it is such a miracle for him to be here," said his mom, Brandy Icard. "He's so talented, he's strong. He's just brilliant."Ledger’s recovery was long and difficult, including reconstructive surgery, seizures, physical and cognitive therapy and months of sitting in a dark, quiet house — because light, or hearing certain sounds would cause Ledger pain. But something unexpected emerged from that challenging time: As he healed, he taught himself how to paint. “It’s probably one month after …” Ledger recalls when he first picked up a brush to paint a picture of two colorful toucans. He gravitated toward powerful animals — lions, tigers, eagles — creatures he says reflect strength and resilience. [gallery ids="879223,879224,879225"] “Not only does he have raw talent and is extremely intelligent, but he is hardworking, he is resilient and he is determined," his aunt Febee Icard said. That determination has now led Ledger to a national art competition. Currently, he's in first place. If he wins the entire contest, his artwork will be displayed in a museum, he’ll appear on "The Joy of Painting" — the iconic show once hosted by Bob Ross — and he’ll take home $20,000. This could help pay for Ledger's college expenses, starting next year. He's already been accepted to multiple universities to pursue his art. You can cast your vote for Ledger until Feb. 26th at 8 p.m.

This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.

Related topics