Local disabled artist's work recognised in this year’s Christmas card range
90 Mile Beach mouth-painting artist Kevin Griffiths has once again been recognised for his extraordinary talent, with one of his paintings featuring in the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) 2006 Christmas range. The MFPA range includes greeting cards, wrapping paper, gift tags and bookmarks and is sent to thousands of residents around Australia.

An Associate Member of the MFPA since 1992, Kevin began painting with a brush held in his mouth after a diving accident at the age of 14 left him a quadriplegic. His painting of colourful Christmas bells has been reproduced on gift tags and gift wrap for the 2006 card range.

“It gives you quite a buzz to see the final product after watching the painting slowly come together. It’s particularly rewarding when your painting is reproduced in a card range that is sent out all over Australia,” Kevin said.

“The subjects in my paintings vary from landscapes to Christmas themes to boats. I think that my painting skills have certainly improved over time and I’ve really come to enjoy and appreciate colour,” he said.

In the next few weeks, Kevin will be demonstrating his painting technique at some local schools.

“It’s fun to do mouth-painting demonstrations in front of kids. After I do my demonstration, they give it a go themselves, which can have quite funny results,” Kevin said.

In April next year, Kevin will be joining fellow MFPA members from Australia and around the world in the MFPA 50th Anniversary conference in Vienna.

Founded in 1956 by a group of European artists, the MFPA is a self-help organisation which gives people with disabilities the opportunity to fulfil their creative ambitions while still maintaining financial independence by selectively selling their artworks.

To become a member, an artist must qualify by painting using a brush held in either their mouth or foot, having lost the use of their hands through an illness or accident.

For further information on the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists or to place an order contact MFPA on (09) 827 6746.

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Released for MFPA by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au).
For further information contact Aleks Czerwinski on (612) 9413 4244.