Local disabled artist’s work recognised in this year’s Christmas card range
Port Lincoln mouth-painting artist Glenn Barnett has once again been recognised for his extraordinary talent, with one of his paintings, ‘In the Dawson Range’, featuring in the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) 2006 Christmas range. The MFPA range includes greeting cards, wrapping paper, gift tags and bookmarks, sent to thousands of residents around Australia.

Glenn, a Member of the MFPA, began painting in 1964 after a diving accident two years earlier left him a quadriplegic at the age of 17. He is renowned for his typically Australian landscape paintings inspired by his travels, as seen in his Christmas range artwork.

“The painting was inspired by The Dawson Range which was right below a house I used to live in.

“I really like the ‘outback’ look and feel of The Dawson Range and love to paint these sorts of landscapes,” Glenn said.

Glenn says he is always very pleased to have a painting selected for MFPA greeting card ranges.

“A lady recently came up to me and said that she had received a card with my painting on it and was really excited about it.

“It’s great when people recognise my work, especially strangers as they are always very interested to learn more about the MFPA and my paintings,” he said.

Glenn recently displayed his art at the Annual Hawker Exhibition and Port Lincoln Art Group's Spring Exhibition. Earlier this year, he received First Prize at the Adelaide Show and a Highly Commended award at the Brisbane Show.

As well as displaying his paintings in a number of upcoming exhibitions, Glenn will be attending the MFPA 50th Anniversary conference in Vienna in April next year.

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 (02) 9698 3933.

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Released for MFPA by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au).
For further information contact Aleks Czerwinski
on (02) 9413 4244.