Mouth and foot painting explained

Mouth and foot painting is a technique to create drawings, paintings and other works of art by maneuvering brushes and other tools with the mouth or foot. The technique is mostly used by artists who through illness, accident or congenital disability have no use of their hands. The Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (AMFPA) is a worldwide organization representing these artists.^[1]

The brushes and tools that are used are ordinary artist's implements, but they may be modified in length or width.^{[2] [3] [4]} Mouth painters hold the brush in their mouth or between their teeth and maneuver it with their tongue and cheek muscles. The paper or canvas is usually mounted vertically on an easel. Mouth painting is strenuous for neck and jaw muscles since the head has to perform the same back and forth movement as a hand does when painting.^{[5] [6]} Foot painting can be done sitting on the floor, at a table or at an easel, as most foot painters use their toes with the same dexterity as people with hands use their fingers, this also helps the brush manoeuvre its self making it be more free with its art..^{[7] [8]}

Notable mouth and foot painters

• Simona Atzori
• Earl Bailly
• Sarah Biffen
• Lorenza Böttner
• Matthias Buchinger
• John Carter
• Louis Joseph César Ducornet
• Alison Lapper
• Mariam Paré
• Edward Rainey
• Thomas Schweicker
• Steven L. Sles
• Arnulf Erich Stegmann
• Charles B. Tripp
• Brom Wikstrom

External links

• Video of mouth painting

Notes and References

1. Web site: History. www.vdmfk.com. Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists of the World. 18 February 2016. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160403084520/https://www.vdmfk.com/en/about.html. dead.
2. Web site: Artist Mouthpiece. www.arttreehouse.com. The Art Treeshouse. 18 February 2016.
3. Web site: Clayton. Jon. My Specialist Equipment. www.jkcmouthartist.com. Jon Clayton. 18 February 2016.
4. Web site: Smith. Dominic. Paralysed artist paints amazing portrait of Thierry Henry's legendary goal celebration using only his mouth. 25 July 2015. www.mirror.co.uk. Daily Mirror. 18 February 2016.
5. Web site: Squeezable Paint Brushes (Howard University). www.aac-rerc.psu.edu. Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. 18 February 2016. 1 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160301150652/http://aac-rerc.psu.edu/wordpressmu/RESNA-SDC/2014/05/31/squeezable-paint-brushes-howard-university/. dead.
6. Web site: Winchester. Levi. Watch: Woman born without fully-formed limbs creates stunning artwork using her mouth. 10 July 2014. www.express.co.uk. Daily Express. 18 February 2016.
7. Web site: An Amazing Feat – Artists Who Paint With Their Feet.. 20 November 2014. www.aucklandpodiatrist.co.nz. Healthy Steps Podiatry Ltd. 18 February 2016.
8. Web site: Morris. Millie. Creativity Despite Disability: Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. www.epigram.org.uk. Epigram. 30 November 2014. 18 February 2016.