Northland artist Kevin Griffiths shines in global MFPA art calendar

Ahipara artist Kevin Griffiths, who paints by holding the brush in his mouth, has one of his paintings featured in an art calendar.

Northland artist Kevin Griffiths, who paints by holding the brush in his mouth, has had one of his paintings published in an art calendar.

The painting, entitled In My Memory features in the Christmas range produced by the Mouth and Foot Paintings Artists (MFPA), an international art group, of which Griffiths is a member.

MFPA has 850 members in 84 countries throughout the world.

“My painting is inspired by a friend who recently passed away and had a schnauzer dog. This little dog has got some real character sitting in the garden, his name is Harley,” said Griffiths.

The selection of the pictures for the products for the Christmas range is made by a panel of European experts and is hot competition and as the products this year include paintings by three New Zealand artists they have clearly ‘punched above their weight’ to be successful against artists from so many countries.

Griffiths, from Ahipara, has been mouth painting for over 25 years after he broke his neck and lost the use of his hands in a swimming accident at age 13.

Kevin Griffiths' painting of a friend's schnauzer will be featured in an art calendar.

Following his accident, he continued his education and became interested in various forms of art, which inspired him to travel extensively throughout the world.

In 1991 Griffiths was awarded the Bruce Hopkins Memorial Award, a competition that started over 20 years ago to commemorate Bruce Hopkins’ contribution to the MFPA and artists with disabilities throughout New Zealand.

Since that time, he has received the coveted prize four times. He became an MFPA Student Member in 1992 and an Associate Member in 2001.

The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists gain their income through the sale of products illustrated with their paintings and although this started with Christmas cards, today it includes a wide list of products ranging from special occasion cards, jigsaws, tea sets, address books, calendars, Christmas serviettes and placemats, gift tags and wrapping paper.

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

The MFPA was established in New Zealand in 1961 and currently has 25 members around the country.

To become a student 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. Student members receive scholarships for art supplies and tuition.