Straight To The Art Of It
Rosaleen Moriar ty-Simmonds OBE was born with her arms and legs missing, after her mother was prescribed the drug thalidomide during her pregnancy.
“Consequently, since a ver y young age, I have used my mouth for picking things up,” explains Rosie. “This includes paint brushes and pens – I have always had a passion for ar t in all its forms and have par ticularly enjoyed painting and sketching. For many years I was too busy with my family and running my business to really paint properly, so it was a joy once I was able to take up my brush again.
“Being creative actually makes me happy. When I’m immersed in a piece of work, I can lose myself, and forget any daily stresses. For me, ar t improves and enriches life, it incites creativity, it takes me to a happy place and makes me appreciate a lot of things that are going on around me. Just like the cloud I asked my husband to photograph recently; I liked its shape and I want to use it in a future painting. Ar t also broadens your mind, taking you of f down research rabbit holes that you wouldn’t have other wise looked into.
“In 2013, I joined the Mouth and Foot Painting Ar tists (MFPA) organisation, which is a business cooperative of ar tists who can only paint with their mouths or their feet. Since then I have had my work published in many different countries and my designs featured in the products which are sold via the MFPA website. There are Christmas cards, gift wrap, calendars and also nonseasonal items such as jigsaws, address books and notelets. Each item is designed by an ar tist who has painted it with their mouth or their foot, and purchases help to provide that individual with an income.
“My swirly, rainbow-coloured Christmas tree card design was sold all around the world. This year I am delighted that my snowflake wrapping paper design is on sale and I hope it will be equally well received. No doubt my family will think that they are being funny and unique, as they always do, wrapping my presents in paper
I’ve designed myself!”