FAS Alumna: Donna Smith
My name is Donna Smith, and I have been a quadriplegic since a diving accident in 1991. I paint by holding the paintbrush or palette knife in my mouth.
It was after my injury that I heard of the MFPA, an association of mouth and foot painting artists. Founded in 1956 by mouth painter Erich Stegmann in Switzerland, it has since become a worldwide organization. The artists sell their work in the form of greeting cards, calendars, gift-wrap and other items.
I was accepted into this organization and receive a monthly stipend for art lessons and for the purchase of art supplies and materials.
It was through the American base of the MFPA, located now in Atlanta, Georgia, that the Famous Artists School was recommended as a good source for art instruction. As I was not able to attend classrooms, the fact that I could take this course through the mail was the perfect solution.
I have found that the Famous Artists School offers a very comprehensive course, an artistic journey that begins with the basics of sketching, perspective, composition and color values to creating your own works of art. I found that the course was challenging, for the better I did at my assignments, the more my instructor expected of me. This was the best way of always pressing me to do my best work.
In fact, I now have entered my works in several shows, and I have won two awards, both of which I received for paintings executed as assignments for the Famous Artists School. I have also sold many of my paintings.
Since my days as a student in this school I have taken several other courses of art instruction, but the Famous Artists has been the greatest learning experience of any to date. I am very happy that I have taken this course.
