Mariam Paré was just 20 years old and an art student when an errant bullet tore through her back. The Chicago native was paralyzed from the neck down, her dreams of becoming a commercial artist shattered. Consigned to a wheelchair, she no longer had the use of her hands or arms and her future as an artist looked bleak.

But Paré heard about the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPAusa.org) and said, “I was literally thrown a lifeline."

Today an accomplished artist, Paré is one of almost 70 American painters who paint with their mouth or feet. Not only did painting give her life purpose again, but it also enabled her to earn a living - the dignity of which she said cannot be over stated.

This year the MFPA celebrates its 60th Diamond Anniversary and has now grown to more than 800 painters from around 80 countries around the world.

Unique Original Paintings

They make their livelihoods mainly through the sales of Christmas greetings cards reproduced from their original paintings. All of the artists participate in the process by creating their unique original paintings from which the card images selected are reproduced and sold direct to the public.

Following are images of the 2017 Christmas cards. A set of six cards starts at $10.25 and you can pick one image as your favorite or purchase a package that contains all six images:

Mariam has had several of her paintings reproduced as Christmas cards for both the domestic and international markets in recent years.

The MFPA emphasizes that it is NOT a charity, but a way for disabled artists to earn a living.

"You can't imagine the feeling of getting off welfare,' Mariam said."It's hard for people with a disability to be on welfare, afford healthcare, the basics... but the MFPA's motto is ‘self help not charity’ and that made me think about the way I wanted to live my life."

Passion For Painting

Behind every artist’s painting is a dramatic story to be told. Many had never dreamed of drawing or painting before their catastrophic accidents or illnesses. Some were born without arms or use of their hands but found a passion for painting early in their childhood.

Mariam is based in Chicago, but there are many talented artists across the U.S.

Alana Tillman, of Santa Rosa, Calif., has an image in the U.S. set. Other Christmas card sets are sent throughout Europe, Africa, UK, the Americas and Asia. Many of the American artists’ work have appeared in other countries.

Tillman said she was proud that her “Oh, Tannebaum” painting was chosen from more than ten thousand images sent in from across the globe.

“It really boosted my self-esteem,” Tillman said. “I think it helped me (to paint) being born this way, and it sounds cliché but I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without my parents and twin sister, who is able bodied. I don’t feel sad. And the (MFPA) has been a big part of my independence and motivation.

“(The MFPA) has been life changing… I was just living off of social security and didn’t have money to buy art materials. I was getting by with donations, but I wanted more freedom… I’m a pretty independent person, I drive with my feet, and now I could meet my friends without fear of not being able to pay my own way… I’ve been able to lead a much more fulfilling life.”

Financial Security

The MFPA not only provides financial security for the artists through sales of its Christmas cards…it also provides a community, a creative outlet and in some cases, the inspiration to go on living.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month - an annual awareness campaign that takes place each year with the express purpose of educating the public about disability employment issues and celebrating the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities.

“Before, I never expected that I would be in this situation (quadriplegic) but meeting other artists has made me happy and joyful.” said Sara Jane Parsons of Austin, Texas.”

“(The MFPA) is a reason to live and have joy. It’s about life. The MFPA is life and hope. Painting was not something I thought I could do, and now I’m so happy and thankful to be part of such a life-changing organization.”