FAQs

The Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists was founded in 1957 in Germany by mouth painter Erich Stegmann. Mr. Stegmann established the Association with the purpose of enabling himself and fellow disabled artists who were unable to use their hands (due to illness, injury or birth defect) earn an independent living through the sale of reproductions of their work in the form of cards, calendars and other products. Since its humble beginnings, the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting has grown to around 800 Artists worldwide representing 75 different countries.

MFPA USA began in 1961 as The Association of Handicapped Artists, based in Buffalo New York. In 2001, the office moved to Atlanta GA and changed its name to the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, which is its English language worldwide title.

The Artists earn money through the sale of reproductions of their artwork (all originals are painted by mouth or foot). These reproductions are made into cards, calendars and other delightful products which are for sale either by direct mail order or online at www.mfpausa.com or our new pick-to-print portal, www.mymfpashop.com.

There are three tiers to membership.  All artists begin as a student member and receive a monthly stipend the intention of which is to help them take lessons and buy materials. A jury of artists within the organization as well as renowned able-bodied artists critique the works of all students every three (3) year, and once their work is deemed to match that of any able-bodied artists, they may be promoted to Associate or Full Member Artists. Both Associate and Full member artist receive a monthly income, and Full Member Artists receive this income for the rest of their natural lives, regardless of whether deteriorating health impedes their ability to paint. Full members are paid a salary that is deemed comparable to that of any able bodied commercial artist.

To ensure that the interests of the Association are met and to relieve any undue burden on the Artists, a group of abled bodied staff are employed by the Association to carry out the administrative duties that member artists are unable to fulfil. These administrative costs are closely controlled by the Association, amounting to 8% of its annual income.

Should you wish to support the endeavours of the Artists and help them achieve their goals of living independently and with dignity, please sign up to be on our mailing list. Twice a year (in March and October for the Holidays) MFPA sends sample mailings of greeting cards and other products. The items are always sent without obligation to purchase, but members of the public may purchase the cards etc. sent in our mailing or order additional items from our wide range of beautiful and unique products that are made available via direct mail order or online at www.mfpausa.com or our new pick-to-print portal, www.mymfpashop.com.

To sign up to be on our mailing list, please contact mfpa@mfpausa.com or call  770 986 7764.

There are around 750 artists worldwide, 48 of whom reside in the USA.

If you or someone you know meets the criteria of membership to the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists – have lost use of the hands due to injury, illness or birth defect and therefore paint by mouth or foot- you may apply to be a student member. All inquiries may be directed to Kate March kvmarch@mfpausa.com.

MFPA is not a charity, it is a for profit organization owned and controlled by its member artists. MFPA Inc is registered with the Better Business Bureau of Atlanta and cannot be found on Charity Navigator. The founding motto of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists was “Self-Help, not Charity” and remains so to this day.

MFPA does not facilitate the sale of original paintings. The Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists operates as a democratic co-operative and therefore prefers to garner profits through the sale of reproductions. The paintings are the property of the individual artist. Some paintings are not sold, some may be held for exhibitions at our worldwide headquarters in Liechtenstein and some have been returned to the artist. Most are not for sale. We do however, have selections of prints available which can be viewed on the order forms sent out with our mailings or online (www.mfpausa.com).

Members of MFPA submit work based on their own creative ideas, and therefore we cannot facilitate commissioned pieces.

While we at MFPA are unable to provide contact information for an individual artist in order to protect their privacy, you are more that welcome to contact our Atlanta office and we will contact the artist on your behalf or answer any questions to may have:

MFPA Inc

2070 Peachtree Industrial Ct Ste 101
Atlanta GA 30341
Phone: 770 986 7764

Email: kvmarch@mfpausa.com

Please note, depending upon the health of the artist we cannot guarantee he or she will be willing or able to respond.

Our website is www.mfpausa.com

You can purchase MFPA products either via direct mail order by joining our mailing list or on our website www.mfpausa.com.

Typically we ship an order 3-5 days after it has been recived. The type of product you purchased and the current manufacturing schedule will ultimately detrmines when your order is shipped. For questions about your order please email myshop@mfpusa.com.

3-5 days plus the time it takes for UPS Ground to deliver your package. Typically users get their orders about 8-10 days after the order is received. In some instances it will be sooner. For questions about your order please email myshop@mfpusa.com.

Our storefront software is integrated with the UPS Shipping services.  The cost to ship your product will be calculated based on our standard shipping rates published by UPS and your final ship to address.

For questions about your order please email myshop@mfpusa.com.

Our storefront software is integrated with the UPS Shipping services.  The cost of shipping and handling will be calculated based on our standard shipping rates published by UPS and your final ship to address.

For questions about your order please email myshop@mfpusa.com.