A Wimmera sunrise and a ridiculous-looking animal have come together in a Christmas card that will launch the work of Warrnambool mouth-artist Simon Rigg across the globe.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A painting of the ‘three wise men’ sunrise by Mr Rigg has been used to illustrate a Christmas card that is included in the world-wide range from the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.
Mr Rigg conceived the painting after he received a photograph of a Wimmera sunrise from a friend and combined the image with a painting of the ‘three wise men’ mounted on camels to create a Christmas illustration.
“One of the first things I ever drew was a camel,” Mr Rigg said, “mainly because of how ridiculous they look.”
“Then four years ago I was in hospital after an operation and I was getting bored so I asked for pencils and paper and drew camels.
“These two elements came back to me when I was trying to come up with an idea for a Christmas card, using the sunrise but with the ‘three wise men’ on camels silhouetted in the foreground.
“When it was finished it all seemed to work, an opinion which was shared by the international selectors and as a result the card will go everywhere in the world.”
Mr Rigg is a member of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists who gain their income through the sale of products illustrated with their paintings.
The MFPA, established in Australia in 1971, gives people with disabilities the opportunity to fulfill their creative ambitions while maintaining financial independence by selectively selling their artworks.
Mr Rigg’s ‘Three wise men’ painting will feature on a product range including cards, jigsaws, tea sets, address books, calendars, place mats, and wrapping paper.