Work of art: Inspiring armless artist creates masterpieces with just his mouth

By Bunmi Adigun @Bunmi_Adigun

A MAN who lost both his arms in a construction site accident has defied the odds by teaching himself to paint - using just his mouth

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Videographer / Director: Ricardo Gomez
Producer: Bunmi Adigun, Ellie Winstanley
Editor: Sonia Estal

Jose lost both of his arm after a freak accident on a construction site

Jose Luis Torices, 47, from Mexico City, Mexico, lost his arms after being electrocuted by high voltage wires when he was 18 years old.

Doctors were forced to amputate both limbs as gangrene set in due to the severe burns he suffered as a result of the freak accident.

Jose worked in a taxi company to provide for his family after the accident

Despite losing his arms - as well as his right eye from a previous accident when he was 15 years old - Jose refused to give up.

The artist lost his right eye at the age of 15

The father-of-three only picked up a paintbrush for the first time five years ago after hearing about a charity that helps the less abled learn to paint.

Since becoming an artist Jose has been able to sell his work

He said: “When I was injured, everyone thought that I couldn’t do anything, that I had to be on a bed, in a wheelchair or in the door of the house taking the sun”

Former construction worker Jose took on various jobs to try and provide for his family before he picked up a paintbrush.

Jose said: “I wanted to work for my family and I started work at a taxicab base. It gave me the chance to start developing skills that the human body has.”

Mouth and foot painting artists of the world helped Jose hone his skills

In 2011, Jose was introduced to the association of mouth and foot painting artists of the world (AMFPA) - an organisation that was set up to help improve the painting skills of mouth and foot artists.

The organisation, which was founded in 1956, gives these special artists a unique opportunity to provide for their families by selling their work.

The organisation was set up to help disabled artists around the world

He said: “Painting actually works for a living, it gives us money to continue studying, to buy materials, books and all that has changed our life completely.”

The defiant artist has refused to allow his injuries to stop himself from reaching his full potential, using his own personal experience as motivation to be improve his skills.