Alana Ciena Tillman is an artist based in Northern California. At first glance, it's her stunning eye for color that impresses viewers.
But the true shock comes when one learns her technique: Alana creates all of her artwork using nothing but her mouth and feet.
She was born with a rare defect that caused her to lose the use of her arms and hands. Undeterred, a young Alana sought out different ways to channel her creativity and artistic sensibilities.
Encouraged by her architect father, artist uncles, and creative household, Alana started picking up the paintbrush with her mouth, and drew out stunning pieces of art, inspired by the natural scenery, people, and animals that surrounded her every day.
Her mission is to inspire others with similar disabilities to pick up the paint brush (or whatever tool they love) and let their imagination and creativity run wild!
Click here to visit Alana's website, and to see more of her incredible artwork. Scroll further to read her story, and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
[H/T: Revelist]
Meet Alana. She is an artist based in Northern California, and has been painting ever since she was 5 years old.
She was born with a rare birth defect that left her without the use of her arms and hands.
But this did not deter her from wanting to create art.
Inspired by her father (an architect), her uncles (artists), and her creative, supportive family, Alana aspired to paint wonderfully unique artworks.
Her general style ranges from abstract to impressionist, but she also spends time painting beautiful portraits of people, animals, and scenery onto canvas.
Alana always knew that she was going to channel her artistic sensibilities this way.
"Since I was born without the use of my hands, the logical way to write my name or to draw was to put the tool in my mouth," she told Revelist.
She often draws inspiration from the natural scenes of life and beauty around her.
Living in Northern California, Alana is surrounded on all sides by beautiful, changing landscapes, and by the ocean, the vineyards, the rivers, and the mountains.
"I've used the environment and colors from nature as inspiration for my artwork," she said.
Her greatest mission, however, is to inspire others with similar disabilities to pursue their potential passion for the arts — that they can truly overcome any sort of adversity and difficulty if they only put their minds to it.
In the end, she wants more than anything to be known for the quality of her artwork, rather than for the way she created it.
"My goal is to create artwork that evokes a feeling or memory while enhancing one's space," she wrote on her website.
Click here to learn more about the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, an organization that helps give a platform to artists who live with disabilities.
Please SHARE if you were inspired by Alana's love and dedication for painting!
