CRI Article

In many ways, Michael Platzer is much like any other artist you may read about. He lives, breathes and sleeps art. Starting around the age of 12, he began taking art lessons. He claims his inspiration comes from the Masters from the Renaissance period to the Modern Era. Michael experimented with different techniques until he settled on his current method, which is what distinguishes him from many other artists. He paints with his mouth.

In 1975 when Michael was 12 years old, he broke his neck when he dove into the shallow end of a swimming pool. "I remember saying to my brother, watch, a perfect jack-knife" recalls Michael. The accident left him a quadriplegic- unable to use his arms or legs.

Prior to the accident, Michael enjoyed drawing cartoon figures. As he underwent the process of rehabilitation- trying to adjust to what lay ahead, a family friend, who also was an art teacher, started giving Michael art lessons. "When I first started, I worked on learning the basics, and on positioning the brush between my fingers and the hand supports that I wore," explains Michael of his earlier art lessons. Michael explained how he went from struggling to hold the brush in his paralyzed hands to creating breathtaking paintings. It happened by accident. "I was trying to draw a straight line on a bridge that I was working on. In the process of mixing paints, without really thinking about it, I placed the paintbrush in my mouth and was able to draw the line on the bridge that I was working on." Michael continues, " I was able to paint the line the way I wanted it."

The discovery that he could paint by holding the brush in his mouth came about five years after Michael's accident. He sold his first painting in '79 "The first picture I ever sold was of a cougar, I can't recall how much I sold it for," says Michael.

Over the years, Michael has captured landscapes, lighthouses, woodpeckers, and man's best friend. Michael also has done several portraits and several murals. Michael said, "Faces are hard enough on their own; to make the portrait look like the person is a challenge." He goes on to say, "I have always enjoyed a challenge."

Michael has painted several large murals and explains the process on his web site: www.mouthpainter.com/mural.htm. Also, by logging on to Michael's web site you can see a number of his paintings and read more about the various projects he has done. In addition to designing Christmas cards that the Christopher Reeve Foundation and Habitat for Humanity used for their holiday card series. He has also designed this years artwork on the Mifflin-Juniata Arts Council festival's T-shirts.

"I'm not an art critic, but I would have to say that Michael's paintings are excellent,." says Beth Burchfield a repeated customer. Beth went on to share, "The paintings are great but more than that, it's the history behind the painting that brings it to life. Every time I go into Michael's studio I find something that I want," said Beth.

Michael says that the ideas for his paintings come from any and everywhere. "Sometimes I look out of my studio windows and see something and paint it. At other times, someone will call me and describe the type of picture they want or they may send me a photo of what they want a painting of," says Michael in a rather quiet humble voice that mirrors his paintings.

Michael uses both oils and watercolors. "The watercolors have a more artistic look, and they dry faster."

Michael explains watercolors before going on to say, "Oil paints take longer to dry but are more forgiving; you can correct your mistakes easier in oils."

When Michael isn't in his studio painting, he can often be found out in the community demonstrating his skills and enhancing public awareness as to what people with disabilities are capable of. "I believe that it is important to expose kids to art and to people with disabilities; so I go into the local schools, and art shows to demonstrate my painting techniques," said Michael, who is modest when it comes to talking about his involvement in the development of a local advocacy group in Mifflin County devoted to educating the community on the lack of accessibility in the community.

Michael has begun incorporating the computer into his artwork. "I scan the photo into my computer to enlarge the photo- to get every detail." Michael goes on to share other ways he incorporates his computer into his artwork, "I've been doing quite a bit of graphic art and designing of web pages for people."