-The Department of Culture recognizes her achievements in observance of International Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Day.
In observance of International Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Day—celebrated on September 5th—the story of Martha Olivas Torres stands as a source of pride for the Municipal Arts Center (CMA) of the Mazatlán Institute of Culture, Tourism, and Art (where she studies painting). Her life is a living testament to the fact that limits exist only in the mind and can be overcome through determination and perseverance.
Born with cerebral palsy, this CMA student transformed what many would have considered an insurmountable barrier into the driving force of her life. Supported by the unconditional love of her mother, Martha Torres Salas—who accompanied her in every classroom—she defied the odds by discovering that her mouth was the perfect tool to capture her emotions in color. Today, at 42, Martha is not only an accomplished visual artist and member of a prestigious international association but also an exceptional academic who has completed degrees in Computer Engineering and Educational Psychology, earned a Master’s degree in Education with honors, and is currently pursuing a doctorate.
She is one of 70 scholarship recipients nationwide affiliated with the international Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association (APBP). Her life is tangible proof that true independence is drawn with willpower, transforming adversity into a world of opportunities.
Despite her motor impairments, Martha Olivas showed a special affinity for color and drawing from a very young age. Her mother recalls how, as a child, Martha sought ways to paint, even before she could articulate what she was doing in words.
“She has always loved drawing; she has always loved painting,” recalls her mother, who fought to ensure Martha could attend mainstream schools and develop as independently as possible.
Throughout her primary, middle, and high school years, her mother remained by her side, accompanying her through every school day. One major challenge arose when Martha had to learn to write. She first tried using her foot but later discovered that her mouth was the tool that worked best for her.
Her foray into painting
Her first formal introduction to painting came during high school. A teacher suggested she try holding a paintbrush in her mouth, marking the beginning of a new artistic chapter. Her first exhibition followed shortly after, and—to everyone’s surprise—her first piece sold.
Over time, Martha formally resumed her painting studies; since March 2019, she has been attending classes at the Municipal Center for the Arts (CMA). There, Visual Arts Coordinator Mónica Rice has witnessed the refinement of her technique under the guidance of instructor Miguel Flores.
During this period, her passion for art also led her to join an international association of mouth and foot painting artists. Martha conducted her own research, contacted members of the organization, and was successfully admitted.
Martha Olivas is currently part of the group of painters representing Mexico in this international association, which is headquartered in Switzerland and brings together artists from around the world.
Her artistic evolution has led her to work with various techniques—including acrylic, oil, and watercolor—and she has created around 120 works that have been exhibited in galleries across Mexico and the United States.
Additionally, Martha worked as a columnist for ten years at the newspaper *El Sol del Pacífico*, covering topics related to people with disabilities, and wrote “Martha’s Column” for the *Noroeste* newspaper for another decade.
Currently, the artist works as a computer teacher at the *Centro de Atención Múltiple No. 50*, a special education school. In her view, teaching means helping her students achieve the same independence she has built throughout her own life.
Her mother notes that Martha makes a special effort to connect and communicate with students who have cerebral palsy or autism, seeking different ways to help them develop their abilities.
“She wants her students to be independent, too,” she explains. For her mother, seeing how far her daughter has come is a source of satisfaction that surpasses even her own expectations.
“I believed in her. I knew she could do it,” she says.
Martha Torres acknowledges that during the early years, it was necessary to support her and fight to secure her a place in schools; today, however, Martha makes her own decisions, seeks out opportunities for further education, organizes her activities, manages her money, and builds her own path.
She even recently managed to acquire an electric wheelchair—a milestone her family views as a new step toward her independence.
Freedom
How has painting impacted Martha?
“In many ways; it gives me freedom. I am free. When I paint a landscape, I feel as though I am actually there,” the artist said.
For Martha, art also means meeting new people, interacting with other artists, and finding a different, more relaxed environment in which to keep learning.
She is currently refining her painting techniques and aims to learn new forms of artistic expression. Her instructors have already taught her techniques used by great masters of painting, and Martha is moving into a phase where she can make her own creative decisions—choosing colors and composition, and deciding how she wants to bring each idea to life.
Marking the International Day of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists—observed on September 5—Martha Olivas Torres’s story serves as a reminder that talent knows no bounds. It shows how opportunities, education, perseverance, and support can open paths that once seemed impassable.
Her story is not merely that of an artist who learned to paint in a unique way; it is the story of a woman who turned every obstacle into an opportunity to learn, work, create, and build her own independence.
And guiding her along this journey is a sentiment her mother has held close since Martha was a child: a belief in her.
