Niewenhuizen Jacobus Johannes

Jacobus Johannes Niewenhuizen was born on 8 June 1977 in Wolmaransstad (South Africa). In a motorcycle accident on 28 May 1998 he suffered grave injuries to his back at the level of the C5 and C6 vertebrae (tetraplegia). In the year 2000 he went to the "Servaas" home for the disabled in Klerksdorp. Inspired by VDMFK artists Tom Webster (student member/mouth painter), Johan Waite (student member/mouth painter) and Johan H. Barkemeyer Erasmus (student member/mouth painter), he made the first brushstrokes with his mouth in March 2010. Gradually Jacobus Johannes Niewenhuizen came to enjoy mouth painting. The mouth painter himself once said: "I really appreciate mouth painting! I feel that a new door has opened for me, a new challenge has emerged." To this day the artist has been teaching himself to paint but would like to take private art and painting lessons.