Armless man loves to paint

A man without arms has become the vice curator of an art museum in China.

Huang Guofu (41) is the vice curator of Chongqing Talents Museum, and is planning to paint a long scroll of the scenes of old Chongqing.

By biting a chopstick in his mouth and using his right foot to clamp a pen to touch the keyboard, Huang can use the computer agilely. "I am searching materials and pictures of old Chongqing, and preparing the materials for my upcoming creations," said Huang.

Last year Huang was appointed the vice-curator of the newly established museum for his never-give-up spirit and his artistic achievements.

Huang was born in Tongnan, Chongqing. When he was four, he lost both his arms after suffering electric shocks.

He started to have a strong interest in painting when he was 12. Each day after school, Huang would paint works with his feet of the pictures in his textbook.

His works were recommended for an exhibition in the local culture center, and won great success. Then Huang started his professional studies in the city arts centre.

Huang quit his learning when he was 18, as his father was dying and he needed money to help treat him. Huang travelled to many cities in creating works on the street side and selling them to the passersby to collect money.

After hearing many comments that it's not elegant to do paintings with one's feet, Huang tried to paint by biting the brush in his mouth.

Huang found love in 1999 when he travelled to a city in Sichuan Province. Hu Guohui was impressed by Huang's painting skills and his strong will, and in 2000 they got married, and two years later they moved back to Huang's hometown in Chongqing.

After the marriage, Hu became Huang's assistant. When Wang needs to draw scene in the wild, Hu would carry the board and other tools and go out with him.

During the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, Huang was even invited by the expo committee to present his skills to the public.

Huang's museum now has several foot-and-mouth painters who are in the same physical condition as him. He explained: "When life closes one door to you, it must have opened another at the same time.

"I want to let the younger generation know that there are no real obstacles in life. The only obstacle is if you want to do it."