Purpose in Painting | Lorraine's story
June 26, 2025
Lorraine Clarkson, who was diagnosed with MND in 2023, has been a painter all her life.
The walls in her home are decorated with pastels she’s painted, and recently the walls of Bendigo Tafe were filled with her watercolours as part of a special exhibition that doubled as a fundraiser for MND Victoria.
The exhibition featured 43 original watercolours, which were for sale with 50% of the purchase price going directly to MND Victoria. All 43 pieces were painted by Lorraine’s mouth, after she lost arm function due to MND.
“When MND took my arms, I had no way of painting anymore and thought ‘how was I going to exist without painting or gardening?’ Really I thought my whole life was finished.”
Lorraine’s experience of life with MND changed one day at palliative care, when she expressed how much she missed painting and wanted to find a way to do it. The team gave her a canvas, and popped a paintbrush in her mouth.
“Once the paintbrush was in my mouth, the world didn’t exist anymore: it was just me and my paint. Me and my artwork; that’s all it was. I wouldn’t know what time of day it was, because it takes me to another place.
“And it’s good, because even though I’ve got this rotten disease, it gives me a purpose, and a thing to say ‘well, as long as my mouth is working, I can paint.’"
At the moment, while I’m painting, I have a reason to be here. And, of course, my grandchildren.
Prior to MND she was primarily a pastel artist, and taught others to paint in the medium. Now, she only paints with watercolour because it dries quickly, and “it’s a bit hard to put pastel in your mouth as it doesn’t taste the best.”
While she’d love to find a way to make the pastel work, the act of painting is so important to her wellbeing that she does it every opportunity she can.
“My enjoyment is in doing it. When I’m finished painting I put it aside, and I’m ready for my mind to get to the next one.
“Because I can’t pre-draw what I want to paint, I have to have it in my mind, and work out in my mind how big it’s going to be. People with hands can pre-draw their designs, but I just have to think about where the paintbrush is going to be.
“Previously I was painting everyday, because I could move myself to my painting station, and move around or away as I needed. But now I’ve go to get someone at my house while I’m doing it, to move me in and back, so it’s getting trickier.
“I’m still painting, but I am deteriorating. It’s about once a week now. If I was able to have more of my time with carers, I could have more time with my artwork.”
All of the pieces at the exhibit were done over the last few months, and for each of the 80 attendees, they’re a beautiful reminder of how skilled she’s gotten at painting with her mouth, while providing an insight into her life with MND.
Most of the people who came and bought a painting knew Lorraine personally, though the crowd came from very different parts of her life, such as MND advisors, politician Gaelle Broad, family, people from the local art world such as prominent watercolourist Terry Jarvis, and long-term friends like organiser Julie Curnow.
“I’ve thought about doing something like this for a long time, and didn’t because without my arms and legs, I sort of couldn’t do it myself. My friend Julie asked me if I’d like to come and put on a show.
“I had the 43 paintings, and I thought ‘well, my family isn’t going to want all of these’, which they actually did, but I wanted to do it for myself and for MND Victoria. I wanted to contribute because without MND Victoria’s help I wouldn’t be sitting in this wheelchair.”
Beyond raising money, or even showing off her pieces, it’s the combo of raising awareness of MND and hoping to inspire others that strongly drove Lorraine in the event, and makes her think of holding another one.
“It’s inspiration for maybe other people out there with MND to know you don’t have to just do nothing. You can achieve something. For me it was my artwork.
“I feel lucky in a way that I found an outlet, and didn’t have to sit in the chair all day and do nothing. So now I’m still painting, and I’m going to put artwork into greeting cards.
“It’s also meaning awareness, because a lot of people come up to me and ask what MND is. So all these people, they now have an understanding.
“It’s all over now, and I’m getting ready for the next one. I’ll see how my mouth goes—the problem with me is I’m a person that everything has to be perfect, and because I paint with my mouth I’ve had to realise I can’t be perfect anymore so I’ve got to do what I’m able to do.”
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