If cancer is a sensitive topic for you, I suggest skipping/not reading further.

My father was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer over a year ago and passed away a bit over a week ago at 66, after a long and hard battle against the illness. I felt the need to process my own feelings through creating something right now amidst what has probably been the toughest month in my life yet, and here's the result.

Not quite therapy, but a therapeutic experience for sure. Each piece of this series will focus on a different aspect/phase of the illness, hopefully working both on their own and as a coherent collection of pieces for a more complete narrative. Not sure how many parts the series will include in total, but I have concepts in mind for quite a few already. This first part is focused on the immense physical pain that my father was trying to cope with until it all started unraveling with his first CT scan results and the diagnosis.

Rest easy now, dad. ❤

The sculpt is Oblivion by Carlo Borella. The concept for this piece was inspired by the works of Jamie Foster, Pat Sancho & Roman Lappat.

  • Filgja

    A difficult subject. It's very powerful, we feel the pain in this piece. A thought for you and your family.

  • Fabrizio SchiragaPLUS

    Gold

  • OrigalumPLUS

    Quite expressive!

    • OrigalumPLUS

      I read the description after getting acquainted with the work. My condolences. I believe that after we die here, we start something new somewhere else.

    • Erkka MarttioPLUS

      Thank you!

  • Steam Paint

    Wow, great idea:)

  • MartinSporka

    I hope the painting will help you relieve your pain. My condolences.

  • Eamon Connerty

    So sorry for your loss. Very powerful piece, gold.

  • Steph.DPLUS

    vote Or pour toi ;)

  • Roman LappatPLUS

    I am sorry for youe loss, Erkka. No more words needed about the Situation. Feel hugged. About this piece: I can feel it so strong. If this is not the essence of miniature art I do not know what is. This - for me - is a thousand times more intensely using miniature as an art form than the next well painted bust or Terminator space marine. This is pure emotion. Brutal, painful and readable. Feelable. For me this is one of the best miniature art projects I have seen in 2023 and I give it Best of storytelling in 2023, Platinum medals, Gold and Editors choice without a second thought. Not many are able to paint and transport and create what you have done here. You got a unique artistic skill to be so in contact with your emotions. I bow my head and hug you!

    • Roman LappatPLUS

      If this is not considered Miniature Art by our community of painters, beginners, advanced and masters than I do not know what is.

    • Erkka MarttioPLUS

      Thank you so much Roman, no words for how much it means to hear that - especially from you, and especially for this piece. Beyond honored - kiitos!

  • Jakob VPLUS

    Somehow I missed this here. I feel the pain. This hit me right in the gut, as I wrote you direct message. Of course editor’s choice.

  • alphafourtwoPLUS

    Bravo for this expressive work of pain. On top of displaying emotion, you used bright colors in a very interesting way. The result vehiculates feelings: and that’s something that give life to a painting. My condolences to you friend. May your father rest easy.