“Float”
Tina Domske
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Thriver
TikTok @metastatic.mama
Facebook @metastatic mama
Twist On Cancer: Getting a stage 4 cancer diagnosis in February of 2023 hit me like a brick wall. I was 36, a single mother, and had no history of cancer. What transpired next was a whirlwind of scans, treatments, and biopsies, all while grieving the life I thought I would live. It was devastating, but early in my diagnosis, I decided that I wouldn’t let cancer dull my shine, or keep me from enjoying whatever time I have left with my daughter. So, between my treatments, I live my life to its fullest, and make as many wonderful memories with my daughter as possible.
My experience with Brushes With Cancer has given me an entirely new perspective into my struggles with a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. My artist Violet and I clicked instantly, which made it easy to open up, and really think about aspects of my journey that I didn’t dare to ruminate on before. One thing I discovered is what wisdom I wish to leave my daughter (10) with, and how much she inspires me to be the best possible version of myself. I also began to learn that what I simply perceived as my own stubbornness was inspiring and powerful to those around me. It has also shown me just how healing a community can be, and has inspired me to do more for others. I’m excited to see what my future holds, and I’m so grateful for this experience.
10/10 I highly recommend!
Violet Alexandre
Philadelphia, PA
https://www.experienceempathy.org
@LVdreamer
“Float”
Acrylic on canvas
20” x 20” 1.5”
$900
Artist Statement:
“Float”
A painting inspired by Tina’s cancer journey and the love that roots her.
This work began as a conversation, a quiet unfolding. Tina shared stories with grace and grit, revealing a woman navigating the unpredictable waters of metastatic breast cancer. Yet it was never just her journey. At the center of every choice, every moment, was her daughter, Alex.
The painting does not depict reality, but an emotional landscape shaped by love, persistence, exhaustion, beauty, and an unbreakable bond between mother and child. At its heart, two entwined forms become a single flower: Tina and Alex. Petals open toward the light, surrounded by ripples of lilac, violet, and rose, echoes of Tina’s metaphor of paddling in a vast lake, struggling to stay afloat. She is never alone. Alex is her anchor.
The petals’ textured surface speaks of effort and vulnerability. A delicate trail of ivory blossoms rises upward, a shimmering thread of love passed from mother to daughter, enduring beyond time. Flowers recur in Tina’s story, not as decoration, but as declarations of care. She always bought them for Alex, reminding her that joy needs no permission.
One memory blooms within this painting: Tina shaving her head, Alex by her side. That shared act of courage still pulses beneath the paint.
This piece is not tidy or resolved. It is meant to honor and to hold. To float, as Tina does with grace, grit, laughter, and fierce devotion. A legacy of love that refuses to fade.