In April 2026, my favourite 3D sculptor, Nerikson, announced a painting contest — and naturally, I immediately thought:
“Yes! That sounds fun, relaxing, and totally manageable.”
Famous last words.
The contest officially started on May 1st, 2026, and will run until June 30th, 2026. Two full months sounds like plenty of time, right? Well… only if you conveniently ignore a full-time job, real life, and a two-week holiday that cuts a rather impressive hole into the available painting schedule.
But where would the fun be without a little pressure?
The first challenge was choosing a model. Nerikson has created so many wonderful sculptures that picking just one felt almost impossible. And of course, because apparently I enjoy making life difficult for myself, I did not choose one of the simple and relaxed models.
No, no. That would have been far too easy.
At first, my favourite was the girl with the robot. I had already imagined the colours, the atmosphere, the little details… and then my 3D printer decided to become a dramatic diva. Failed print after failed print, technical issues lasting well into early May — at some point, the universe made the decision for me.
So instead, I turned to another beautiful and wonderfully complex piece: “Temperance.”
And honestly? I am not mad about it.
The sculpture has such a graceful, magical feeling to it, and I think it will be a fantastic challenge to paint. There are plenty of details to obsess over, enough delicate elements to make me question my life choices, and just the right amount of artistic drama.
So here it is: the unprimed 3D print of Nerikson’s sculpture “Temperance.”
Let the painting adventure begin.
#nerikson, #nerikson 2026, #nerikson painting contest 2026