The four paintings of the PTSD series, framed.

My PTSD Series


Happy Veterans Day.

To all my fellow veterans, I’d like to thank you for your service to our country. I’m a 20-year U.S. Air Force veteran. I retired in 2000 at Fairchild AFB, and I live in Spokane, Washington. This Veterans Day, I’m sharing a series that had been on my mind for quite a few years.

I think that people in general have some sort of pain and suffering, whether it’s physical, psychological or emotional. That pain is very real for most veterans, who, because of the nature, demands and stress of military duty, may have some degree of PTSD. This is what inspired me to create this series. It started with my own struggle with chronic pain. I painted these portraits by hand, in acrylic on canvas.

The PTSD series is four paintings: “Searing Pain” (2024), and “Despair,” “Anxiety,” and “Insomnia” (2025). The series was exhibited at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in November 2025.

The four paintings of the PTSD series, framed.
The four paintings of the PTSD series, framed.

“Searing Pain” was the first painting in the series. Acrylic on canvas, 18×24 inches. It received first place in acrylics at the 2024 Spokane VA Creative Arts Competition and second place in the acrylic painting category at the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition.

Searing Pain. Acrylic on canvas, 18 by 24 inches.
“Searing Pain.” Acrylic on canvas, 18×24 inches.
Searing Pain, framed and hanging on a wall.
“Searing Pain,” framed and hanging.
Close-up of the forehead in Searing Pain, showing the grid of painful tension.
The grid of painful tension.
First place in acrylics at the 2024 Spokane VA Creative Arts Competition, for Searing Pain.
First place in acrylics at the 2024 Spokane VA Creative Arts Competition.
Searing Pain with the 2024 competition medal.
With the 2024 competition medal.

“Despair.” Acrylic on canvas, 16×20 inches. A figure presses his hands to his temples, head bowed. I made the fingers longer, to me lengthening the distress, and turned the face downward. This painting received first place in acrylics at the 2025 Spokane VA Creative Arts Competition.

Despair. Acrylic on canvas, 16 by 20 inches.
“Despair.” Acrylic on canvas, 16×20 inches.
Despair, framed and hanging on a wall.
“Despair,” framed and hanging.
Close-up of the hands and bowed head in Despair.
Close-up of the hands and bowed head.
First place ribbon at the 2025 Spokane VA Creative Arts Competition, for Despair.
First place in acrylics at the 2025 Spokane VA Creative Arts Competition.

“Anxiety” (2025). Acrylic on canvas, 16×20 inches. A weathered portrait against a bright yellow field.

Anxiety, 2025. Acrylic on canvas, 16 by 20 inches.
“Anxiety” (2025). Acrylic on canvas, 16×20 inches.
Anxiety, framed and hanging on a wall.
“Anxiety,” framed and hanging.
Close-up of the eyes in Anxiety.
Close-up of the eyes.

“Insomnia.” Acrylic on canvas, 16×20 inches. A figure in bed, exhausted and unable to find rest.

Insomnia. Acrylic on canvas, 16 by 20 inches.
“Insomnia.” Acrylic on canvas, 16×20 inches.
Insomnia, framed and hanging on a wall.
“Insomnia,” framed and hanging.
Close-up of the eyes in Insomnia, with the canvas weave visible.
Close-up of the eyes, with the canvas weave visible.
Insomnia, framed and on display.
“Insomnia,” framed and on display.

You can see the full series, including close-ups of the brushwork, on Behance: See the full PTSD series on Behance

Prints are available in my Etsy shop, Romero Artwork: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RomeroArtwork

Searing Pain — https://www.etsy.com/listing/4610373973
Despair — https://www.etsy.com/listing/4610396380
Anxiety — https://www.etsy.com/listing/4610395448
Insomnia — https://www.etsy.com/listing/4610395882
The set of four — https://www.etsy.com/listing/4610818123

I’m grateful to the VA Creative Arts program, and to Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center for giving the series a place to be seen last November.

With gratitude,
Antonio Romero