The Picture of Dorian Gray

I just started reading this book a couple of days ago. I’m also reading another book at the moment as well, so this one is on pause. I’ll write a blog about the other book later, but there was something in this book that the character Basil Hallward said and that Oscar Wild captured perfectly. It’s the mark of every true artist. He said, “Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.” Also, he said, “it is rather the painter who, on the coloured canvas, reveals himself.” I find this to be very true in every sense. This quote touched me so much that I actually took the time to highlight it on my Kindle. I think it goes without question that most if not all artists carry self-doubt around with them. I know I do. Like Hallward so eloquently put it, it’s us on that canvas or in that poem. It makes us vulnerable and sometimes it’s nerve wracking sharing that with somebody. All of my poetry is based off of my life and experiences and my emotions so actually sharing that with somebody is actually giving the glimpse into my soul. It’s a very intimate thing…not something I’m so willing to share. The characters that we create or portray may be fictional but it’s really us as the artist…at least a little piece of us. Art is such a vulnerable topic, but it’s something that deserves to be shared with the world. Although, not everyone deserves to become that intimate with you.