This post is about art, reading, and the end of summer.

Reading has never really been my thing. I never loved any of the required reading books for school and I would always reread sentences because my mind was drifting off. This led me to believe that reading was not for me. I usually only pick up books for plane rides or going to the beach but in my quest to lower my phone screen time (currently averaging to just under 4 hours a day – not bad!) I thought picking up reading as a hobby would be a good idea.

In preparation for summer, I picked up some “summery” books. (Play It As It Lays, Black Swans, and Bonjour Tristesse) However, with this summer being the grayest, rainiest, and most boring summer ever, none of these books felt right for the mood. Looking for something gray and moody I reached for The Picture Of Dorian Gray, which is funny given my recent ugly things make you ugly revelation.

While feeling the Victorian, Gothic vibes and (vague spoiler) mourning the death of poor stage actress Sibyl Vane, I drew two ladies I have aptly titled “Victorian Gothic 1” and “Victorian Gothic 2” (see above). For both illustrations, I utilized a larger brush pen than I had been using upon my return to making art. I’m not sure why but somewhere along the way I seem to have convinced myself that using a pen with a large tip was lazy. When comparing my newer works to my older works I felt that something was missing, it was the deep blacks I would achieve with brush pens. (I ordered a 5 pack of Tombow brush pens on Amazon and they are already dry, you should order from JetPens instead, not sponsored but I wish I were.)

Of course, now that summer is over and having just gotten back from a quick trip to Montauk, emptying my bag of clothes that still smell like the beach, I am now mourning the summer.

My thoughts on Dorian Gray? It was ok. (More minor spoilers) I wish we saw more of what Dorian did to make his portrait so ugly. Instead, we get a long chapter about a book that ruins his life (seriously wtf is chapter 11?!) and chapter-long conversations with Lord Harry. I wonder about the original, shorter, and more controversial version of the book. I’ll give it 3 stars for the good vibes and for inspiring some 3-star artwork from myself. Last night I did pick up Play It As It Lays and I am blowing through it, way more my speed! It would have made for a great beach read. (What I did bring to the beach was Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes because, at the end of the day, I am just one of the many millennial white girls who love true crime.)

Read for Filth,

Corinne