The Paintings

[Gravy]

Spoilers!

Do you think Diego's painting accurately depicts Henry? Do you think the painting says more about Henry, or Diego? What about Diego's paintings of himself? If someone were to paint you, what do you think they'd paint? Would different people paint you differently? Do you have anything, like Diego has his paintings, that you put yourself into?

[Julie Ditton]

I found the paintings a fantastic touch. I loved both Diego's self portrait and his painting of Henry. My portrait would show me with my family and a large pile of books.

[gali]

I think that Diego's painting accurately depicts Henry and that it reflect both guys.

My portrait would also include my family, books, and my kindle...

[Heidi M Simone]

I think Diego's painting does depict Henry well. Like gali said, I think it reflects the thoughts and feelings of both boys.

If someone were to paint me, it would include my husband, dog, parents, siblings, Reese's peanut butter cups ( ), a notebook, a pen, books, and my kindle. I think others would paint me similarly because I rarely have something I withhold from others. I have been lucky to have grown up in a stable and healthy environment, so I don't have these dark and extremely sad moments in my life that would affect me in the way that it affected both Henry and Diego.

[Gravy]

Mine would have to have an owl

I think Diego's painting does depict Henry well. Like gali said, I think it reflects the thoughts and feelings of both boys.

If someone were to paint me, it would include my husband, dog, parents, siblings, Reese's peanut butter cups ( ), a notebook, a pen, books, and my kindle. I think others would paint me similarly because I rarely have something I withhold from others. I have been lucky ti have grown up in a stable and healthy environment, so I don't have these dark and extremely sad moments in my life that would affect me in the way that it affected both Henry and Diego.

Reese's peanut butter cups

[Heidi M Simone]

Mine would have to have an owl

I think Diego's painting does depict Henry well. Like gali said, I think it reflects the thoughts and feelings of both boys.

If someone were to paint me, it would include my husband, dog, parents, siblings, Reese's peanut butter cups ( ), a notebook, a pen, books, and my kindle. I think others would paint me similarly because I rarely have something I withhold from others. I have been lucky to have grown up in a stable and healthy environment, so I don't have these dark and extremely sad moments in my life that would affect me in the way that it affected both Henry and Diego.

Reese's peanut butter cups

It's the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter.

[Erik]

I doubt I'd ever let anyone paint me... I'm not at ease with that level of scrutiny of my appearance.

But I've done portraits before... and each artist approaches the subject differently, so yes, if different artists painted the same person, each painting would be incredibly different, based on the artist's style, his training/education, his skill level, his mood, how well he knows his subject, etc. No two artists' work will ever be the same.
I suppose my work would be what I put most of myself into. I do artwork now and then too... and music will always be a major part of me.

[mratdegraff91]

I felt that Diego's painting accurately depicted Henry in what he saw of him and that it also represented Henry well. Henry apparently did not agree with the image, but maybe he realized there was more strength in him. I do feel that it says more about Diego than Henry in that Diego can read and understand others better than Henry. Diego's paintings to me seemed more focused on what his emotions were at the time. For example, the painting he created on the worst day of his life had darkness and death in it. If someone were to paint me, I honestly have no idea what it would look like. I am not very good at expressing my emotions and would have a difficult time painting myself. I can paint trees lol but not people. I do think people would paint me differently because I have those who I am extremely close to and those who I am semi close to.

[Jennifer Allsbrook]

Spoilers!

Do you think Diego's painting accurately depicts Henry? Do you think the painting says more about Henry, or Diego? What about Diego's paintings of himself? If someone were to paint you, what do you think they'd paint? Would different people paint you differently? Do you have anything, like Diego has his paintings, that you put yourself into?

I thought Diego's work was very introspective and heartbreaking. To imagine a child painting portraits of himself that including the flaying and shedding of skin or the ripping out of his heart shows deep-seated, soul-deep pain. His depiction of Henry was also interesting. Showing the inner rebar shows Henry's strength while the outer shell is crumbling. If someone were to paint me, it would depict the mask that gets put on to face the world while the inner person stays hidden. I do think that different people would paint me differently. The beauty of wearing a mask is that you can change what you want others to see. Being genuine carries the risks of heartbreak, ridicule, nonacceptance, and criticism. We are genuine with the people we trust. Marcus wore many masks in the story. I think many people wear their public mask but let few people see what lies beneath.

[Gravy]

I think mine would have a multitude of different animals. I'm an animal lover, through and through. Books and music, something representative of my creative side. And something representing those closest to me.
Myself, I think my face would be hidden, or mostly so. I also think it would be fitting for me to be stitched together like Sally in The Nightmare Before Christmas

[AA1495]

I doubt I'd ever let anyone paint me... I'm not at ease with that level of scrutiny of my appearance.

But I've done portraits before... and each artist approaches the subject differently, so yes, if different artists painted the same person, each painting would be incredibly different, based on the artist's style, his training/education, his skill level, his mood, how well he knows his subject, etc. No two artists' work will ever be the same.
I suppose my work would be what I put most of myself into. I do artwork now and then too... and music will always be a major part of me.

You've a very interesting point - No two artists' work will ever be the same. Something to think about!

[Lest92]

I doubt I'd ever let anyone paint me... I'm not at ease with that level of scrutiny of my appearance.

But I've done portraits before... and each artist approaches the subject differently, so yes, if different artists painted the same person, each painting would be incredibly different, based on the artist's style, his training/education, his skill level, his mood, how well he knows his subject, etc. No two artists' work will ever be the same.
I suppose my work would be what I put most of myself into. I do artwork now and then too... and music will always be a major part of me.

Cool beans, another artist Someone has made a concrete bust of me in 2012, our first year of our Fine Art course, and I'm not sure what I think about it. It scares burglars, I suppose, because it's kind of raw. I've also done enough self-portraits to be utterly sick of my own face to this day. Nobody would find me inspiring enough to do a portrait of me, and it's not easy to come up with a depiction that isn't a kitsch cliche, so I'd say they'd have to know me well enough to represent me by my attributes, not with a painting/drawing of my face. I might do this myself if I need something for an exhibition. So yes, that's my real work, fine art.

Visual art isn't an easy medium to translate into writing as art, but if done masterfully, the image can migrate from the picture surface to letters (also visual symbols) which create words, which ultimately create meaning, and it is in that successful migration that we follow the image from one medium to another. Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye had done this extraordinarily well. I could only see the sample of We Are the Ants, but the inclusion of art as a marker of that time of life is authentic and has me recall myself as a jaded teenager at our art classes at school.

[James Craft]

It would be neat to have a bust made of me, but I don't know if I would like it.

[Lest92]

It would be neat to have a bust made of me, but I don't know if I would like it.

I think one would tolerate it if the person making it has a real talent for sculpture, otherwise no. And concrete isn't a flattering medium, to be honest.

[TangledinText]

I put myself into my reviews because when I book transports you inside it's context it becomes a piece of you. I think it tells more about the artist how they translate the person. I think each person I know would draw me a little differently because I don't open up very easily so each person I know only sees a small part of me that I want them to see.