I love to introduce you to the lovely
Oscar Wilde. Oscar is one of my favorite writers. I just love the way his mind worked. His life was so creative, his work was ground breaking, yet his life ended pretty tragic and lonely.
Oscar is my latest illustration for my "Writer's Portraits" series.
One of most prized possessions is a 1916 copy of "The Prose of Oscar Wilde". Here's the story of how I got it.
When I was student in Boston, I worked in this small art gallery in Harvard Square, in Cambridge, MA. Everyday I worked, I was greeted by these two sweet brothers from Ireland, Noel and Steven. They would hang out outside the gallery with all the other homeless men. (I was a small town girl and I was told I should be afraid of people like this). But as I got to know them, I loved their positive attitudes and their stories, we also talked a lot about books and our mutual love of good literature. We got to be pretty close and a day didn't seem right until I saw them and knew they were ok.
At a certain point, and a cold New England winter, they wanted to go home. I had the opportunity to help, but I was scared. Their mom was going to send them money but she needed a bank account to send it to. So I let them use mine. I know that it was only a little thing, but it was one of those trust in the universe things. They were able to go home and start their life over. I was actually able to help someone...
As a thank you, they gave me this book... It was a old copy and they had it rebound for me. Noel and Steven were so proud to give this to me. Here's what they wrote...
“Yes: I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can only find his way by
moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest
of the world.”
―
Oscar Wilde,
The Critic as Artist
 |
| Oscar Wilde by Napolean Sarony, 1882 |
They connected me forever to Oscar Wilde. And the book itself is amazing. You should all give it a good read. It was about twenty years ago when I got that book, and I wonder what happened to those "irish brothers". Maybe someday, our paths will cross again, until then I envision the best for you all.
Oscar is now available
here in my shop!
