A Modern Day Dorian Gray (a Self Portrait)

Influenced by Oscar Wilde's only published novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray".
The story of Dorian Gray seems to resonate more and more with society as time passes by. It intrigues me how the basis of this story written in the 1890 holds more true to today than any time before. Individuals have become overly concerned, even walking the fine line of obsession with aesthetics, and instant gratification.

This is my first attempt at a sort of hybrid art piece/self portrait. The original photograph was taken by the very talented and brilliant photographer (who also happens to be a pleasant and kind individual) Jesse Baumung. www.jessbaumung.com
It was done using several manipulations in Photoshop CS4, I then did something that I've never attempted before! I brought this image into Painter X and spent more time than I should've getting to know the program and experimenting.
It was my initial concept to end up with a self portrait emulating the type of painting that Basil Hallward would've created if I were to take the place of Dorian Gray himself.

Voilà! This is the result, it's not quite as "painterly" as I envisioned but I'm happy with it.

The Picture of Dorian Gray
a novel by Oscar Wilde

Dorian Gray, the young subject of a painting by artist Basil Hallward. Basil is impressed by Dorian's beauty and becomes infatuated with him, believing his beauty is responsible for a new mode in his art.
A gracious and polite mannered young man soon becomes enthralled by a different view of the world soon after meeting the charming yet manipulative Lord Henry Wotton.
Espousing a new hedonism, Lord Henry suggests the only things worth pursuing in life are beauty and fulfillment of the senses. Realizing that one day his beauty will fade, Dorian cries out, expressing his desire to sell his soul to ensure the portrait Basil has painted would age rather than himself.
Dorian's wish is fulfilled, plunging him into debauched acts. The portrait serves as a reminder of the effect each act has upon his soul, with each sin displayed as a disfigurement of his form, or through a sign of aging.