Mark Sheeky Artworks

About this painting

A self portrait was needed for a competition and I considered many options. I decided to experiment with perspectives from below and above, so took some test photographs and liked the results. By chance the light in the ceiling was near my grasping hands, and the result looked like an attempt to possess the light. I was later struck that the image reflected my pursuits of the day as I'd spent the day and the previous few days comprehending god and the nature of information, a consequence of reading a book about modern philosophy. Thus, the title was born and the painting made perfect sense, grasping towards something, a god certainly, or ideal, knowledge.

A background of sky seemed ideal. I added a distant dark ring, almost a horizon, which had a visual and informational significance. This was directly related to my thoughts on information being contrast, and more powerful information being more powerful contrast. The idea seemed perfect, and all conceived and made in a few hours.