Mark Sheeky Artworks

About this painting

An idea from Jan 2018 or earlier, originally inspired by a simple drawing of Shakespeare. The head seemed to be made from clay, with weeds emerging. When painting it, I had the idea of red flowers, carnations originally, but I changed these into poppies at a whim.

The symbolism later seemed magically, the red poppies with their connection to the Great War and remembrance. The end of the year of Covid-19 seemed to evoke a war-like mood, but also one of decay and decadence, a Remains of the Day.