The Time Capsule

Posted on by September 24, 2022

So the Brooklyn Art Library Sketchbook project has been through some things. They had a fire. And then moved. Then they did this free Time Capsule project.

Of course I had to think what I could put in a time capsule opened years from now. Did I want something personal? I wasn’t sure about that. But I did want to express my feelings at the time it was made.

So I decided to use cat memes. I wanted to express how things were going in the world. And where I live. And show what was happening in the zeitgeist. I often did the memes as is. Sometimes I changed them up and made them a bit more my own.

You might recognize a few faces and memes. Know that this is not for profit and entirely fan art. If you wanna check out history and explanations behind memes, go here: https://knowyourmeme.com

Cover with cat drawing of this time capsule sketchbook
A time capsule Sketchbook as told with cat memes by sheala bacon at this website.
A painting of Nyan cat
>nyan< which is Japanese for meow. Nyan Cat is part pop tart, part rainbow and flies through space spreading joy.
Time Capsule Explanation Sketchbook Page
The year is 2022. I’m in a Southern, barely blue state. We are still in a pandemic, worldwide, though it is hard to tell. The world has taken some weird turns. When thinking about how to time cap this moment, how to explain, I was stumped. So I turn to the internet and two of it’s core ingredients- cats and memes. Cats are my default setting and memes are Generally X’s natural communication. And for me, both can reveal our humanity. So I give you cat memes in their original or slightly changed form. topics include: self discovery, self care, getting the work that needs doing done, consent, puns, making fun of capitalism and good trouble. Oh and of course the nature of cats. Peace- Sheala
a painted, well lit, black cat offers a quest to passersby.
This cat has a quest for you. Take it!
A painted kitten sits on a hand, waiting to be picked up.
It’s dangerous to go alone. Take this! Take her…
A painted seal pointed cat looks unsmiling, at the viewer
No. No is a complete sentence. A tribute to Grumpy cat (aka tarder Sauce) We are who we are.
A painted grey cat in an orange jacket shows you what's cool.
Catching bugs at 3PM Catching bugs at 3AM Find the joy.
A painted page showing two cats, one is singing, the other friendly. Both are fluffy cream colored with cowboy hats.
Joleeeeeeen Meowwwwdy! Express yourself!
a painted page with a cat McMahon surprise meme
Human walks into the kitchen. Human grabs cat food can. Human pops open food can! Human fills food dish!!!
A painted benevolent white cat, pokes his head through a hole in the ceiling. A painted black cat with red eyes, stalks from below
Ceiling cat is watching. Basement cat waits.
A painted grey tabby stands on hind legs looking at something.
Me, minding my own business.
A painted double page showing a raccoon and screaming opossum confronting a seated white cate who is indifferent.
The days events. Me, waking up.
A painted black cat in a tie sits in front of a colorful backdrop.
Business cat needs those files. So he can sit on them.
a painted page with a grey bread cat
Bread cat is loafing around. You should too.
a double painted page showing a Jorts and Jean tribute. The Jean tribute includes a nod to Carrie Fisher aka space mom.
Classic Jorts! Remain unbuttered work together for your rights! Do self care. Your work belongs to you. Make Space Jean proud.
a double painted page with cat traps and hover cat memes
The cat traps are working. If it fits, it sits. Hover cat off to help his peeps.
A painted page show a Venn diagram and a cat in the overlap.
green circle: racing, howling, demanding demons. Purple Circle: warm, sweet, curious fuzz muffins. An arrow labeled ‘my cat’, points to a tabby cat in the overlap of the two circles. There’s a Venn Diagram for everything! Even if it’s a circle.
a painted page of a cat grooving out.
Good Vibes!
A painted orange cat is wrapped in a blue blanket, burrito style.
Purrito! The more people I meet, The more I like my cat! (the pandemic has been brutal)
A painted grey cat demonstrates wear the good scratching places are.
The cat petting guide, it shows different areas on a cat wear scratched might be welcomed and where they would not be. There is also a reminder that consent is enthusiastic.
A painted Tuxedo cat shows his belly.
it’s a trap!
A painted smug tabby in a cat condo discusses mistakes
I don’t always make mistakes, but when I do , I act like it never happened.
a double painted page showing three cats, one clearly distracted.
Watch for distractions!
A double page showing orange cats painted into two works of known art.
Moewna Lisa shows a Mona Lisa figure holding a large orange cat on her lap. The Purrsistance of Cats has orange cats in a Dali style painting.
A painted page of a Kitten dressed as a shark riding a Roomba
a striped kitten in a aqua shark costume rides a roomba vacuum saying, “go get it.”
Painted page of a triumphant orange cat with paw fist raised.
Woke human at 3AM… Didn’t need anything!
A painted page showing a mischievous kitten on a unicorn stuffed animal.
Onward Buttercup! There is mischief to spread!
a painted page showing a cat caught in a hanger needing help meme
human! i request your assistance!
a painted page with 12 cat faces showing different moods
What’s your mood today?
a painted portrait of a grey and white #caturday cat
#caturday
Time Capsule Sketchbook gallery

The Art-O-Mat

Posted on by July 14, 2022

The pandemic has been weird right? I’ve done lots of art, mostly to keep myself distracted. But early on, I started painting on the leftover wood blocks that were hanging around my studio. Then I remembered the Art-o-Mat. I thought those block paintings could totally translate to Art-o-Mat works, which have to be the certain size to fit into the old vending machines they use. I decided my theme would be Animals Doing Things. Of course. They were accepted and the first batch nearly sold out, so I’ve got more coming. Anyway her’s a pic of the original multi-sized blocks, which will go up for sale soon. And then a pic of the first Art-o-Mat set.

Wood Animal Paintings

Art-o-Mat, Animals Doing Stuff set 1

This is Mekare

Posted on by February 20, 2021
Mekare, watercolor, 9×11

Last year I did this watercolor sketch for my friend Ilana. Right before the pandemic, her kitty, Mekare died. She was devastated, a feeling I know well, when it comes to pets, particularly cats. A year later, I’m struck with my grief for her.

I lost my oldest friend this week. As teens, we bonded over Depeche Mode. She was a beautiful woman. A creative person. A talented singer. Humorous, sweet and generous. I’m lucky my wife and kid got to meet her in a trip to NY a couple years ago.  I’m cycling between sorrow and fury. Fury because her family continues to treat her poorly. She was a survivor of incest, her family denied it, until he confessed and then she split with most of them because she wouldn’t ‘just get over it’. She was a 9-11 survivor, missed being in the towers by an hour. She suffered survivors guilt and PTSD from that. Not long after, she discover she had MS that was difficult to treat. I know she enjoyed her life when she could. She had a sweet Kitty, that she adored and was with her many years, that died right before the pandemic. And the pandemic and the isolation were the final straw. She completed suicide earlier this week. She deserved better. So here it is, my tribute to Ilana Graf. 

Everyone tries abstract…

Posted on by February 20, 2021
Ocean Wave, acrylic, 28×50

A bunch of artists made themselves famous with abstract Action Art a few decades back. they liked to experiment with the properties of the paint. I enjoy that this has had a bit of a renaissance with poured painting. I occasionally experiment too. Sometimes it’s left over paint, sometimes it’s by request. This is Ocean Wave in acrylic.

Cats Are My Default Art Setting

Posted on by February 27, 2019

Since I was a kid, my mom and I painted Christmas ornaments together. I still have a lot of those. As an adult, I continued painting ornaments and since being a cat person, I have always painted an ornament for each kitty. Here’s the collection so far.

painted cat Christmas tree ornaments

Of course I signed up for the Tiny Sketchbook Project, because who doesn’t love the idea that you can have a briefcase full of art form all over the world. It was about 1.5×2.5 inches and yes, I decided Cat Moods was my theme.

  • tiny paintings of cat moods

Sketchbook Project 2018

Posted on by February 11, 2019

Finally! Here’s the photos of my latest Sketchbook Project. I apparently almost got too ambitious. I decided to do hidden things, which made the book really interactive, with flaps to lift and messages within messages. It was a lot of fun!

Celtic Art and Art Club

Posted on by February 27, 2019

My kid is in Irish Dance and sometimes we go to these big contest performances. And sometimes I submit art for them. Here is The Tree of Life, Celtic Fox and The Cat Sidhe. All watercolor and ink. It’s been a great way to practice watercolor and inks. And I keep trying different varieties of both.

And then I started an Art Club at my kid’s school and took 9 3rd graders and we created a painting together.