In May, 2010 The Aha Moment Tour invited me to tell the napkin story to a national audience. Click on the photo to see it. I became one of 25 finalists to have their story broadcast nationally but, alas I didn’t make the final cut.
A friend from years ago contacted me after seeing one of my interviews and expressed interest in having the Napkin story featured in a new women’s magazine she was introducing.
I suggested that my daughter, Chelsea, could perhaps write the article, which she did.
Absorbent Ideas | April 25 – June 6, 2009
KOKI – Fox 23 – On The Road – 2/16/09
Reporter Janna Clark and her videographer, John Gibson, came by our house at the beginning of February, 09 to do an interview with myself and my daughter, Chelsea. They spent almost 3 hours interviewing and videotaping the two of us, separately and together. They recorded us talking about the napkins as we leafed through them and as I drew one.
See the story here:
The were quite creative in their editing and I enjoyed the end result, even if I do sound like a doofus!
Good Day Tulsa – Studio Interview – 01/08/09
Kristin Dickerson of Good Day Tulsa (KTUL/channel 8), a local morning show, interviewed me about the napkin drawings and about the inclusion of the Obama napkin in Time magazine.
See the interview here:
The interview was a lot of fun and the on-air and behind-the-scenes people were enthusiastic and very helpful.
Ms. Dickerson was kind enough to mention my other artwork as well. In particular she directed the audience to my ‘Velveteen Woman’ photo-collage series on my website. She was also enthusiastic about contributing to that same series.
‘Drawing on Love’ and ‘Dad’s Napkin Messages’ articles in the Tulsa World Newpaper – 01/04/09
My local newspaper, the Tulsa World, published two articles about the napkins today. One was the local angle on the national Time Magazine article and the other about the original Napkin Story.
Read the stories here:
They were nice enough to put a link on their front page for people to purchase the book. The reporter, Matt Gleason was a very cool guy and I enjoyed the interview quite a bit. I am very grateful people have caught on to the napkin stories and are passing it along to others!
First TV Interview – News on 6 – KOTV Tulsa
I contacted an anchor/reporter I knew, Lori Fullbright, at KOTV in Tulsa after I did the initial interview with the Tulsa World (but it had yet to be published). She liked the idea of the napkins and arranged quickly to come visit my studio and do an interview.
See the interview here:
It aired 12/31/08 and was then picked up by their sister station in OKC and aired a few days later.
I really appreciated Lori’s enthusiasm and interest in the story and how determined she was to get the interview done and broadcast quickly.
‘America the Beautiful’ in Time Magazine – 12/29/08
On November 5th, 2008, I drew a new napkin (the first since 2004). I drew it in response to Barack Obama’s election as our next president. I happen to be a supporter of his candidacy, but the emotion and happiness went beyond the politics of the moment. I searched my napkin drawings for an appropriate image and quote that expressed my sentiment and, finding none, drew a new one.
The morning after the election I scanned the drawing and posted it on my blog and on my flickr.com site. It got immediate attention (as did many posted that morning) and a great conversation ensued below it on flickr.
Eventually Time Magazine saw it and decided to include it in their ‘Person of the Year’ issue (Obama being person of the year for 2008, obviously).
The Nun Story
In November, 2008 I received an email from an Irish nun, Sister Patricia Murray, working on her Masters degree at a seminary in Chicago. She found my blog when she googled ‘Imagination’.
She became a subscriber and had interest in a number of my napkin drawings. She wanted to purchase the rights to 5 of them for use in her thesis on ‘Imagination and Peace Building’ and in presentations in southern Sudan where she was doing her work. She said she would use the “drawings to show how simple illustrations can be an inspiration to capture ideas and to give courage.”
I loved the idea and sent her the drawings. She is will be sending me the presentation she uses them in once she is finished with her thesis and back at her work in Africa. I am excited to have them be part of something so important in the world.
Through my company, MAKE Studio, I can do many things for you.
Speaking
Are you in need of a dynamic, engaging speaker?
Do you need someone who can address your group with something fresh and original?
Recent titles of my presentations include:
The Six Stop Signs on Creativity Road
The Six Races to Run for Content Creation Success
Strategies and Attitudes in Social Media Engagement
Coping with Change Within and Without
My ability to tell my story AND explain ideas so that all can understand will give your group or company something to think about and act on long after the presentation is over.
Creativity Coaching
Do you have many great ideas but can't figure out which ones to pursue?
Do you have a stop sign that is stopping your creativity from progressing?
My background includes 9 years of college teaching experience in art, 14 years experience in interactive/internet design, and 33 years as a practicing artist. I have the proven ability to help others to continually produce substantial content.
Whether it's
Web/Blog Design
Logo/Branding
Fine Art
Crafts and Retail Products
Music
or something else
I can help you get started or get REstarted!
Art and Design
Do you have an idea that needs to be visualized?
Do you have a story that needs images to be told more effectively?
Having been an artist all my life, I have the ability and insight to bring visual clarity to a story, an idea or a product.
Web Writing and Editing
Do have what you want to say but don't now how to say it for the web?
Do you have an outline of an idea but need to brainstorm with someone about it?
My 14 years experience in interactive/internet design includes writing and editing content of all sorts; stories, scripts, advertising copy, website copy, promotional material and even medical & academic papers.
Photography
Do you have low contrast, low impact images that do not catch a viewer's attention?
Do you lack the knowledge and expertise to take, edit, layout, crop, manipulate images for your needs?
Having been a practicing photographer for 30 years I have ample experience in getting the image that is powerful, memorable and informative.
Your Ideas, My Expertise
Whatever your need, I can help you. Get in touch with me, Marty Coleman, in the method that is most convenient for you and let's talk about it.
email - napkindad@martycoleman.com
phone - 918-760-0581
Facebook - The Napkin Dad Daily
Twitter - The Napkin Dad
Skype - martycoleman
Reasons to become a Napkin Kin.
I started drawing the napkins for my daughters in the hopes that they would be stimulated in their minds and hearts to think deeply and well about a range of topics. Now that I draw them for everyone else as well I hope the same.
So, if you:
Are interested in the world of ideas and want to engage in meaningful conversation with an intelligent community about them
Love quotes and the power within them.
Want to gain insight how to creatively communicate with your own sons or daughters or anyone you are in relationship with.
Like to view, investigate and decipher art.
Just like fun cartoons.
Then I hope you will become one of the Napkin Kin and be stimulated to learn, engage and be help build yourself and those you love for the better.
Simply subscribe via a reader, email, or your preferred social network and engage!
Guest Blogging
I am always open to collaborating with others, helping provide content for your blog while expanding my audience.
Currently I am doing ongoing going series called 'Writing Lessons' for a literary agent, Rachelle Gardner. It appears about twice a month.
Contact me if you have an idea of how we might help each other.
My Wish List
For my plan to conquer the world to succeed I need following things to happen. If you can help, I will make you Secretary of Something or Other, I promise.
Sponsorships
I would love to have a paper company sponsor me and become the "Official Napkin of The Napkin Dad".
I would love to have a pen/marker company sponsor me and become the "Official Marker of The Napkin Dad".
I use quotes every single day. I believe a reference book publisher could get a lot of mileage out of connecting with me.
Publishing and Distribution
I am working on my second self-published book but would also love to get an agent and a publisher and have a book published the old fashioned way.
Who doesn't want their work distributed. I would love to see the napkins in daily or weekly publications.
Merchandise
I currently have my merchandise available online via Zazzle. However, I would love to get it out to brick and mortar stores and am looking for companies who can do greeting cards, t-shirts, posters and more.
Much of my work works well for specific audiences such as parenting, athletics, corporate, creativity, education. I need help finding avenues for those audiences to find out about the artwork that would fit for them and get the appropriate merchandise in their hands.
Travel and Speaking
I love to travel and would welcome speaking engagements around the US, Canada and beyond to allow that to happen.
If you have any ideas or personal connections/abilities to help in these areas, let me know!