We all are fools to some degree. I mean, come on, I am trying to make a living drawing on NAPKINS. That could be deemed pretty foolish. But self-confidence is what I call it. I believe I can do it even if others looking from a distance (or even close up) think it’s foolish. It isn’t much different than crossing over a deep crevasse on a rickety board. It’s actually more like crossing over 397,453, 291 crevasses, some with no boards, but I didn’t want to draw that many.
What ‘foolish’ thing are you attempting today? If you haven’t started, APRIL FOOL’S DAY is a great day to get going!
Sometimes it’s good to jump in, other times it’s not. When to be careful and when to throw caution to the wind is a delicate art. It can lead to bad consequences and it can lead to great leaps of wonder. How to know the difference isn’t easy. The only advice I have is to be as thoughtful and intelligent as best you can, but test with one foot first!
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
> I am usually a pretty encouraging person, and I will always lean towards the assumption that people want to become better, want to improve their lives, their mind, their behavior. But sometimes you come across people who you realize, though they consciously think they want to change, really have no interest in it at all. They are wrapped up in their chains of whatever and hate with a passion the idea of having those chains taken away. After all, who would they be, without those chains?
You might think I am talking about addicts here, people who can’t give up cigarettes or alcohol, etc. And yes, of course those of us who deal with that have our chains. But, I am thinking of a different sort of chain. The chain based, not on reality, what really is, but on self, what THEY think really is. The person who isn’t interested in learning, isn’t interested in finding out truth, but is interested only in defending their foolishness, their prejudices, their superstitions and their magical thinking. Absurd, self-absorbed rationalizations are the chains.
We all have our blind spots I know, but sometimes I come across a person who has more blind spots than seeing spots and I come to find out they put those blind spots there on purpose! That get’s old and it becomes hard to continue to encourage in that case. ……………………………………….. My Two Cents Worth – yearly subscription
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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
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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!
