Do you excuse your snark and judgment as being hip? They aren’t hip, they’re thorns. Thorns meant to hurt and denigrate. You might get followers and fans and people laughing at your words, but you are hurting others and you will, without a doubt, be hurt yourself in time. The path you covered in thorns will one day be the path you yourself must follow, and the thorns will be even more plentiful. Even if you avoid the thorns on the path, more thorns than that will have grown inside your heart and will strangle your love, compassion and care.
In the past few months I have photographed a number of women who have all told me the same thing; they hate their nose because it is too big. This isn’t new, I have been hearing it from women (never men) most of my art and photography career, which goes back over 35 years. In not one of those situations did I look at their nose and think that. Instead I thought their nose was just right for their face in balance, shape and size. In other words, I loved their nose and thought it added to, not detracted from, their beauty.
The French Knows Noses
If there is any place on earth that has refined taste, it’s France. This quote is a French proverb. It’s from the country of high sophistication and beautiful art, architecture, women, men, fashion, food and more. If France can make a national statement about the beauty of the nose, then who are we to disagree, right?
That’s it. That is all I wanted to say. All you women out there who think your nose is too big, I think your nose is beautiful.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who knows.
Quote is a French Proverb
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If you ever do get put down for your nose, memorize this monologue from Roxanne.
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Trivia question of the day
What animal has the most olfactory (smell) receptors?
It’s day #2 of Olympics week at the NDD. Notice anything different about the drawing today? It’s a ‘not a napkin’ napkin (because I ran out of napkins). Guess what I drew it on.
FAME and GLORY
So much fame, so many endorsements, so much attention, money, glory, adulation, hype and talk for the winners. So much obscurity for the losers. But answer me this. Who won what 100 years ago in the Olympics? I don’t know, I am sure you don’t either, unless you look it up or are related to a winner from back then. We all go back in the same box. Most of us, famous or not, eventually forgotten. Is that depressing? In some ways, yes. One of the things I like most about being an artist is leaving something behind. But art is corruptible (especially when drawn on a napkin) and it too will not last forever most likely.
What Remains?
What remains then? Kindness remains. That is it. That is what I want to get my gold medal in when the time comes. That is what I want to hand down to my daughters and grand kids (come on daughters, times a’ wasting). I want to be good at what I do of course. I want to work with those who strive for excellence. But I really don’t have much tolerance for excellence that is covered with anger and vitriol. I don’t want to be around a winner who is mean and hurtful. I don’t want to be in a business relationship (though it is unavoidable at times) with someone who is scheming, manipulative, insensitive and negative.
I want to be, and I want to surround myself with, one who is both excellent and kind, who achieves great things and does it with love in my heart.
That lasts.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, who has a lot to learn.
As an artist, your obligation is not to produce propaganda that everyone listens to, understands and obeys. That is other people’s jobs. Your job as an artist is to express yourself, whether there is logic, reasoning and greater purpose in the expression or not.
Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs and what’s wrong with that?
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Drawing by Marty Coleman, who saw Wings in concert at the Fabulous Forum in LA in 1975.
This quote, ‘What can be done at any time is never done at all’ probably exemplifies my procrastination nemesis more than any other. I like deadlines. I fail at deadlines sometimes but not nearly as much as when I don’t have any at all.
Busy Boy
Another element that really helps me is to be busy. It makes for a certain amount of stress, but not so much as to be negative. When I am busy, like I am now, I think faster, I act faster, and I make plans better. I have to fit something into a smaller time slot and that helps me focus my time and my brain.
I am in the middle of helping my daughter move into her first ‘big girl’ apartment in Dallas. A lot of moving, truck renting, decision making, appliance buying, etc. etc. I have to fit everything else, my clients (who I am not ignoring if you are reading this, I AM working on that header), my dog who has a torn ACL and has to be crated and walked every few hours (not fun for her), my running group that I organize and lead 5 days a week, and my photo group I help lead by doing the library presentations (one of which is tonight and I just came up with the topic this morning).
Blog World here I come
All the while I am preparing for Blog World. And I am actually preparing better for it because I am so busy. At least I think I am. You be the judge when you come to my session if you attend, ok?
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!
