Sketchbook History Tour
1972 – Present
The Emotional Landscape – A Short Story
The Dead but Alive Woman She woke up every morning only seeing what was behind her. She sometimes would try to turn her head but could not. It was as if she was made of stone. So, she looked back. She remembered the many signs telling her not to go in that direction...
The Ten Violinists
I draw in church. In recent years the violinists in the orchestra have been the ones facing me. As a result I have drawn them a number of times. Here is a selection. ...
The Friend on the Patio in Spring
The original drawing is available for purchase here My wife and daughter needed to go to Utica Square, an outdoor shopping center in Tulsa, after Church. I took the opportunity on a gorgeous spring day to hang out at Starbucks Coffee place patio and draw. As I walked...
The Woman Who Sucked on a Straw
The Woman Who Sucked on a Straw © 2017 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
The Woman Who Thought What If I
Drawing © 2017 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
The Poem About My Senses
The Poem About My Senses I have a poem in my head, Not fancy or complete. Actually pretty basic, mundane but pretty sweet. Don't know what it's all about, That's the point of it I think. But I know It's sort of funny, And includes the color pink. It includes the smell...
Four That Took a Decade – Sketchbook History Tour
I've been drawing in sketchbooks for many decades now. I sometimes go back and revisit older books just to see what I did or to show others. Recently I did this with a series of sketchbooks from 2000 on. I discovered a number of drawings I wanted to work on more,...
I Draw in Church – Four Violinists
I draw in church. I used to draw the pianist quite a bit but then the orchestra got so big I am no longer able to see her. Now I draw other members of the orchestra, most often the French Horn player and the Violinists. They sit where I have a good view of them and...
The Filmmaker – Portrait of Britni
I had to go to the art supply store and decided that as long as I was all the way there I might as well get some coffee and create some art. I got my giant cappuccino and settled in to draw the woman at the window. She was deep into writing and I had a feeling she...
The Six Thoughts – An illustrated Short Story
Chapter One - Claire When Claire the Clarinetist was finished playing she could have chosen to leave the altar as do many of the other orchestra members. But the orchestra was arranged today so that she was facing directly towards the congregation (usually she is...
The Crucifixion & Resurrection – What Were you Saved From?
The Crucifixion The Resurrection The Idea Many believe these things happened. I assume most believe the crucifixion actually happened. And some certainly believe the resurrection is to be understood as having also actually happened. Others believe it is...
The Stranger at Starbucks – Anatomy of Success
Three times in the last week I have gone to a coffee shop and drawn. The first and second time led to pretty good drawings I thought. But the third time I struggled to get a good drawing. I thought I would show you the drawings and explain some of the reasons why...
The Boyfriends – An Illustrated Short Short Story
Boyfriends Barbara woke up and took a walk towards the volcano. She got lightheaded on the walk and saw a vision of all her past boyfriends tumbling down the steep mountain. She saw Josh, the young man she had the affair with at the beach resort. She didn't know if...
Periscoping at Starbucks While Drawing Jennie
Spiders! 'tis a rare day when I go to hang out at a coffee shop. Friday I had to leave my house for 2 hours because we fogged the attic for spiders. My wife has had spider bites a number of times this year and so we have started having the house sprayed. We have had...
London Sketchbook Drawings – 2015
This week we have been on vacation in Europe. We just finished 5 days in London and are now on the EuroStar train to Paris for another 5 days. The Nest During the international portion of our flight to London I sat next to this woman. She was frenetic pack rat who...
The Conversation – Final Drawings
The Napkin Drawing A few days ago I had a client meeting at Starbucks. I stayed after it was over to drink the rest of my coffee and draw. Two women were having a conversation close to me, one facing me, the other away, and it seemed I could get in at least a quick...
Theology Illustrated
Brandi contemplating on a rainy day at Foolish Things with churches in the distance in Tulsa, Oklahoma on 05/12/14. ___________________ Drawing by Marty Coleman ___________________
Sunrise at Starbucks
I got up early on the day after the Dallas Marathon that Caitlin and I ran in. Caitlin and Linda were sleeping in so I went off to Starbucks to draw and have some coffee. The sun rose as I started to draw, hitting this woman who was studying...
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School – November, 2014
Figure Drawing Ever since I was 17 and still in High School I have been figure drawing (yes, that means naked people). I also taught it for quite some time during the 80s and 90s. Often times artists don't really want to take a class in figure drawing, they...
Linda on our Eighth Anniversary – Sketchbook History Tour
My wife of 8 years, Linda, and I spent our 8th anniversary at the hospital. We were married on 11/11/06 at 11am. She had already been sick for 9 days at this point so I already knew we weren't going to be doing a big night out. I was expecting to...
Nissi at Starbucks – Sketchbook
Yesterday I posted a napkin drawing of Nissi, who I met and drew at Starbucks while waiting for my car to be serviced. Here is the other drawing I did of her, this one in my actual sketchbook. After I had finished the first drawing on a napkin I...
The New Napkin Sketchbook – Drawing #1, Nissi at Starbucks
Almost a year ago someone sent me a link to a cool site that was selling an actual napkin sketchbook. I tried to buy one then but they had just sold out and had not made any new ones yet. I forgot about it until recently when I was going through old emails and...
Creativity Coaching – Marla Selph
Creativity Coaching Part of my Napkin Dad plan for 2014 and beyond is being a Creativity Coach. I have been an art and drawing instructor at the college level, have lectured locally and nationally on everything from Photography to 'Coping with Change', have been...
The Church Pianist – Selections from a Sketchbook
As some of you know, I draw in church. I have oodles of sketchbooks full of drawings. Sometimes I start with real person, other times I make something up out of my head. We usually sit about 3-6 rows back on the right side of the sanctuary and I...
A Portrait at Starbucks – A Short Short Story (True)
#1 I've gone to the same Starbucks in Tulsa about 3 times in a row now. It is not where I usually travel but I had to get my car serviced a number of times and it's the coffee spot closest to the dealership. Each time I've spent time working and drawing, usually...
Anatomy of a Drawing – Two Woman at a Tulsa Starbucks While Snow Falls
I had to drop off one of our cars to be serviced this week. I waited at a Tulsa Starbucks for a few hours hoping the car would be done without me having to drive home and back. Here is the finished version of the line drawing I did in my sketchbook while there....
Sketchbook History Tour, 2011 – Attitudes
Well, here we are, 39 years worth of drawings later, at the end of the Sketchbook History Tour. I started posting this tour on July, 18th, 2010, almost 9 months ago. We have gone all the way from the crude drawings of an adolescent 17 year old to the crude drawings...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2010
The Sketchbook History Tour is almost to the present. Next week we will be at 2011 and shortly after that I will have a whole new Sunday project! I like drawing the piano player at church. She is angular, still, colorful and contrasting. The first 2 are from my...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2009
It's 2009 in the Sketchbook History Tour. Only 2 more weeks and we will have traveled through time 39 years, from 1972 to 2011! Here we have 2 from 2009, both of them made up out of my head, just for fun. I like this drawing. It makes me happy. I like this one too....
Sketchbook History Tour, 2008 – Evolution of Aime
About 3 years ago, on March 2nd, 2008 I was hanging out at Barnes and Noble in Tulsa. I saw a woman reading intently. I liked her face structure and the way her hair poofed up so I drew her. Here is the drawing. After I finished I went over and showed the drawing...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2007 – Two Drawings with Crescent Moons in them
The frog sang to the seeds so they would be not afraid of the dark of night. ....................................... The Milky Way was on her back with a moon in a crescent held in place by the pink strap of her blouse. ...................................... Drawings...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2006
I had an online conversation with an old high school chum this week about church. In essence, he hates the church and thinks it's evil. He sees church-goers as being of one mind, one thought, one idea, one personality, one belief. He wasn't discriminating between...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2005
I like this drawing a lot, with the woman and quotes, they make sense together I think. This is me as the famous Parisian artiste toiling away in my garret with just my beret to keep me company. I saw her in church, briefly, and I liked her boniness. I drew from...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2002 – Flippy Haired Girl
Here is the flippy haired girl from 2002. Let's make up what she was thinking, ok? Vote for your favorite. I hate church. I love church. I hope Mr. soandso isn't there, he's creepy. I need a LOT of coffee today. I don't think my deodorant is working. Why is...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2001 – Road Trip
In 2001 I took an air & road trip to pick up a car for my daughter, Connie, who was about to turn 16. My father had a car he couldn't use because my sister, whom he lived with, wouldn't allow him to take her kids around in the car, too unsafe since it was a...
Sketchbook History Tour, 2000 – Religion, Other and Otherwise
Religion, Other and Otherwise In 2000 I had an argument via letter with Pastor Tom Harrison of Asbury United Methodist Church, in Tulsa, OK. I had been thinking and reading about other religions, and realized that one of the big shortcomings of the church was that...