by Marty Coleman | Dec 31, 2010 | New Years Resolutions, William Ralph Inge |
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Make your resolve in 2011 to be about what YOU can control. Don’t make a resolution for your husband or wife, your child away at college, your boss, your neighbor or your friend. Resolve to be, change, move, defeat, create, win over, help, build, enlighten and grow yourself. If in that process you save the world, great. If in that process you are just a better mother or father to your baby, then guess what? You have just saved the world as well.
Thanks to my Napkin Kin, my friends who have tuned in over the months and years to see and read what I offer. I appreciate you and your attention a great deal!
I am in the middle of some pretty big blog and business movement right now, (the header above is one indication of that change). Keep an eye out and as always, I would love feedback on my work and ideas, and feedback on what you think I could do to improve this blog for you.
Happy New set of 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,766 hours, 525,948 minutes and 31,556,926 seconds.
Marty, The Napkin Dad
Quote by William Ralph Inge, 1860-1954, English author and Anglican Priest
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 30, 2010 | Cavett Robert, New Years Resolutions |
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| Buy this on a Coffee Cup. Give it to a friend who loses heart too easily, or someone with teal colored hair. |
Day #4 of Resolution Week at The Napkin Dad Daily
In this quote it’s obvious that character = discipline.
Although I think of myself as a person of good character, I am not a great self-disciplinarian. I try to focus, to have lists, to have goals and stick to them, to keep moving in one direction for a set amount of time, to plan. And I achieve those things regularly. For about a day. Maybe a week. Then I forget about it. Then I come back to it. Then I forget about it again. Then something else becomes the priority and if I go back to those earlier tasks it would be because I am distracted from my current ones.
You know how diets sell to the same people again and again? I am sort of that way with list makers and project planners. I am too cheap to actually buy any of them, but I get the free versions and think THIS will be the mechanism by which I will become organized! Only it usually doesn’t stick. But who knows, this is a NEW year and I am a year older and wiser so why not try all over again, right?
Hope springs eternal!
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Cavett Robert, 1907-1997, founder of National Speakers Association
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 29, 2010 | Mark Twain, New Years Resolutions |
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I am on the lookout for really old quote books, from America or elsewhere (but in English, regardless). If you have one you want to get rid of, or know of one that would be of interest, let me know, ok? email me at napkindad@martycoleman.com
So, I suppose in this case, intentions are just resolutions set at other times of the year, right?
A friend of mine, Jeanne C. , says she doesn’t make resolutions, she just sets attainable goals. What’s the difference? Feedback please.
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Drawing and questions by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), 1835-1910, American humorist
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 28, 2010 | James Agate, New Years Resolutions |
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It’s day #2 of Resolution Week at The Napkin Dad Daily!
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| Buy this on a Coffee Cup. Give it to a friend who suffers fools better than you do! |
I like this one, and I hope a lot of people take it up as their resolution for the year so they will be more tolerant of me!
Quote by James Agate, 1877-1947, British Diarist and Critic
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 27, 2010 | Anonymous, New Years Resolutions |
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Yep, you guessed it! It’s Resolution Week at The Napkin Dad Daily!
What do you think of resolutions? Do you make them? Do you keep them? What was your best and worst resolutions over the years?
Drawing and questions by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Anonymous
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 26, 2010 | Sketchbook History Tour |
We started in 1972 (6 months ago) and now are at the 25 year mark in my sketchbook history tour.
Church and Details
We went to Asbury United Methodist Church in Tulsa for many years. I spent many hours drawing in this church. I spent an extra long amount of time on this one after the service where I did the original sketch.
Woman being Enlightened by an Accordion Bug
Who’s to say where we will get our inspiration. Some from world leaders of peace, some from Accordion Bugs.
It’s a fun challenge to make something look like something else. I drew the profile first, then had a very large space to fill. I am not sure if the landscape idea came first, probably it did. But eventually it was an attempt to create a body landscape that wasn’t immediately obvious.
Drawings © 2016 – Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 25, 2010 | Uncategorized |
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Merry and Happy
to
You and Yours
from
Me and Mine
I love you all,
Marty, The Napkin Dad
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 24, 2010 | Christmas |
It’s the day before Christmas – A Christmas Poem
It’s the day before Christmas,
Most things are done.
Now it’s about cooking,
and having some fun.
A few presents to wrap,
A little cleaning to do.
Getting ready for Santa
To come through the flue.
Miracle in the background,
On TV and life.
A movie, a moment,
A respite from strife.
Children amped,
Anticipation supreme.
Wanting them happy,
With joy to beam.
For me I want,
What I already own.
A family, a love,
A life well honed.
For you and yours,
My wish is the same.
That you have joy,
And love untamed.
I love you all,
Marty Coleman, The Napkin Dad
Christmas, 2010
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 22, 2010 | Christmas, Jesus |
The second day of Christmas Week my true love gave to me…
Here’s the thing about ‘Christmas spirit’ – it is a cliche. It’s overworked, overstated, overused, overforced and over the moon. But it’s also true.
I worked in the restaurant business first when I was 16. I finished my on and off again illustrious career in that arena when I was 45. 29 years of serving people and I loved it. I also loved when my customers would inquire as to how I was doing.
Now, all year long, Christmas or not, every time I go out to a retail store, or a restaurant, I always make a point to ask the sales person, waiter, etc. how there day is going or how they are feeling. Something along that line. If they say ‘long’ I ask when they get off and if they will be able to relax. If they say ‘good’, I say great. If they say ‘it sucks’ I ask why. Then if they ask me in return I will tell them.
Christmas spirit has the cliche attached, it’s true. But kindness and thoughfulness do not. Be kind to the least powerful among you, be thoughtful and don’t judge those whom you don’t know. It isn’t hard, it just takes extending the reach of your care. You don’t know how your kindness may be needed right then by that person.
That was Jesus’s message, that is the Christmas message. And that is not now, nor will it ever will be, a cliche.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by W. T. Ellis, 1866-? (probably not still alive I surmise).
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 21, 2010 | Christmas |
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Ok, a day late, but here we start Jesusmas Week at The Napkin Dad Daily. See yesterday’s napkin to see why I started today instead of yesterday.
Really, ran out of money? Then stop shopping already (I say as I prepare to go out the door to go shopping).
Do you have trouble with this? Why? Did you used to and now don’t? Tell us your story, your solutions, your struggle.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by someone, I don’t know who.
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 20, 2010 | Marty Coleman |
I was going to make this Jesusmas Week but I had a realization while responding to a post by my friend Crystal Andrus about blame and this quote came out of it.
Think about it, what do you learn when you make an excuse? You learn nothing. Excuses are way of getting out of trouble, or explaining away deficiencies & failures. They are ways of avoiding responsibility. One doesn’t learn anything from those things.
Here are two different explanations of the exact same event. One is an excuse; My alarm didn’t go off like it should have, that’s why I was late’. The other is a reason; ‘I didn’t properly set my alarm, that is why I am late’. One has a lessen attached; double check that you set your alarm properly. The other has no lesson, it’s said in the hope of not having someone get mad at you.
To learn lessons from life, both think AND verbalize so you are stating a reason, not making an excuse.
More differences:
The old saying is ‘Everything happens for a reason’ not ‘Everything happens for an excuse’.
You MAKE an excuse, but you HAVE a reason.
Nobody ever says ‘Reasons, reasons’.
When someone sneezes, they don’t say ‘reason me’.
What are some other differences?
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Drawing, commentary and quote by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 19, 2010 | Sketchbook History Tour |
A Woman with Rain on Her Shoulder
A portrait of my first wife, K. We were married for 20+ years (1979-2000). She had her moments of being bummed about things and I was visualizing one of those little moments in this drawing.
This was in my very small sketchbook I carried with me at the time. 2″ x 3″ Probably I started to draw this woman and she moved after I had just done her profile. So instead of figuring out the back of her head I just made her into a giant sculpture in a parking lot watching a rocket take off. Made sense at the time!
Wife and Husband with A Block Between Them
I met the woman at church and drew her from behind. I heard her talking about marital issues and I imagined an actual block between her and her husband.
The Bather
I almost never cross hatch using color so this was an interesting exercise for me. I was especially fun because I was trying to work in the water covering part of her.
Drawings © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 17, 2010 | E. W. Howe, Work - 2010 |
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Day #5 of Work Week at The Napkin Dad Daily
I weigh myself. Not every day, but most days. But I wouldn’t as much if I were busier (I wouldn’t as much if I didn’t have a scale in my bathroom as well).
But here is a question: Do you think the aid workers in Haiti weigh themselves very often?
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by E. W. Howe, 1853-1937, American novelist and editor
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 16, 2010 | Anonymous, Work - 2010 |
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Day #4 of Work Week at The Napkin Dad Daily
It’s easy to mistake thinking about doing something with doing it. It takes up a lot of mind power, mind time and mind energy to think through something. The mind work make you feel as if you have already done it, so it can be hard to get up the enthusiasm to actually go and do that thing.
But taking action is the only way to make your thoughts real so best go do it!
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote author not known
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 15, 2010 | Theodore Roosevelt, Work - 2010 |
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Day #3 of Work Week at The Napkin Dad Daily
Long ago I had a job where I used certain development software very intensely. My boss came to me and someone senior to me and asked if either of us wanted to work with a new software program neither of us were familiar with. The person senior to me had first pick. He said no. I jumped at the chance and said yes. But my boss wasn’t sure. She asked ‘Can you do the job?’ I said yes and immediately started staying late after work to learn the program. I succeeded in mastering it, the other guy soon quit under pressure because his work was suffering and his skills were laking. I became the boss a year later. He went back to Texas and worked in construction.
If each challenge you face in work (and in life) is met first with a ‘I don’t know how to do that’ response, then guess what? You won’t be given the chance to learn how to do it. Whether it’s taking a class for your own enjoyment or something at your place of work, make your first response be ‘Yes, I can’ then work like hell learning how.
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Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919, 26th President of the United States
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 14, 2010 | Oscar Wilde, Work - 2010 |
I decided it is ‘Work Week’, so today is day #2 of it!
I don’t just mean your ‘work’ job. I mean the jobs in your life. Want to appreciate your job as a mother? Imagine your children gone. Want to appreciate your job as a communicator? Imagine all the communication methods you use gone. Want to appreciate your job as a friend? Imagine you don’t have any.
What jobs do you have in life that you overlook?
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Oscar Wilde, the best source of pithy quotes in the universe!
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 13, 2010 | Thomas Edison, Work - 2010 |
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Day #1 of my week long series on either ideas or work, not sure which yet. You will just have to come back tomorrow to see!
No matter how bizarre the mechanics, how advanced the electronics, how many people behind you are helping to turn the gears or switch the switches – if you don’t do your work your idea will not work either.
Preached to myself this 13th day of December, 2010.
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Quote by Thomas Alva Edison, 1847-1931, American inventor
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 12, 2010 | Sketchbook History Tour |
I don’t really have an explanation for these drawings from 1995. I was just goofing off and came up with this series of women dancing in their bathing suits. I like them, they make me laugh. Which one is your most favorite and least favorite? Why?
Drawings © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 11, 2010 | Uncategorized |
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This week I drew some clock faces and a napkin about anger & fear. I went back to find some vintage napkins for today and lo & behold, the first two I came across had a clockface and that same quote. Serendipity.
I drew this for my daughters to give them a funny take on a serious thing, namely how to avoid getting involved with dangerous men (even though the ticking person is a girl in this case). It didn’t always work, my daughters have had their share of less than great intertwinings with men who weren’t good for them. But, just as in everyone’s life, you learn from experience, not necessarily from advice.
I told you I had drawn this one before, and here it is. Way back in 2000, over 10 years ago, I was exploring this idea. I now pretty much think it’s true. What do you think?
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Drawings and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 10, 2010 | Stephen Covey |
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I was thinking this morning that I would make 2011 ‘The Year of Every Little Thing’. When I mentioned it on twitter my friend, Linda Franklin, responded saying;
‘That sounds like a plan. Every moment counts right? … I keep reminding myself how important this moment is – even when something not so great is going on.’
That got me thinking and I distilled that idea into the quote above. My first thought when she wrote that was actually Stephen Covey’s lesson about Production vs Production Capability. The idea is that you have to produce, it’s true, but if you don’t have the capability to produce you won’t. So not only do you have to figure out how to use your time in action, you have to know how to use your time to find resources, come up with ideas and replenish energy and drive.
So, if you are one of those who think down time is wasted time, think again. Just as muscles need to recover to be of use to you in your next physical challenge, your mind, your heart and your purpose in life ALSO need to rest and recover to be of value.
So, enough guilt about down time, enjoy it and let it replenish you, ok?
Drawing, commentary and quote by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 9, 2010 | Peter Drucker |
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No matter if it’s Linda’s Roadside Diner or the corporation that turned it into a world-wide franchise worth billions, a business is made out of people making steps they are scared to make. Steps that could mean the loss of the diner, the loss of jobs, the loss of power. It takes guts and commitment and courage to take those steps sometimes.
I appreciate every storefront I see because I know it meant a courageous step on the part of some individual. While big office buildings often don’t engender the same feelings, they are also filled with people who had to make some seriously scary steps. No matter your thoughts on business, capitalism, and commerce, it’s a good thing to have respect and admiration for those who take those scary steps.
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by Peter Drucker, 1909-2005, business writer and management consultant.
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 8, 2010 | Michael J. Gelb |
Today is confusing, but I still managed to find a ‘maxim I am not sure about’ for my series!
I woke up today with vertigo, a very odd feeling indeed. It’s basically being dizzy.
I was looking for a quote to go along with my ‘maxims’ theme this week, but I wasn’t thinking very clearly and couldn’t really focus on that.
But the confusion led me to think about ‘confusion’. What good comes out of it? So, I found this quote that has a positive take on it. But I am not sure it’s true. What do you think?
Drawing and commentary © Marty Coleman
“Confusion is the welcome mat at the door of creativity.” – Michael J. Gelb
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 7, 2010 | Anonymous |
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It’s day #2 of my ‘Maxims I am not sure about’ week at The Napkin Dad Daily!
I first came across this idea a number of years ago and drew a napkin about it. But it deserves another one. At first I thought it wasn’t but the more I thought about anger situations the more it seemed to be right on the mark. What do you think, is it true? Leave a comment on the blog, ok?
Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily
Quote by who knows.
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 6, 2010 | Seneca |
It’s the ‘Maxims I am not sure about’ week at The Napkin Dad Daily!
So, I think this is true. But then again, maybe it’s not. What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. If you get this via email or a reader, I would love it if you would return to the actual blog to comment.
Quote by Lucius Annaeus Seneca, 4 BCE – 65 CE, Roman Philosopher and Statesman
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by Marty Coleman | Dec 5, 2010 | Sketchbook History Tour |
1994 was a big year. It was the year I gave up on a path and started to forge a new one. In May of 1994 we moved from San Jose, California where I was teaching part-time at 3 Community Colleges AND working as a manager at Eulipia Restaurant to Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Here are some last sketchbook drawings I did in California.
A Drawing of a Woman as a Sculpture
A Woman as a 3D Painting Facing off Against Singing Snake
A Teenager Contemplating The Finger of God
In the next weeks I will show some of the images from my time in Tulsa as an artist/animator in my new job. You will see an interesting change but at the same time you will see that I never really change all that much.
Drawings © 2016 Marty Coleman | napkindad.com
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