Sketchbook History Tour

1972 – Present

Plane People

Plane People I've been scanning my sketchbooks this year and recently scanned one from 2000-2002. There were a number of drawings of people on planes or about to get on one. Planes and waiting rooms are wonderful places to people draw and I always make sure I have my...

The Sad Women

The Sad Women

The Sad Women “I can promise you that women working together – linked, informed and educated – can bring peace and prosperity to this forsaken planet.” - Isabel Allende When I think about the Middle East recently I keep thinking about how powerless so many women must...

Polka Dots – Recent Paintings

Polka Dots – Recent Paintings

I recently finished a sketchbook. It's a weird thing to finish a sketchbook. I always feel like a relationship is ending. The feel, paper, size, look are all unique. How it takes ink, how I hold it, how it fits as I go somewhere is different with each sketchbook. Some...

Recent Live Drawings – 2022/2023

Recent Live Drawings – 2022/2023

Finally, after many years of not being able to get out and draw live i've started to sketch in person again. These are from the winter of 2022-2023 in various locales; in a waiting room, at a pharmacy, at a coffee shop, in church and on a train. Sometimes I talk to...

Ten Drawings

Ten Drawings

Here are 10 drawings I've done over the Winter and Spring of 2021. Let me know your favorites! 'The Tik Tok Dancer' Ink on Paper 2021 She practiced her TikTok dance in the mirror in the room with her favorite dog and painting on a Sunday instead of going to Temple....

Chimera Cafe, Tulsa, OK

Chimera Cafe, Tulsa, OK

Chimera Cafe, Tulsa, OK Back before the Pandemic, when we could actually go and hang out in coffee houses, I did so on a regular basis. Way back in October of 2016 I tried a new cafe, Chimera, in the Tulsa Arts District. After I settled in I drew the scene in front of...

Portraits, 1988-1989

Portraits, 1988-1989

These portraits from 1988 and 1989 are all from my sketchbook. Most of the models were friends from work or were students I asked to model to illustrate how to draw portraits. Student in Profile, Ballpoint pen on paper, 1989 I asked my students to use sketchbooks...

15 Recent Drawings

15 Recent Drawings

A Woman in Summer, 2020 A Memory of Mine She's So Ugly The Hurricane Dance The Vision and the Weight A Discussion with the Goddess The Prayer and the Sign The Thinking Skyscraper The Runner's Prayer The Sign in the Desert The Artist Knows Tongues Covid Landscape The...

That’s Interesting

That’s Interesting

I think this might make an interesting T-shirt for a lot of interesting women. They are busy with their interesting lives, doing interesting things and aren't interested in men being interested in them just because they look interesting. © 2020 Marty Coleman |...

A Friend from the Past

A Friend from the Past

I did the black and white ink portion of this drawing in January of 2003 at Borders Bookstore in Tulsa, OK. We dated for a number of months in 2002/2003 and remained friends after. I left it as a black and white ink drawing in my sketchbook for 16 years. This fall...

Recent Drawings – 2019

Recent Drawings – 2019

'Making Him'pen and ink on paper, 2019 This was a quick sketch that didn't have a defined background. I decided to work in some color well after the drawing was done and while doing so I thought it would be a challenge to see if I could make the clothing translucent....

Three Drawings

Three Drawings

'I Am Glad I Am An Artist' - pen and ink on paper, 2019 This is a true story. I was in the men's room before church and stood between to men while peeing.  They were both older gentlemen (I know the drawing makes them look younger, oh well). They were talking about...