Coming Around Again

 After ‘graduating’ from the program of learning The Zentangle Process, I was entitled to use the initials CZT after my name. And I was also entitled to teach this process to others. But I didn’t feel ready and I set myself the goal to learn the 100-plus patterns that are part of the Zentangle experience. 

Here I am now, 14 months later, and I can call myself a teacher. I have a small group of women, friends of mine, who were eager to have me show them how to learn various patterns and so, on most Thursday afternoons at tea-time (4 p.m.) we gather on ZOOM for “Tea n’ Tangles” for about an hour of friendly tangling where I teach new patterns, new techniques and tips that I’ve been learning.

The restrictions of the COVID-19 that started back in March 2020 were actually helpful to me as I could easily grasp on-line teaching. I found an inexpensive camera and in a few weeks figured out the basics. Now my three friends are each moving forward with their art skills and I couldn’t be more proud that they are advancing and building their confidence.

My watercolor skills have been utilized as well, but I don’t do as much scenic watercolor work these days. Instead I use both tube colors and watercolor pencils to bring color into my Zentangle art pieces.

I find that with the stress of the various “rules” or “restrictions” (changing daily in some cases) that having the relief of drawing something that requires ALL my focus helps me to relax. Watercolor doesn’t do that for me as much and thus I do more tangling these days.

The uncertainty of this time needs a little more structure and interestingly enough being challenged to put particular patterns in small spaces is just such a structure (as shown above). The idea for this design was created by Deb Bowyer, CZT, a teacher at the CZT: AE2020, an on-line creative learning platform for CZTs - a kind of training for the teacher event. I will do this one again because it is so challenging.

Finally I managed to be at the sunset-watching place in time tonight, capturing the brisk departure of El Sol. We are now in the phase where there will not be any long and late sunsets. The last 8 p.m. set was over yesterday. But this was a clear and lovely event and I got my panorama to work on the camera!

So I conclude my return to blogging with this great view of Moses Lake in Washington State on this August evening. Wishing all my readers near and far good health!