Start somewhere and just tangle!

Interested in Zentangle® and wondering where to start? Feeling a little intimidated? My best advice is to sign up for a class with a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT), whether me or someone else, and just start. I recently received a reminder about how important it is to just start and try, which, of course, applies to many life experiences as well as to tangling.

Last week I returned from attending a fantastic continuing education event for CZTs in Portland, Maine. I traveled across the continent and met up with CZTs from, literally, around the world, including South Africa, Belgium, Netherlands, Taiwan, Canada, and several from Australia. This terrific 4-day learning experience included technique and project classes from the likes of Marie Browning, Sandy Steen Bartholomew, Beckah Krahula, Suzanne McNeill, and several other talented CZTs.

While I received an excellent grounding in the Zentangle® method and how to share it when certified by originators Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, there's always more to learn. And the more I learn, the more I can bring to my students. (That's the reason I took time to attend continuing ed classes in Northampton, MA, in 2013, as well as the Portland adventure this year.)

Even when one theoretically knows what she is doing, trying something new can be a bit challenging. Learning from such stellar and well-known teachers was a great opportunity, and yet at little intimidating at the same time. What if I couldn't "get it"? How was I going to make something as cool as they did?

Then I reminded myself that the Zentangle method is all about process, and we let the results take care of themselves. While we were doing things I'd not tried before, and I made a few missteps along the way, in the end I learned a lot, felt good about it, and was successful because I tried.

So... Let's tangle together. If you aren't in my area, but want to find a teacher near you, consult the www.zentangle.com website under the "Learn" option to see the long list of teachers all over the world. If you are having trouble finding your best option, let me know, and I'll help you.

Remember, you CAN do this because "anything is possible, one stroke at a time."™ Take a deep breath, start somewhere, and just tangle!