Variant Title has been added to your shopping cart.    View Cart   or   Checkout Now
Certified Zentangle Teachers: Behind the Tangles

Certified Zentangle Teachers: Behind the Tangles

Julie writes

We say it all the time, but it really is true; either Zentangle attracts the best people, or it brings out the best in people. I think it is a little bit of both.  

Over the past 20 years, we have had the honor of getting to know so many tanglers and Certified Zentangle Teachers and getting to hear their stories of how Zentangle has changed their lives. We get to meet people from all over the world, from different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life. Despite all of the differences, everyone seems to have one thing in common. They are overflowing with passion and kindness.  

When we first began talking about Zentangle’s 20th Anniversary Celebration last year, I knew that the stories of the people behind spreading this method had to be included. I sat down with seven of our CZTs to talk to them about being a CZT, CZT Seminar and the community that surrounds it all.    

 
If you would like to get know more Certified Zentangle Teachers, we invite you to watch the CZT Story Booth series here and explore the CZT Family Tree blog series here.  

To find a CZT in your area, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Zentangle Teacher, you can learn more here. Registration for our 2025 seminar is opening soon! Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you do not miss this opportunity!

---- + ----  

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Kim Kohler, Kelly Barone, Oswaldo Burbano, Sandy Kelley-Jones, Miriam Zimms, Shie Naritomi and Paige Shienberg for taking part in this celebration. And, to all of the Certified Zentangle Teachers for your endless kindness and passion.

 

Julie Willand

20 comments

  • When I attended CZT13 training in 2013, I had been practicing Zentangle for about a year. I discovered it while in the throes of grief, having suddenly lost my sister. The day I left for the CZT training, I had hoped to receive mail from my son who had left for boot camp with the Marines a few weeks earlier. We still hadn’t received any word of how he was doing, but I had to leave before the mail arrived. When I arrived in Providence, my husband called – with news of long awaited letters arriving! He read me the letters and then sent me photos of them so I could read them again and again. The experience of the amazing CZT training along with it falling on the year anniversary of my sister’s passing, and the early days of my new role as ‘Mom of a Marine’…what a deeply profound time in my life. What a blessing!

    Leslie Barr on

  • Yes, these are wonderful testimonials to the power of Zentangle. Thank you for sharing all of you.
    I’m always amazed at people who say that their social media is so negative
    that they can’t watch it anymore because I’ve never had anything negative come through my Zentangle social media nor my personal social media for that matter. I feel blessed to have the ability to connect with people all over the world who are so warm, welcoming, and creative. Rick and Maria thank you for this.

    Lisa Hoesing on

  • Kelly’s interview had me in tears of support for her and for the Zentangle CZT community. What a great example of camaraderie between us as a group of CZTs! Kelly’s difficult journey with her son ending up in a wheelchair, paralyzed, and the outpouring of love from her CZT community is so inspiring!

    My own Facebook CZT connections are with Marlene Cherry,CZT and Susan Kelley Pundt CZT and I will get to see both of them who live on the other side of the country from me, at Zen Again in April. I am so grateful to Rick and Maria for having developed this successful method of meditative drawing.

    Mary Illana Perrin CZT on

  • Kelly’s interview had me in tears of support for her and for the Zentangle CZT community. What a great example of camaraderie between us as a group of CZTs! Kelly’s difficult journey with her son ending up in a wheelchair, paralyzed, and the outpouring of love from her CZT community is so inspiring!

    My own Facebook CZT connections are with Marlene Cherry,CZT and Susan Kelley Pundt CZT and I will get to see both of them who live on the other side of the country from me, at Zen Again in April. I am so grateful to Rick and Maria for having developed this successful method of meditative drawing.

    Mary Illana Perrin CZT on

  • What a wonderful set of interviews. They both resonated with me and inspired me. What a terrific representation of this community. Thank you all for sharing.

    I am a CZT29 and 42. I have attended 2 zenAgain courses and I am attending another in April. I have done both in person and in-line attendance. I would say to all wishing to become a CZT that if you can manage to be there in person, you will not regret it. The community is vibrating (except during lessons when you can hear a pin drop or perhaps the sound of tortillions) with energy, positivity and a shared love. I love the on-line versions too but witnessing the mosaics and feeling the warmth of the group in person is not to be missed if your circumstances permit.

    PamS on

  • What a difference Zentangle has made in my life. Rick and Maria are awe inspiring. Becoming a CZT gave me creative confidence that I never dreamed of. The experience of the seminar was incredible. You won’t regret signing up, no matter your level of artistic expertise. I flunked art in high school. Now I teach Zentangling to senior citizens who really enjoy it as much as I do.

    Marilyn Sultar on

  • What a difference Zentangle has made in my life. Rick and Maria are awe inspiring. Becoming a CZT gave me creative confidence that I never dreamed of. The experience of the seminar was incredible. You won’t regret signing up, no matter your level of artistic expertise. I flunked art in high school. Now I teach Zentangling to senior citizens who really enjoy it as much as I do.

    Marilyn Sultar on

  • I would love to one day train to be a CZT, but being in Australia, it’s simply too difficult and expensive to travel to the US or Europe to do the course … yet. One day! I’m so glad I found this community, and would love to share with others.

    Carolina Peters on

  • What a great project!
    I just read Kendra’s comment about how the seminar made her want to be a better person. You hit it right on the head Kendra. I felt the same way. Then following the philosophy of ZT and practicing it in daily life outside of tangling, is when you KNOW you are becoming a better person. I can’t express enough, how ZT has made my life so much richer. ❤️

    Kim Kohler on

  • I endorse everything said here. I attended seminar 39 and will be there again in November. I just can’t wait for another wonderful experience.
    Everyone at Zentangle HQ is just amazing.

    Kathleen McMurtry CZT on

  • I attended CZT38 and will attend CTZ42, can’t wait! Attending in person really allowed me to grasp the extent of the HQ staff’s sincerity and generosity. And as Oswaldo mentioned in the video, it was so well organized. I learned from the Primer in early 2020, no classes for a long time, and I was so impressed with the structure of their instruction process in the Primer, and their newsletters and project packs, I wanted to learn as much as I could, so I went to seminar. I have not taught a class, am hoping to get a reboot of confidence from Seminar 42 then dive in. I came home from 38 and told my husband they made me want to be a better person. Not sure how that’s worked out, LOL, but that’s how I felt.

    Kendra Page on

  • So excited to be meeting Shie in Kyoto this fall for a workshop and to participating in the CZT training in November. Such a lovely community of creativity and caring.

    Moira M Forsythe on

  • I love Zentangle! I use it with my students and clients so much. I am grateful for the opportunity to have completed the training and I appreciate the individuals who I have met along my own CZT journey. Anyone who is considering an in person course, GO FOR IT! You will not regret it, the only regret you will have is NOT doing it!

    Christine Urish on

  • I’m so happy to have decided to become a CZT in November! Since I live in Europe, it was hard to decide which one to choose. In the end, I chose the American over Conzentric. Unfortunately, I can’t attend in person since flying and hotels are super expensive after the pandemic, so I’ll be doing it online. Maybe in the future, I can be there in person. Listening to the CZTs in the video made me wish I could have chosen the other option.

    Petra Lassen on

  • Thank you for sharing this inspiring video with us. I love seeing the friendl faces and hearing the words that we can all identify with. ❤️

    Anica on

  • Perhaps I can join you to become a CZT in the future, but right now I have too little time for it as I’m caring for my 100 year old mother who lives with me. I was in a class for several years with CZT Victoria Grundy. Now I’m in a small group of 4 or 5 people once a week with CZT Elizabeth (Betsy) Sofish, my long-time best friend. I can see the value in becoming a CZT, and I hope to be able to follow through one day. Thank you for the opportunities you’ve given me.

    JANE RICHARDS on

  • Oh my goodness!!!! What a wonderful video!! I am so very grateful that you made this! It was so well done and covered so many emotions of being a CZT! Thank you to all who participated. You did a perfect job of representing all of us!! Love to all the CZTs worldwide!!

    Katrina Thiebaut CZT. 22, 32, 36 on

  • I appreciate all of these reflections. So many of these resonate with my own experience. Zentangle has been life-changing for me for sure. Thank you Zentangle, Inc.

    Diane Harpster on

  • Just found Zentangle I’m a crafter (card maker) I am finding it so relaxing and fun. I’m soon to be 75 and so so glad I found your website. I ordered your book and the items needed to further my interest in Zentangle. Years ago I took classes in Calligraphy and I think that is helping me with doing Zentangle. Many many thanks to everyone. Your teachers are AMAZING! ❤️🙋🏻‍♀️🤗

    DiEtta on

  • What they said is all true. If you’re thinking about it, do it. It is always a wonderful experience yeah. Life-changing..

    Lisa Hoesing on

Leave a comment