CZT Family Tree: Anica Gabrovec

We always say that the Zentangle Method attracts really awesome people. We have had the pleasure of working with wonderful Certified Zentangle Teachers (CZT) all over the world and we are excited to share these wonderful people with the entire Zentangle Community. Through our series, CZT Family Tree, we will introduce individual CZTs.

Today, we are excited to introduce Anica Gabrovec! Anica was a recipient of a a scholarship to attend the Certified Zentangle Teacher Seminar from the Zentangle Foundation®*. It was a delight to check in with her and see how she uses the Zentangle Method in her life and in her community.

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Name: Anica Gabrovec, Zen Linea

CZT#: 32

Hometown: Samobor, Croatia

Favorite tangle: Mooka (and it was surprisingly easy to choose)

Favorite place to tangle: At home, by the window, surrounded by all kinds of supplies.

How I use the Zentangle Method in my life: I use Zentangle to quiet my mind and escape from the daily grind, but it also excites me and sparks joy as I dive in the creative process. Even when I’m not tangling, I think about the tangles, colors, shapes, shades… Quite often I think about “real life” issues and ponder how much Zentangle’s principles apply to almost any life situation. Zentangle has permeated my life to a great extent and it has certainly made it a brighter.

How I have shared the Zentangle Method in my community: Sharing within the Zentangle community is a big piece of my Zentangle journey. It’s all about the giving and receiving, exchange of ideas, support and encouragement. The current pandemic crisis has totally redesigned my initial ideas about how and where to share the method and it opened some doors that I haven’t even dreamed about. The biggest reward is hearing how I helped someone get out of the creative rut or inspired them to start teaching Zentangle again. I love to encourage students to take a more liberating approach to tangling, as experiencing the creative process with a playful and inquisitive mind is one of my main targets.

My favorite story or memory about teaching the Zentangle Method is: Probably the impromptu mini-sessions that happened on our CZT gathering in Frankfurt. Spontaneous and uninhibited sharing of what we’re passionate about is always such a blessing. That’s probably why I really enjoyed the recent Inktober Tangles challenge and the interactions I had with people who followed along my videos on YouTube.

Through my experiences as a CZT, I have learned: There were many lessons that I’ve learned since I started my CZT journey. But if there was one thing that I would share, it’s to follow your passion. It takes a lot of persistence and continuous learning to achieve goals, but doing it from the place of love, we can succeed. Many times, we tend to forget about why we started to do something in the first place, especially when we face some hurdles along the way. For me, remembering my passion for Zentangle and sharing that passion is always a good enough reason to persevere. To make sure to always remember it, I keep tangling at the top of my priority list.

If I’m not tangling, you will find me…: When I’m not tangling, you’ll probably find me online, sharing my love for Zentangle on social media or just doing the small things that make life sweet, like walking the dogs, spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, listening to music.

Mosaic Name: zen_linea

Website/Blog: https://zen-linea.com/links/

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*The Zentangle Foundation® is a non-profit United States 501 (c) 3 organization that supports individuals and groups interested in the Zentangle® Method through scholarships, studies, and outreach. We support accredited organizations with interest in researching the benefits and practices of the Zentangle Method. Learn more at the zentanglefoundation.org. You can make a donation here.