Today, we are excited to introduce Cynthia Standley!
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Name: Cynthia Standley CZT#:26
Hometown: Born and raised in Detroit, MI; Have lived in Phoenix, AZ for the past 24 years.
Favorite tangle: Cadence – I like the graphic style tangles.
Favorite place to tangle: Anywhere. I take my tangling supplies with me everywhere.
How I use the Zentangle Method in my life: I’ve been using the Zentangle method for the past 7 years. I spent a year doing it on my own, then took classes with one of my beloved art teachers, Judy Kula,who is also a Certified Zentangle TeacherTM, and then became a CZT myself. Since becoming a CZT, I teach the method to the medical and health professional students, as well as the faculty and staff where I work at the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine-Phoenix. It is a great way for all to embrace the creative side of the brain during the rigors of medical school. I also volunteer at the SunTree Adult School for Seniors where I teach it to older adults. In addition, there is a group of about 24 of us Phoenicians that get together once a month and teach each other new ways to use the Zentangle method in our art. In one session, I demonstrated how to tangle on X-rays (photo attached). We’ve learned quite a lot from each other!
My favorite story or memory about teaching the Zentangle Method is: I recently tied the Zentangle method to geometry skills for 4th graders. I told them that there was no eraser in their kits, therefore, there are no mistakes to be made – only new patterns! I had the students first measure the angles they drew for their string, and note these on the back of their tiles. However, one young man started to write the degrees on the front, in ink. But he quickly realized he could just make it into a pattern, when the class yelled “no mistakes!” and thus emerged a new pattern called “6’s”. This is a true growth mindset!
Through my experiences as a CZT, I have learned: that this is a great way to decompress, open your mind to possibilities, convince other people that they can indeed make art, and make new friends.
If I’m not tangling, you will find me…: sleeping.
Mosaic Name: Academicmom_CZT26
Website/Blog: https://artinmedicine.wixsite.com/art-in-medicine/medi-zen
