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 Katie Vanoncini. This is a special edition of our CZT Family Tree, as Katie is not only a CZT (7 times over), but she is also the President of General Pencil Company - a long-time partner of Zentangle, Inc.
Katie joined us last week at CZT 43 Training with her daughter, Emma. We loved catching up with them, and the CZT 43 attendees loved getting to test out some of their products. We hope you all will enjoy getting to know Katie better through this blog.
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Name: Katie Vanoncini
CZT#: 31, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 43
Hometown: Redwood City, California
Favorite tangle: flux or 'nzeppel
How were you introduced to the Zentangle Method? Thanks to Peter Ouyang of Sakura of America for connecting me with Maria and Rick at a CHA Show in Anaheim circa 2008.
In 2016, my niece, Kirstin, and daughter, Emma, and I became Certified Zentangle® Teachers, and I feel grateful for how welcoming everyone is in the Zentangle® community.
Tell us about General Pencil Company and how you got into the business: General Pencil Company’s history dates back to 1860 when our founder Edward Weissenborn started the first complete pencil factory in the USA: American Lead Pencil Company. He created 360 designs and 28 patents for pencil manufacturing, including the Pencil Cutting Wheel in 1867. In 1884, he left American Lead Pencil Company. In 1889, he began what is now General Pencil Company with his son, Oscar, in Jersey City, New Jersey. We are America’s Oldest Continuously Operating Pencil Factory, still family-owned and operated. We love writing and receiving letters written in pencil.
I started being involved with General Pencil Company when I was 6 years old, packing pencil kits for my Dad. I was excited to go to the office with him on a Saturday to work and organize pencils and art supplies. Officially, I began working at Trade Shows in 1991, and as I met our customers and so many inspiring people creating art with our products, my career journey began to take hold.
What makes General Pencil Company products stand out? General Pencil Company is unique because we handcraft the majority of our Premium Professional Art Pencils and Compressed Charcoals by hand in small batches. We strive to continue to make our products to meet artists' needs. If there is a problem or discrepancy, we want to hear about it, and we will do our best to fix the issue or replace a product to help artists achieve the effects they want. We care about our artists and crafters, and we are grateful to hear feedback.
What does your day-to-day look like at General Pencil Company as President? As President of General Pencil Company, my day can include: a meeting with our Production Team, helping prioritize production schedules, order planning, testing batches of charcoal, graphite, and pastel colors as they come through the line, reviewing inventory, and paying bills. What inspires me is meeting in person with artists of all ages to see what they are making and to ask for their input and suggestions. Our motivational tag lines are: Have Fun Drawing™ and Inspiring Creative Expression Starting with a Pencil™.
What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is when I get to attend art retreats, such as Zentangle® Seminar or ZenAgain®, and get to PLAY with our products and Have Fun with my fellow artists. I value our friendships and appreciate our connection, as it has helped me shift my perspective from working, producing, testing, and selling our products, to really ENJOYING using GENERAL’S® Art pencils. Thankful.
What is your favorite place to tangle? I travel for work a lot, so I really look forward to tangling in my Zentangle® Journal on the airplane or sitting in a lounge chair in nature or on the couch with a cup of CZTea.
What is your favorite memory or story from teaching the Zentangle Method? One of my favorite stories teaching Zentangle® was sitting on an airplane between two teenagers, both of them sitting with their arms crossed and just staring into space. I was doing Zentangle® and then offered each of them some tiles, pencils, and pens, and asked if they wanted to learn hollibaugh and crescent moon. They began one stroke at a time, following the steps, smiling and visibly relaxing. Once we began shading the tile, I asked where they were going, and they shared with me that their Mom had passed away. They were really sad, and on their way to stay with their grandparents. When they finished the tile, they said, “Thank you, that was really fun.” Then, I reached into my bag and gave them more supplies and said, "Maybe you can do Zentangle® at your grandparents, or teach them how you did your tile." They liked that idea, and I was grateful to help bring a calming and centering hobby to them at that time.
When I am not tangling, you will find me… Walking in nature, playing pickleball with my husband, or working.
General Pencil Company's Instagram: @generalpencil
General Pencil Company's Website: https://generalpencil.com/
Marilyn Iezzi CZT32 on
June Matthews on
Nancy lefkof on
Moira M Forsythe, CZT42 on
Wow, 7 CZT seminars, amazing and a true commitment to 1860 and quality pencils! Thanks so much for sharing your story and your family story and its origins with Zentangle, Inc. from 2008. I am a big pastel chalk and charcoal user for adding color to my tiles, so I love all your products and they really open up the expression of all my tangles. Grateful to you and your family for all you for the Zentangle Art Method and beyond. Warm regards.
Miriam Z on
Molly King on
Kathryne Marek on
Mary L Stayner on
I really enjoyed hearing Katie’s Zentangle story. It’s wonderful having access to General Pencils’ great products and getting to know the kind people behind them. Thank you.
Leslie Hancock on
Brenda Jowers on
JessicaLDykesCZT39 on
so glad to have met Katie at several Zentangle events through the years. I’ve used General Pencils since I started art classes years ago. Thanks Katie for your products and presence.
Sandy Kelley-Jones on
I really enjoyed Meeting Katie at CT Events on the East Coast. And I love working with the general pencil company. I’ve been able to call them with a request of needing 18 certain color, pencils and they provide them overnight almost it’s great a wonderful company and a wonderful person.
Lisa Hoesing on
Dione Greenberg CZT42 on