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 Kim Kohler!
--- + ---
Name: Kim Kohler
CZT#: 16
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Favorite tangle: At the moment, I’d pick: mooka, knights bridge and my own Jax!
Favorite place to tangle: Well, my absolute favorite place to tangle is Maui. But if you are asking where I normally tangle, it’s in my craft room/office at home.
How I use the Zentangle Method in my life: I use Zentangle to combat anxiety and depression. That might be news to some folks in the tangleverse. Most folks know that I found Zentangle when I was going through treatment for breast cancer in 2012. Well, a few years post treatment I found myself with increased anxiety and depression, which has only gotten worse. Having Zentangle to rely on and having the lifelong friendships from the community has helped me tremendously.
How I have shared the Zentangle Method in my community: I taught Basic and Beyond classes extensively from 2015-2019 and heard some pretty tough stories after I spoke about how I came to be a CZT. Zentangle has truly helped these folks get through tough times by leaning on the lessons of the method. I think I have ‘birthed’ at least 10 CZT’s from my classes, which means those folks are sharing Zentangle with others and helping even more folks find the peace and joy that it brings. Nothing could make me happier!
My favorite story or memory about teaching the Zentangle Method is: I was doing a demo at a gallery for an upcoming class and a woman kept walking by. I asked her to have a seat and draw with me. She told me that she had had 5 strokes and knew she couldn’t draw. I asked her to trust me. She did and she surprised herself. She signed up for the upcoming class. After that class, she came up to me to tell me how much she enjoyed it and that it made her feel great to be able to draw using the steps. She also told me that she had mentioned the upcoming class to her doctor and her doctor told her not to waste her money. He told her that due to her condition, she would never be able to draw and she certainly wouldn’t enjoy it because it would be too difficult and frustrating. I couldn’t believe what she was saying! Then she told me that when her doctor said that, it just made her more determined to come to class to see the possibilities. Needless to say, she is hooked and loving Zentangle! She considers it part of her therapy and has never looked back.
Through my experiences as a CZT, I have learned:
- Patience
- Trust the Process
- Don’t sweat the small stuff
- Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end.
Mosaic Name: KimKohlerCZT
Website/Blog: www.trailgirls.com
PamS on