Julie writes...
There are always people, perhaps you are one of them, who first saw Zentangle art and said, “I can’t do that.”
We always say that if you can write your name, you can create Zentangle art. The beauty of the Zentangle method, is that anyone can do it. I am always very quick to assure these people, with honest conviction, that everyone is an artist.
It occurred to me though that I was not practicing what I preach.
I happened to grow up in the same small Massachusetts town that ZHQ is located in. Right next door to be exact. One of the nice things (for the most part) of growing up in a small town is that everyone knows each other. These days, when I run into old teachers or parents of high school friends and they ask what I do for work, I tell them I work for Zentangle. If they are unsure about what Zentangle is, I will sometimes say I work for Maria Thomas, since in our small town, most people know who Maria is. Once I tell them who I work for, more often than not they respond with, “I didn’t know you were an artist!”
I always seem to laugh at this assumption and assure whoever I am talking to that Zentangle most certainly did not hire me for my artistic abilities. I began to wonder how could I truly believe that everyone IS an artist, while simultaneously laughing at the mere suggestion that I might be an artist?
If you had asked me at age 7 what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have told you that I was going to be an artist (well, probably a princess who was also an artist). Like many kids, I colored, I drew, and I painted all day long. I never wondered whether or not I was good at what I was doing. I was simply creating. Like many kids, somewhere along the way I began to question my legitimacy as an artist and comparing my work in art class to the other students. All of a sudden, it occurred to me that I might not be “good” at art. So, I stopped creating. I found other things that I was better at and pursued those. I think many people can relate to this. As children, we are not plagued with the doubt and insecurity that we develop as we get older.
It is this same doubt and insecurity that makes me react the way I do when people ask if I am an artist. I know that most people asking are thinking of Maria’s calligraphy and botanical art. So, if I admit that I am an artist, they are going to assume I am of the same caliber and once again I am questioning my legitimacy as an artist.
It is true – Rick and Maria did not hire me for my artistic abilities, but that doesn’t make me any less of an artist. They also did not hire me for my baking abilities but that doesn’t mean I don’t bake a mean apple pie.
I decided I needed to be a little nicer to the artist inside of me. If I am going to encourage my students to embrace the artist in them, I needed to do the same. The Zentangle Method speaks to everyone, of all different artistic backgrounds, but I really think it offers a special gift to those of us who were previously “not an artist.” It is a secret passageway back to those childhood days when we colored and painted as if we were the next Picasso and no one was going to tell us otherwise. It is an opportunity to create something beautiful and to activate those parts of ourselves that we stifled so long ago.
The last time someone asked me about what I did for work, I talked about the Zentangle Method and when I could tell they were having trouble visualizing what I was talking about, I opened the Zentangle Mosaic app and showed them some of my work as an example. They looked at me and said, “Oh, you’re an artist!”
I always said I would grow up to be an artist. I knew in my heart as soon as I could express myself, so around two years old.
My electives in K – 12 was always art. I got ribbons in art shows.
When I got to college, I was no longer the golden child. Faculty wanted giant painted canvases, not tiny ones. No more animals with delicate fur paint strokes but large blobs of layered colours in grids. Blind Contour drawing was a nightmare (until I figured out what exactly the teachers were attempting to teach). Representational art was frowned upon almost as much as those drawing cartoon characters.
I drew in the margins of my British Lit books because the thin paper had a nice texture and to free the drawings not allowed in my classes.
I had to unlearn what I knew and relearn in new ways the same things but now with the words to express what I was attempting to convey.
I worked at many different jobs (a few even art-centric) as I slowly pursued my BA in Visual Arts.Sometimes I was working three or more PT jobs to buy art supplies, pay tuition/fees, buy food so I would not be poisoned by my mother’s heinous cooking (and she would not allow me to cook!). Cashier, Camp Work crew (cleaning toilets), Nurses Aide dispensing OTC meds and bandages, Vets Benefits Associate, Transcript Evaluator, Degree Audit Personnel, Bookstore Clerk, Library Book Shelver, to name a few jobs in my life. All taught me skills and knowledge I still carry with me and influence my art
Do I call myself an artist? Yes. I also call myself a CZT because I am certified. I also call myself a data entry person and a very sick autoimmune diseases’ sufferer.
We all wear many hats and practicing the Zentangle Method is one hat we should all be proud to stand up and say, Yes, I am an artist!
Debbie Smith on
Rimona Gale on
Jeanne on
Linda D Zimmerman CZT on
Jack (age 86 but still going strong.)
Jack Cheezum on
John Johnson on
Thank you for this! I had been waiting “until I had time to practice and get good enough” to sign up for CZT. I was wow’ed by the beautiful pieces I see online. One day I realized that I do the process just fine: I set aside the day, appreciate my materials, fall into the flow of the drawing, let the surprises be what they are (no mistakes!) and appreciate whatever results. If that’s what I have to give and share with other people, that’s enough. I registered for CZT #35 in April.
EdithOSB on
Wonderful post, Julie, and yes you are!
Margaret Bremner on
Cleo Thompson on
Leslie Hancock on
Kathy Wright-Starr on
Carol Lee Parry on
Julie, thank you for your post! It really speaks to me!☺️💕
Claudia Schaulin, CZT24 on
Angelina Huard on
Shawna Oertley on
Lynn Hensley on
Jane Franco on
Kim Kohler CZT on
I love your post Julie. To me I still have trouble seeing myself as an artist. Maybe we should define the word artist. To me this is someone who sells his/her artwork as an income to live from. I am not selling my artwork and I am not really keen on exhibitions. My role is to help students to find their inner artist with the Zentangle method. I feel more like an art teacher! Although when I look at the tiles I have already done I must commit, I am an artist.
Inge Frasch on
Thanks Julie – a really valuable post. Whenever I encounter someone who is doubting their tangle-ability I just encourage them to relax and enjoy it. And I tell myself the same when I have doubtful wobbles. Just reconnect with that childlike pleasure at spending time playing with pens and pencils and paper and colour and time. It’s such a wonderful feeling and once you embrace it most of your output starts to look a lot better too!
Jem Miller on
Annemarie on
Brenda Shaver on
Finding Zentangle has been wonderful for me in many, many ways, but the most gratifying part as a CZT, is being able to help others find their creative ability and realize they are artists too. Seeing that “ah ha” moment and even sometimes tears in their eyes, when a student comes to this realization is pretty priceless indeed.
Brenda Shaver CZT 8 on
I have always thought of myself as an artist because I have always loved creating art. I am not the kind of person who labels people so I don’t get the I am not an artist thing. People who take my classes are all artists and I tell them that because it is true. We all have the power to decide what we are or are not, artists included. I think that if we are kinder to our selves and others then we don’t have to worry about labels, like who is an artist and who is not. It is up to us to change this labeling business and just be artists! Zentangle has changed my life in so many ways! I am and always have been an artist and I welcome anyone who is looking for their inner artist, that is where I can help them discover it. Zentangle has changed me in that way, I don’t label people and I certainly do not think I am a better artist than anyone else, there are some awesome CZTs that do not consider themselves artists but I know they are. Believe in yourself and others will too! That is what Zentangle has taught me!🎨😊🖊🖤
Dolly Bolen (CZT15) on
Tracy Boulter on