Maria writes...
For as long as I can remember, I believed that I was an artist. If anyone asked what I did, that was my response. I lived and breathed it, saw it, wrote it and lived it. It was a daily comfort, a symbol of the luck that the universe bestowed on me.
Well, not the only luck, but you get my drift. However, it was not until Rick and I discovered what would be called the Zentangle Method, that I became a "HEARTIST."
My life, my attitudes, and my mission all changed in that moment. Everything was more. My art was heartfelt in ways I could not compare to my past. And it wasn't just me. I heard it from others, how The Zentangle Method changed their lives, often not being able to describe it in words other than just . . . better. I felt lighter and more grateful than ever before. I smiled a lot. Was excited about life. I looked forward to every day, waiting to see what it would gift me. I no longer felt the pressure to create, but the absolute joy of creating.
I leave you with a few examples of how "hearts" keep showing up in my work. It is so hard to put it into the precise words...but perhaps one of you may be able to...




Let us know in the comments what the Zentangle Method means to you and we will be sending 5 random commenters a gilded heart tile from Maria!
From our hearts to yours, Happy Valentine's Day!
Margaret H(e)art on
Hearth
Heart
Art
❤️Art in everything that matters. Thank you both for sharing the brilliance of your hearts.
Leslie Hancock on
Jamie Herron on
My husband got a tile with a heart for Valentine’s Day – just like last year.
And he will get a designed tile the day after tomorrow for his birthday. He likes it very much.
I am grateful for this creative way to express myself.
Claudia on
I don’t want you to add implications such as good or bad, because it’s the only world you have.
One of the people who is really grateful to have met the Zentangle Method.
It’s not a person who makes a name for himself in history, but the tiles he drew show only one art in the world.
Emiry on
I was never a doodler & couldn’t work out how to just doodle. But, when I was shown how to tangle one step at a time (a structured approach) a light bulb went off in my head & now happily deconstruct patterns & always have a paper & pencil in my handbag for whenever I need to keep myself occupied unexpectedly – sudden hospital visits is when that comes in really handy. As far as I’m concerned there’s a world of difference between a doodle & a tangle – I still can’t doodle!!
Evy Browning on
I am primarily a watercolorist and as much joy as art has given me in almost all of my 70 years…I was hoping that when I became a CZT in 2010 I could start others on their journey “one stroke at a time.” My premise was,….if they could feel successful in tangling….begin to feel like an artist….that it might lead to them taking a drawing course….and then a painting course….then….Yay! My goal had been met!! After the training, I had no idea that, as a result, seven of my students would become CZTs themselves, that I would make so many friends, have a very active Zentangle Club, and besides teaching Zentangle at community centers and for parks and rec….that I would teach at an Art Center! Valentine’s Day projects included gold leafed hearts or swirled watercolors— always dramatic surrounded by tangles! I LOVE how being a CZT brought more LOVE into my life in so many ways!!!
Deanna Williford on
I am primarily a watercolorist and as much joy as art has given me in almost all of my 70 years…I was hoping that when I became a CZT in 2010 I could start others on their journey “one stroke at a time.” My premise was,….if they could feel successful in tangling….begin to feel like an artist….that it might lead to them taking a drawing course….and then a painting course….then….Yay! My goal had been met!! After the training, I had no idea that, as a result, seven of my students would become CZTs themselves, that I would make so many friends, have a very active Zentangle Club, and besides teaching Zentangle at community centers and for parks and rec….that I would teach at an Art Center! Valentine’s Day projects included gold leafed hearts or swirled watercolors— always dramatic surrounded by tangles! I LOVE how being a CZT brought more LOVE into my life in so many ways!!!
Deanna Williford on
It was very satisfying for me that over 120 people got the exposure to the wonderful artform of Zentangle through me during that month.
Gratefully, since I was a beneficiary of Rick and Maria’s largesse in becoming a CZT way back in 2012,, it has always been my practice to pay it forward the largesse to deserving candidates. After touching a figure of around 1000 such beneficiaries, I have stopped counting, but the practice continues.
Zentangle has given me a new identity as a ‘Zentangle Artist’ where as my art teacher during my school days had passed down a life sentence on me saying – ‘you cannot draw’. After 50 years I became free from that life sentence when Rick and Maria invited me as their guest to attend the CZT 09 seminar.
Thank you R & M.
Dilip Patel (09CZT) on
Jeanie ‘JJ’ james on
Our Zentangle family is an expression, vision truly, of how the world can be if we all come from our hearts and lift one another up to be who we are meant to be. The social world of Mosaic is a clear example…every comment from contributors around this world, is positive, respectful, heart-sent and heart felt. It is a joy to my heart to be taken into this community, taught the 8 steps, the Bijouisms, the No Mistakes philosophy and all the wisdom of this meditative art form that both begins and ends with a grateful heart. I end and integrate each of my days blissfully exploring wherever my pen leads me knowing wherever we go is exactly where I’m meant to be. Thank you to all at Zentangle “Heart-quarters” for all you do!
Donna Lynne Strong Brott on
Zentangle gives more to the heart than the expression “heartfelt”, it gives us a Zentangle family and a heartful gratitude which goes on and on because it fescu’s on to others and keeps the feelers out to more than we can imagine. Congratulations for all the love, just and heART your family gives and keeps giving. Cannot wait for the next PP!
Veronica Hodges on
Love you, Maria and Rick for accepting me as I am, and for who you are,
Kat van Rooyen CZT20
Kat Van Rooyen on
Laura Perelman on
Patty Reddington on
Linda Hunter CZT 31 on
Rimona Gale on
Jocelyne Archambault on
Heidi Woody on
Thank you so very much for the gift of the Zentangle Method. It has made my life so much richer and fuller. I not only love the practice of it, but also the teaching of it. The love and gratitude with which I share it comes back in so many ways. Zentangle drawing is one of the very few things about which my father complimented me. I often sent him cards that I had tangled and right before he died, he shared with me that he had saved them all in a folder. For my reticent and often critical father, this was truly a gift. Thank you also for the lovely tiles you shared in this blog. Every Winter Term, I always teach a class on Valentines and we always have such fun. And now I have some new ideas – putting a gilded heart in the middle of whatever pattern is such a simple idea – honestly, richness and Gratitude Abounds!!!! Thank you again.
Pam Stevenson, CZT 20, 31 on
Thank you so very much for the gift of Zentangle. My life has become so much richer and fuller through the Zentangle Method. Gratitude fills my heart and my whole being through the treasure of this gift – not only through my own practice but also through being able to share this gift in sharing and in teaching. Zentangle drawing is one of the few things that my father complimented me about and enjoyed receiving from me – I sent him many cards over the years and he cared about them so much that he kept them all in a folder – and, for my reticent and critical father, this was exceptional. Thank you also for sharing all these beautiful tiles in this Zentangle Blog. Every Winter when I teach Zentangle, one of the classes is Valentines and we all love it
Pam Stevenson, CZT 20, 31 on
Zentangle gives me connection during isolation.
Jessica M on
MaryAnn Scheblein-Dawson, CZT#1 on
The Zentangle Method means ready access to a flow state and the relaxation and ‘mental vacation’ that comes with it, and some unexpected art as a result. It also means that I can get other people to rethink their “I’m not an artist” mindset.
Valerie Hayes, CZT on
Georgene Ksiazek on