Maria writes:
I really had to think hard about this, as it has been 20 years that we have been teaching about the importance of the Mosaic. I could picture our first (public) class that Rick and I taught at an IAMPETH (a calligraphy organization) conference. We stood up in front of 100+ people (most of them artists) and spoke for over an hour with no notes, agenda, or plan, only unbridled enthusiasm.
After a bit of background of how Zentangle appeared to us, and our reaction to it, we finally began to draw all together. A hush settled across the room, the likes of which I had never experienced. With pencils and pens in hand, our group began to follow our simple instructions and created their first 3 ½” square tile. Rick and I had decided that the best way to encourage people to be comfortable with their drawings, was to arrange them like ceramic tiles all on a small table in the center of the room, for all to see just how beautiful they looked all together. They “ooohed” and “ahhhhed” and marveled at the fact that they all heard the same instruction but created different results. We explained that we did not want their work to look exactly like ours; rather, that their own personalities would be reflected in their finished tile.
Where the idea of using the mosaic came from is anyone’s guess? But it was the original reason we called our small square “canvas” a tile.
We all learned so much from seeing one another’s tiles, including Rick and me. Don’t forget, we were so new at this as well as all our students.
As time went on, we could see our tangling styles emerge from birth to growth. I found it exhilarating to continue that growth from day to day. And what happened eventually gave us such validation. The Zentangle community was supportive, encouraging, and caring of other tanglers. No criticizing. Only compliments and enthusiasm.
Please, if you are at a class, or teaching a class, do not let it end without the magic of a Mosaic. Take pictures, rearrange them, comment on them, admire them. It’s worth its weight in gold.
je suis heureuse de découvrir toutes ces merveilles. Encore novice dans la méthode, je pratique régulièrement suivant les cours d’une enseignant CZT et en suivant vos vidéos des différents packs. Comme le dernier pack N°24 avec le matériel à ma disposition et créé un carnet de toute pièce en y intégrant des pages blanches pour encore compléter le motif “Crescent Moon & Ladybird”.
Cette pratique découverte il y a un an maintenant fait partie intégrante de mon mode de vie et je suis sûre va évoluer encore avec le temps. Il est juste dommage qu’il soit difficile de se procurer le matériel officiel en France.
A très vite et gratitude pour cette communauté d’artistes.
Sandrine on
Eileen Bangerter on
Laurel Paulson-Pierce on
it is a community experience! I keep a notebook of all my mosaics over the years from my students where I print out the photos and notate the students, names and tangled and location and date.
I have also made hardcover books of the printed mosaics from my students and share them with them over the years.
From some of the project packs I’ve done on my own, I’ve made mosaics that I’ve turned into canvas! I keep one mosaic in particular of the six Zendala tiles which Rick and Maria guided. I have it standing on my desk as a reminder of how important mosaics are to me!
Mary Illana Perrin CZT 32 on
Julia Davenport on
I am always enthralled to see how each mosaic illustrates that the sum is greater than its parts — a completely new masterpiece. Time and time again, I see the effort you put into creating a string that works well on one tile then combines into awesome. Thank you.
Linda Dochter on
Anna Vermillion-Hoss on
Kathy McMurtry CZT on
The mosaic is an artwork that can only exist because of one another. It is always a beautiful coming together of tiles and the artists who drew them. It affords us all a chance to mingle and share our mutual admiration of the results of the time spent together. I love the raising of the cellphones above the surface and the melody of the verbal appreciation around the mosaic table! It is the ultimate “show and tell” activity. We all guide each other towards positive comments about ourselves. It is powerful and genius!
Katrina Thiebaut CZT on
At the end of every class we experience “the magic mosaic!” It’s my favorite part—- And thank you to Kathy Y for your story—-left me teary-eyed :)
Donna S on
In 2016 I became a CZT. I was new to Zentangle and felt way out of my depth. I did not have art class in elementary and in both middle and high schools I was offered one each. That was quite humbling in its self but to be so bold as to come to a different state and stay in a hotel filled with artists was quite a leap for me. I hid my work until we all put our tiles together and I couldn’t find mine in the bunch. No kidding, mine didn’t stand out at all. That was my first art experience and I’m so lucky that it was too. It was a warm and welcoming experience from the beginning. I now paint with watercolors and draw, pretty well. Zentangle is always on the table and carried with me as I travel. You all gave me the greatest gift. The gift of creating my own art. Thank you ❤️
Kathy Y. on
kathy gulrich on
I teach in a behavioral health setting, and am always amazed at the variety of interpretations there are to my instructions. The participants are always thrilled to see the mosaic at the end of class. I enjoy their reactions and how each personality is reflected in their tile. (And, sometimes I even say to myself, “I said that?”)
Mary Kay Cass, C.Z.T. on
Jennifer Sparrow on
Shawna on
So great to see this. I love The mosaics at the end of class, each person makes the tile their own, even though everyone hears the same words as the class unfolds.
Sandra Chatelain on