Rick writes: I came across these gems while sorting through files of old pictures.  About eight years ago, Maria and I were in western Massachusetts. These beautiful manuscripts were in a restaurant where we enjoyed a lovely dinner. I took these pictures with the intent to share them with you. Well, better late than never. (Or, maybe I already did and we all get to enjoy them again!) I estimate that these manuscripts are from the 17th or 18th century. They are all hand-lettered on vellum, probably a sheepskin or a goatskin. The pen strokes were beautiful, so fresh and crisp, you wonder if the...

Maria writes... My lifelong love of letters began around the age of five or six. I absolutely knew I was to become a commercial artist... I even had a green velveteen beret I would wear to prove it. I began selling my art soon after (albeit very reasonably!), and the rest is history! Before Zentangle appeared and changed my life, I was a professional calligrapher. I spent my days studying graceful forms, flowing lines, and the rich history of hand-lettering. Little did I know all of that would lay the foundation for what would become the Zentangle Method. Letters were...

In 2010, Rick and Maria hosted a Zentangle class in Newport, Rhode Island, for passionate tanglers. This event, open to both CZTs and the general public, was one of the first Zentangle events to explore beyond the basic tangling concepts. One of the projects completed during this multi-day workshop was an illuminated letter, created in honor of the birth of the Zentangle Method and the important role that letters play in its history. In this blog, we revisit some of the photos and reflections from 2010. Did you know? This project would later become part of the inspiration for Zentangle...