New ArtyZen Website

Please follow the link to my new website for all things Zentangle, blogging and online classes with me, Annie Taylor CZT.


See you there!

ArtyZen - Annie Taylor CZT

Zentangle classes in the UK

Having recently taken the official training to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher, I am looking for as many ways as possible to share my knowledge and experience of the lovely art of tangling.

I will be travelling to the UK from southern Spain around once a month - dates to follow.

The classes are usually for 2 or 2.5 hours, depending on numbers and time available and all materials will be provided for use in the classroom. I will also have supplies that will be available to purchase at the end of the class but this is not obligatory! ( I was going to say think Tupperware, Avon or Ann Summers....but obviously that's really nothing like an evening of Zentangle!)

There are special rates for a hosted class - either in your home or in a local venue (that doesn't require payment), so please do check with me to plan the best option for you.

This is an advert I have placed on a local website - let's see if social networks can promote this to a wider group of interested people!

Would you like to discover the artist in you? Even if you think you can’t draw, why not try a class of Zentangle with me. I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher. (CZT)

Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating new art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity. Zentangle provides artistic satisfaction and an increased sense of personal well being.

Zentangle is:

• A form of drawing to be enjoyed by anyone at all, regardless of age or artistic ability
• You only need to be able to hold a pen and draw a line, a circle, a curve and a dot. Nothing else.
• Apparently complex patterns are done in simple step-by-step stages
• The pleasure is in the process – it's relaxing and very mindful
• And the end result is always amazing!

I am happy to contact anyone who is interested and my details are here on this page. The above poster is available for anyone who wants to promote a local class.

I really do want to spread the word and the fun of Zentangle!

Annie Taylor CZT:  0034 620482053 (it's best and cheapest to send a message through WhatsApp.)
Message me on Facebook, either on my own page or via the Meraki Studio Alcala page.
Email: a.villataylor@gmail.com

And of course, if you're in the area of Alcala la Real, Jaen, please contact me for a class in Spain!

Even if it's not possible for me to come and give the class, I now am linked in to many other CZTs in the UK who would be just as keen to offer to share their knowledge and and experience of Zentangle and I will happily put you in touch with each other depending on the area that you live.

And now I am a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT)

Oh my! So much has happened in the past few months. First at the end of March, I broke my ankle and spent 6 weeks in plaster, feeling slightly worried that I had a big trip planned in June...was all going to be OK?

Well the answer was yes! I recovered really well from the fall - which happened in hospital and deserves a whole book of its own - and on 16th June, I flew out from Edinburgh to Rhode Island to take part in the 30th CZT training seminar.

It was above and beyond my expectations to be absolutely honest, although I should have known because all the CZTs that I have as friends told me it would be! Holly - I had a ball. I met lots and lots of lovely new people, all who were equally as passionate about Zentangle as I am. I was saved from disaster by Kristi from Santa Cruz, when I discovered my return flight was a whole day later than I had thought. We had such a lovely day together and parted as real friends.

Rick and Maria were so wonderful as teachers and are genuinely good people - no doubt about it. I was just slightly worried that after so many seminars, they would have a polished and slick delivery style that came from doing so many sessions, but they obviously loved every minute and were delighted to share with yet another group of  followers just how incredible the Zentangle Method really is.

I was so pleased to find a couple from Gran Canaria, with whom I could exchange those now essential morning kisses and to continue speaking Spanish like I do at home. Hola Pinito! Hola Daniel! What a joy to get to know them. I'm not going to mention everyone else by name, but I suspect we all felt we'd had the greatest luck in being there all together.

And so now, I am one of a small number of CZTs in Spain - the only one in Andalucia as far as I can see - and so very happy to have done the course.  I particularly enjoyed being a student, rather than a teacher. I feel that studying the Zentangle Primer and reading all Rick and Maria's newsletters and blogs had given me a great insight into the philosophy and methodology of Zentangle already and that I have tried from the outset to align my teaching with their principles. I was delighted to feel the fun and joy they still feel and want to share through the process, because sometimes, the written word cannot convey their wonderful sense of humour and the obvious fact that they LIVE Zentangle. It's not that they do or don't take it seriously, it's who they are and they really enjoy that. I was reassured on a deep level that what I have been doing and what I want to continue doing with Zentangle is 'the right thing'. So, yes, I came back and floated on my Zentangle wings for at least another week as the realisation sank in that I had been and done it! Four years in the anticipation and I'm happy to say, it really was worth it.


Thank you Rick. Maria, Molly, Martha and all the team that make Zentangle what it is.

My life as an art teacher

*Published originally on my 'Being Here' blog

My NEW life, that is, because certainly I could never have called myself this in the past. But to all intents and purposes, that is what I spend a large part of my working life as these days. An art teacher. Wonders never cease.

And I am enjoying it thoroughly! And my goodness me, what talent there is to be tapped into and set free. I have a few adult classes, including my lovely group of Friday evening ladies, who are as hooked on tangling as I am and in some cases, I would say even more so! And I have a great class of people who come on Thursday evening and never fail to be amazed at what they can do in an hour and half - indeed, many can't believe that they have made such a beautiful little work of art and at the same time been very relaxed and focused whilst doing it. I also have a fantastic class one morning a week with English people - nay, a family of English people. I've really missed them these last couple of weeks as they're in the UK at the moment but I do believe they'll be back at the earliest possibility.

And I have two classes of ZENKids a week, with growing numbers at each. And they are truly incredible. We've had a range of different themes for the classes, including making blowpen pictures, drawing cartoons, practising tangles and making some Japanese Notan images. All are tackled with enthusiasm and excellent results. Which I will share with you here. I have also been doing a far bit of drawing myself and enjoying that too! If you haven't yet seen the images I've shared on Facebook, Instagram and the Meraki Studio website (where have you been?) then please have a little look at the offerings here. The first few are mine - including my daughter's bedroom, which I also painted - and then the rest are from my classes.

Thanks for looking.
Axxx

Latest tangling craze - thanks to Eni Oken and her amazing tutorials - this month: Dragons.

A fractal tangle based on Fricle on a large Renaissance tile.

Narwal on a large Renaissance tile

Another of Eni's tutorial - tiny details. I loved doing this one!

Just a fun tile to do.

And newly repainted bedroom....

 And now a gallery of pictures from my adult classes.

A guided class, using a limited set of Zentangle patterns to practice shading and composition.

Using a little colour for the first time.

Great shading

Great detail

Excellent work, Clifford family!

An advanced class, practising a range of techniques

And, a small selection of the work from my ZENKids classes: There are more photos on the Facebook page for Meraki Studio Alcala or on our Meraki Studio Alcala blog.

Thank you for looking. Hope you like what you've seen. Today, we're doing home made stamps....there will be photos before long.

One more thing. I suspect I needed my studio as an excuse to do the official Zentangle course, which is only offered in the States. I've booked my place for the next one, which is in June 2018. I am unbelievably excited. It's my commitment to Zentangle and my intention to make it a part of my life and a part of the lives of as many other people as I get chance to share it with.

Diva Challenge - 318 - Diptych

Laura has given us a great challenge this week. A Diptych!
Oh wow, I've never done a Diptych before. Love the name and love what I've been seeing on other blogs.
I decided to do my Diptych (like writing it as well as saying it - it's almost as good as Dingbatz. Dingbatz JUST has the edge though) on a Renaissance tile. The hardest thing was bending it straight down the middle and as you can see, I didn't quite manage that bit.

After that, I just really enjoyed trying the 'mirrored' but-not-exactly effect that I rather like.

Thanks for looking.
Axxx

Diva Challenge 316 - Stripes as the String

Very quickly this week - lots of things to do, people to see and places to go!! Not a lot of Zen time, but I did do this week's challenge from the Diva.

It's not clever, it's not particularly one I'm proud of, but it focused me and recharged me and I'm good with that. 

I've added a couple of other tiles - one that I did after receiving and devouring the Zentangle Primer - a gift to myself - why not? And the other because I enjoyed stretching Nzepple and adding colour with my gorgeous Inktense Derwent crayons! 

Thanks for the challenge - thank you for stopping by. See you later!

A striped tile with Printemps, Ditto, Mooka variation, scruffy Knightsbridge (my pen was on it's last legs!) Cadent, Fassett and a bit of Shattuck. All back to basics for me!

I so enjoyed doing this...and now I want to lick it!

This was done balancing on my 'Zentangle' book - and I used specific suggestions, shading techniques and ideas for variations from my wonderful Zentangle Primer, which I adore!

Mini showcase - new project

Zentangles - patrones sencillos

 Mandalas

Bi colores

Colores