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Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Great Things

  (From a book in which Maria writes favorite quotes.)


Maria writes:

This perspective is something Rick and I had thought about when we designed the Zentangle Method.  

Being confronted with a large blank canvas or sheet of paper can be a bit intimidating.

But, a beautiful small square of paper, well . . . 
 . . . not so much. 

And each small stroke done with great love . . . 
. . . is precious.

We can accomplish something 
Start to finish.
Admire our completed work of art or,
Start over. 
In one sitting. 

Without taking a day off or 
Ignoring day to day happenings. 

Just draw 'til we are done . . . 
. . . one stroke at a time. 

Then move on to life as we know it . . . 
. . . one stroke at a time.

But with maybe a bit of a smile to make the day 
One we can work with. 

Anything is possible.


A few tiles to ponder. Comment if you will.

We will send one off to one of you lovely folks as a token of our gratitude. . . . because, well, it's all about gratitude, isn't it?? 


Rick adds:
And who's to say that . . . 
. . . small things . . .

. . . can't also be . . .

. . . great things?

Each stroke . . .
. . . great love.


Click small images for great views!


Debra Castaldi . . . a tile from our blog post "So Many Tanglers" is on its way to you. Congratulations!

.

41 comments:

Dr. Jude A. Rathburn said...

One of the things that I find the most inspiring about the Zentangle method and your way of doing business, is the care and love you put into even the smallest things. Your use of metaphor and reminders to pay attention to details and process and one moment at a time are such important lessons for us to take into the world, no matter where we go. As I reflect back on orders I placed before I completed the CZT training and orders placed since then, I can't help but smile at the joy I felt in being a part of the Zentangle community. You are great role models and are truly making a tremendous different in the world, one stroke at a time. In gratitude - Jude

bozoette said...

That thought - that we can all accomplish small things with great love - just put a lot of things into perspective for me. Thank you.

Zachary said...

Okay, you've given me yet another inspiration! Gigantic Zentangle tiles, coming up! How fun is that? Thanks for sharing!

Francie said...

The Mother Theresa quote is so perfect for Zentangle.

What a surprise to see your photos with the gigantic tiles...so fun!

Zentangle said...

Just so you guys know. . . . those tiles at the end were 3 1/2" tiles. . . .then Rick photoShopped them onto the BIG blank tiles we were holding. . . .it was a fun project, for sure !

So, Zachary, I have done a lot of really big tiles in the past, but these aren't them. maria

Unknown said...

Haha--I love those giant tiles!! It is the little things that really become great things--every bit of love adds up to something truly incredible. A wonderful reminder--thanks Rick and Maria!

Pinetree Studios said...

You two are just having WAY too much FUN!!!
Thanks for sharing these gorgeous pieces of art!

ToujoursSoleil said...

This is such a beautiful post. Thank you for putting everything in perspective. And, I really like the simplicity of the tiles shown.

Ellen said...

Love the photoshopped big ones!

Unknown said...

Always food for thought here. I particularly love the last tile with fengles intertwined. Have to try that. Also, thank goodness that we all can do small things with great love because when all is said and done, how well we've loved is all that really matters...

Carol Graham said...

Maybe when we learn small things, taught with great love - we can accomplish great things . . . thanks Maria & Rick for your inspirational teaching!

Dennie York said...

I was wondering if that was photoshopped. Great job! And such a cool idea! I love the quote and your thoughts. As usual a wonderful inspiration. Thank you!

Gina said...

that first one is just gorgeous - the one that seems inspired by flora within a freeform shape ... so nice >>> Gina

Marcia said...

More wonderful, thoughtful sharing from you both. Thank you!

BarbaraW said...

Your words are as inspiring as your art. Thank you for both.

Anonymous said...

So wonderful to be part of Zentangle and sharing it with children is so enriching. Love the quotes and sentiments it puts things into perspective. Keep your mind in what you are doing. Enjoy each moment.
Thank you for all you do,
Melissa W Cahn, CZT 6
mwcahn@ptd.net

Linda said...

Rick and Maria!
You both do great things with great love! So much gratitude is coming your way for all the wonderful events that happened during CZT Seminar #11 !!! Awesome, both of you and your artwork!

Deb said...

These Zentangles thrill me! I'm new to this and can't wait to put my pen to paper! I especially like the one with perspective - I'm trying that one first! Thank you for sharing these!

Susie Falkler said...

I love the one Rick is holding. Small, large, it doesn't matter, you've done it again. So beautiful. Your talant is a true gift.

Heather said...

I am using this approach with a quilted wallhanging. As a whole it is too much to consider, but if I just look at one small section at a time, it is quite doable. Then I consider each section as drawing tangle without my pen tip leaving the paper. (rather a continuous thread).

Karen G. said...

Love the framed tangles! I'm going to have to try that real soon. Also love the subtle coloring. Maria, your tangles are very inspiring!

Jane Monk said...

You two just make me giggle ... love love love your big and little tangles. I am going on a journey at the moment, a personal journey and I decided to use Zentangle to help me get through it by doing one tangle drawing a day. Drawing one line at a time to get me through the day. I am sharing my daily tangles in a blog I have dedicated to this journey www.onetangle.blogspot.com Without you guys I would not have this amazing tool (Zentangle) to help me through. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ... much love xx

Terri Brown said...

With each stroke we all leave a mark, big or small. Each is filled with love and a little piece of us love. I so love this artform. Just to watch someone's face as they take in all the patterns and when they comment on how it pops off the page, and best of all, when they say, "show me how to do this".
That alone is a great compliment!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful artform with us! ♡

Carole Ohl said...

Smile smile and smile some more. Thank you for this beautiful and lighthearted reminder as we go through our day, remembering that each tiny thing we do has meaning and life. love love love

Heather said...

taking care of and with small things. love that.

Anonymous said...

Again, my gratitude! Beautiful, Just beautiful!
Kate Ahrens CZT IX

Diane Lachance, CZT said...

Another beautiful surprise! Thank you! On my to-do list this summer is to create three large works. Teaching on my twirly board was a huge learning curve and now I love drawing large. Will you share what the finished paper or board is that your images are printed on? They look fantastic all on their own, but even more impressive is that you went from small to large.

Diane Lachance, CZT said...

Maria was so kind as to "clue me in" privately. Every good spoof needs a straight man, and I guess it was my turn. :o) TGIF!

Zentangle said...

Diane. . . . I would know absolutely NOTHING of Photoshop if it were not for my Beloved. . . .he is very kind in understanding my not wanting to get involved in such matters of the computer (ugh!!) and takes all these projects on himself. . . . .even when I suggest something really crazy. . .he just goes about his work and makes me look good!!!

maria

Shelly Beauch said...

Magic happens all the time with Zentangle! Thanks for the smiles in the little and the big!

Cathy said...

I love the tiles and the quote. I am glad to be a part of this community and treasure the friendships I have made. Thank you.

Kathy Redmond said...

Good reminder. A professional organization I belong to recently had a request for art to be auctioned. This is a tough group (interior designers) and I dismissed it since my Zentangles are so small. I thought they weren't substantial enough for what they wanted. I just got a note from the president asking me to donate one of my Zentangle tiles - guess there's more weight to those little tiles than I thought.

Anonymous said...

You continue to inspire me. How lucky am I?

Anonymous said...

Love these tiles, big and small. I was surprised to see the oversized tiles! Thanks for the inspiration and the fun.

Unknown said...

Love the "Great Things" message and love the great art. All so inspiring. Thank you so much! Anita Morrison. CZT11

Georgia Jensen said...

your loving kindness spills over in all you do...so blessed to have Zentangle as a part of this earthly experience...Merci!

Cindy Hernandez said...

These are wonderful and the thoughts you've included with them came at an especially appropriate time for me. Thank you for reminding me of "small strokes"and much "love"


Cris said...

Beautiful and inspiring as always. I've been away for a month and it is great to have this gentle reminder of what Zentangle is really about. Thanks.

Marie aka Grams said...

This is a lovely post. And it's fun, besides. Thanks for the uplift.

Tricia, CZT said...

As I was reading Maria's lovely words, I was slipping into that calm, zen-space that I love to feel when I'm tangling.

And I read on, slipping further into calm.

Then the last 2 photos filled the screen! LOL! The spell was broken by the 2 commedians carrying those great tiles!

Thanks for the smiles and your never-ending inspiration. Love you both.

gobarb26 said...

Maria & Rick, you really inspire me! I love what you have done with the tiles (large & small). I have been tangling for a while now but I can't seem to get away from doing small tiles. I know there is a lot more to it than just doing small tiles. Today at my Zentangle club, the leaders drew a large string on a large piece of card stock. They divided it into 9 sections that were marked on the back (1-9). They left a white frame around the whole thing and cut them into 9 tiles. Each of us got a tile and tangled on them. (There were actually 2 puzzles.) When we were done, we put the pieces back together to form one large Zentangle. It was so much fun. We had a drawing to give each puzzle away.

I am taking the CZT class next month and can't wait to see what you have in store for us! I can't wait to learn everything that you can teach us, so that I can bring some of my knowledge back home. I am looking forward to teaching children at my church and cancer patients, at Moffitt Cancer Center, Arts in Medicine, where I took my first stroke!