More on Zentangle

I really had to think hard about this, but I just couldn't change the name of my blog. My Invisible Muse has so much meaning in my life. It's the inner voice I ignored for so many years. The voice that my inner critic drowned out everytime I tried something new or even leaned towards calling myself an artist. My Invisible Muse is what led me to Zentangle and is the voice that now encourages me and tells me that I can do or be whatever I want.

I have added a new tag line though. Because my blog will be shifting slightly towards my new love of tangling and the art of Zentangle. I will of course continue to talk about any art adventures just because it's fun to share these experiences.

As you read in my last post I recently became a CZT or Certified Zentangle Trainer. I read the best description on Jane Monk's blog about our training she wrote "Going to Rick and Maria's is almost like a pilgrimage, it has certainly changed my outlook and ideas about Zentangle." Such a great description Jane! I can't imagine taking this class anywhere else. So I came up with the following list...if you know me you know I love a good list!

Reasons Why We Tangle in Whitinsville

1. Rick and Maria. Okay they are portable but their house isn't! I thought I took good pictures but they just don't capture the warm, friendly, welcoming feeling of visiting their home and studio. Gracious, loving, wonderful, creative, funny, kind, and generous...I could go on.
2. Oakhurst. Wow. Let's see...history, wood work, huge, gorgeous, lovely, open, patterns, patterns, and patterns! And don't even get me started on the food...more on this later.
3. Terry and Ed. Also portable, but they can't bring Oakhurst with them! They are the ingredient that makes what could be just a huge, empty Victorian mansion feel like home. And speaking of ingredients man can they cook! Delicious food morning, noon and night...and coffee all day long. They were over the top helpful with anything we needed. Wonderful people.
4.Atmosphere. This one is harder to describe. Can I just say that I have been to many conferences and stayed in many hotels where conferences are held...I have never experienced the atmosphere of creativity, shared joy, enthusiasm, and focus like I experienced in Whitinsville. I was sad to leave because I didn't want that feeling to end.
5. Family. Now this one might sound a bit strange. But there was something that made the experience seem more personal. Rick and Maria surround themselves with family. We all met members of their family, talked with them, learned from them, heard stories about them and were helped by them. It creates a feeling of trust and acceptance that can't be replaced and can not be found anywhere else but Whitinsville.

So there's my list. Traveling to Whitinsville is one of the most wonderful art experiences I've ever had and probably ever will. Thank you Rick and Maria for making it possible.