Letter to CBS Sunday Morning

I can't believe I have been practicing zentangle for almost 10 years.  In that time I have often thought about how great it would be for CBS Sunday Morning to do a feature on zentangle.  I never really told anyone about it and luckily 2 other CZTs did and Maria and Rick asked us to participate in a campaign to see if they would do a piece on zentangle.  Below is my letter, card and zentangle I sent in.  Let's hope this works!

Hello, my name is Lara Williams and I am a huge fan of CBS Sunday Morning and have been watching for many years. I am writing to encourage you to do a segment on zentangle because I believe your show is a perfect match for introducing this amazing art style to the world. The honest, down to earth, inquisitive nature of your program makes it a great match and venue for reporting on zentangle.

I was first introduced to zentangle shortly after it was created almost 10 years ago in August 2004. Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas who created zentangle taught a class at a meeting I was attending. The easy step by step directions and focus it creates all while creating a piece of art had me hooked and I haven’t stopped tangling (tangling = drawing zentangle style) since. I pretty much tangle on anything and keep looking for new ways to incorporate zentangle into my art. When the opportunity came up in 2009 to become a Certified Zentangle Teacher I was offered the chance to attend and have truly enjoyed being able to share zentangle and teach others how wonderful and fun it can be AND that they too can be artists.

So what is zentangle? Each person who practices zentangle has their own story of what it is to them and how it fits into their life. To me, zentangle is a tool I can use to find balance in my life. I think of it as an active form of meditation that brings focus and peace to my life. I get lost in the patterns and time and worries just slip away when I am tangling. I feel that the process of creating a zentangle is the greatest benefit. The side effect of creating a zentangle is the beautiful artwork you create while following the process. It is also the most rewarding experience I have had as a teacher. Everyone who has taken one of my classes leaves with a little boost to their self-esteem. Many have never thought of themselves as artists and by the end of the class they have all created a beautiful piece of art. The wonderful thing about zentangle is that it can be taught to all ages and abilities.

So I hope this letter has inspired you to research and explore what zentangle is all about. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I hope that you find as I believe, zentangle is a great match for your show. I am enclosing an original zentangle tile I created as an example.

Thank you for your time. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Card I sent with the above letter inside

Tile I included