Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Conference in Santa Fe


Hanging out with like-minded people is something that is always worthwhile. Realizing Santa Fe, New Mexico is a favorite destination spot for many people, I never had a desire to go. In 2013, Studio Art Quilt Associates had their annual conference in Santa Fe. The conference was great — hanging out with like-minded people, listening to speakers who engaged and inspired. When I heard that Tangle U, a conference for Certified Zentangle Teachers, was going to Santa Fe in 2015 I knew I would be going too!

The high desert holds little appeal aesthetically to me; brown earth, adobe, terra-cotta, few trees… The mountains in the distance are pretty. The shopping, the art, the whole spirit is amazing. I loved wandering the section of Old Town near the hotel and conference center. Shops of the handmade or artisan made each spectacular versions of its kind.

The conference held equal attention. [Classes about products, teaching methods, new approaches to projects. Each class sparked ideas and stimulated the creative monster.]

One class took the traditional idea of tangles and talked about refining lines and adding shading in a unique way that creates even more dimensionality. I also was introduced to the idea that tiles can be ‘intimate’ or have less value contrast (less to look at from a distance) and yet have smaller detail or more change in sheen (using a clear pen with white glitter on white paper) that you can only see as you move around the tile. More a sense of wonder than wow.

Another class introduced me to TomBow markers. A product I knew of and had not tried. Trying it for the first time in a guided manner was great. Who knew a marker could be blended?!

There were also opportunities to meet other Certified Zentangle Teachers who came from all over the world. I met Laura Liu from Taipei, Taiwan. Japan Diamond is her pattern. It is one of my favorites! Even a fellow Tennessean, Amy Brody who shared tales of her tangles.


It was a great trip. I look forward to next year in Maine.