Zentangle (R) For Kidz: A Comic Guide with Alex and Lilah (Design Originals)

Kids of all ages can learn to tangle in this fun presentation of pattern play. Interview with Sandy Steen Bartholomew Sandy Steen Bartholomew is an author, illustrator, mixed-media artist and a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT). She also runs a Creativity General Store (Wingdoodle), a studio (BeezInk Studio), an Etsy shop (Bumblebat), a teaching studio (The Belfry), and a blog (Beez in the Belfry). She is inspired by juicy, jewel-tones, rusty-crusty, peeling, earth-covered... things. Magic, mystery, bits, pieces, and weird little creatures. If it sits still, she'll paint it. Sandy lives with her two kids (Alex and Lilah) and her cat, Lilo, in their colorful, mixed-media house in New Hampshire. How did you get started in your line of work? I have been an illustrator my entire life. I drew on walls as a kid, did cartoons for a local newspaper as a teen, and started sending out my children's book manuscripts when I was 15. I also wanted to be an Egyptologist (Indiana Jones). I went to Brown University for the archaeology, then dropped out to go to the School of Visual Arts in NYC, then back to Providence for Rhode Island School of Design. What was your path towards publication like? I have been sending out manuscripts for most of my life, but one thing or another always happened to throw a wrench into the process. After I had kids, I stuck the ideas in the flat file and tried to "move-on." After I learned Zentangle, I started working on a little book called AlphaTangle which I self-published with a local printer. I brought the sketches to a Zentangle training workshop, where I met Suzanne McNeill from Design Originals. After I got up enough courage to actually talk to her, I showed her my sketches and she said, "So tell me about your book." I almost keeled over when I realized she meant a different book, not AlphaTangle; a new book. One I had never really thought about! That new thought eventually became Totally Tangled. What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle? I am an introvert. Very introverted. When I took the self-test inside "The Introvert Advantage..". they didn't have a score high enough to rate me. Sometimes one obstacle or challenge can actually provide the solution for another one. For example: I got divorced this past winter. Not a good experience in itself or a great way to overcome introversion, but I found I "needed" to earn money and I "needed" to speak up and ask questions. So, I had to do a lot of things that did not come easily to me and being introverted wasn't an excuse anymore. I feel comfortable on the internet. So I pitch myself with my blog, website, Facebook, etc. I still don't like talking on the phone, though. How do you balance your life as an entrepreneur with your duties as a parent or spouse? I don't balance my life. I think my recent divorce proves that I failed as a spouse. Honestly, I think I terrified my ex-husband. I am an idea person and my brain generates new ideas faster than I can breathe. I exhaust myself, and I can't multi-task. I need an assistant for my business and an Alice (from Brady Bunch) for my home. Then I think I would be a normal-ish human being. I think I am a good parent though. My secret is to let go of the mommy-guilt. I learned when my son was very little that I could not be a stay-at-home mom. I couldn't be around people, even teeny ones that I adore, for more than a few hours at a time. So I worked very hard at finding other people who actually like playgrounds and story time and are more patient than I am... to watch my kids. And then, when they are with me in the afternoons or evening, I try to really pay attention to them. I listen and talk and play and watch movies with them. My kids seem OK with that set up.

Sandy Steen Bartholomew is an author, illustrator, mixed-media artist and a Certified Zentangle Teacher. She runs a creativity general store (Wingdoodle), a mini-gallery (the Beehive), a studio (BeezInk Studio), a teaching studio (The Belfry) and an Etsy shop (Bumblebat). Sandy lives with her two kids and a cat in their colourful, mixed-media house in Warner, NH - a town full of introverted artists she has never met.