The Creative Pulse podcast

Ernesto Lemke uses LEGO® bricks to create portraits using the unique brickpainting technique he developed. Incredibly, he makes these brick paintings without the use of software - he uses only his painter's eye and artistic vision to create his pieces.Ernesto has been featured in several television shows, including LEGO® Masters, where he created an incredible van Gogh portrait that got lots of attention. His works have been featured in several museums in the Netherlands such as the Kunsthal in Rotterdam and Teylers Museum in Haarlem. In the Fries Museum, he even did a live brick painting of Ed Sheeran, based on the work of artist Colin Davidson which was widely shared, including by both Ed and Colin themselves.After 18 years of being an art teacher, he made a big shift and became a full-time artist in 2023. He creates and shares new pieces regularly via social media, his website and in exhibitions, and he still uses his skills as a teacher to share his brickpainting technique through workshops.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Ernesto about how he developed his brickpainting technique, why he says that participating in LEGO® Masters was a life-changing experience, how he is able to create a portrait using block-shaped materials, and what it’s been like to have his work recognized by museums, fellow artists, and the people featured in the portraits.Say hi to Ernesto:  Website - ernestolemke.nl    Instagram - @ernestolemke  Threads - @ernestolemke  TikTok - @ernesto.lemke   Facebook - /ernesto.lemke  LinkedIn - /ernesto-lemke1….LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site, post or podcast episode.----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Tinka Robev and Andrew Azzopardi design and produce contemporary puzzles that feed the soul and challenge the mind. These are not your average, everyday puzzles - they feature intricately-cut pieces that turn tried-and-true puzzle solving tactics upside down. They even come with difficulty ratings - that’s how challenging some of these puzzles are to solve.They weren’t always puzzle makers. After meeting in university while studying architecture and design, this duo went on to launch a multidisciplinary design and branding agency. It was a few years later, during the coronavirus pandemic, that they came up with the idea to launch a puzzle company to encourage more people to get off their devices and to inspire social bonding moments.Puzzle Lab is dedicated to fabricating heirloom-quality puzzles that are crafted with care in their own studio in British Columbia, Canada, using high-quality materials and thick, sturdy wooden pieces. They love collaborating with other creative people so their puzzles often feature artwork by both established and up-and-coming Canadian artists.They are committed to being eco-conscious in every decision they make and they support social causes through their Puzzle with a Purpose series.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Tinka and Andrew about how they established Puzzle Lab, their process for creating such unique designs, their collaborations with artists, their Puzzle with a Purpose series and their commitment to being eco-conscious in everything they do.Say hi to Tinka and Andrew:  Website - puzzle-lab.com  Instagram - @the.puzzlelab  Facebook - /the.puzzlelab----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Katie Waters is a Foley Artist who enhances stories by performing the everyday sounds you hear in TV shows, movies, podcasts and video games. She captures live audio as she creates many different elements in a soundscape to perfectly match what’s happening on screen - everything from the sound of someone pouring water into a glass, walking down a hallway in high heels or hitting a tennis ball.Katie says that when she starts a project, it's necessary to immerse herself into the world the characters are living in, in order to deliver the best sound - sliding it in as a layer of the soundtrack. She’s an active member of the Motion Picture Sound Editors organization and is a full-time Foley artist at Noisefloor, a post-production audio facility in Chicago.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Katie about how she discovered the art of Foley, the process of finding the right items and props to create the sounds she needs, and the most challenging, satisfying, weird and fun sound projects she’s worked on to date.Say hi to Katie:  Website - syncitkatie.com   Instagram - @kt_h2o_foley----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Bill Hecht creates retro-futurism robot sculptures, finding great joy in imagining new uses for materials that would otherwise be discarded. He imaginatively combines bits and pieces of different items to create robot figures that have personality and presence. Bill established The Robotorium, where he dreams up, builds and showcases his found object robot sculptures. Electronics and industrial components that no longer serve their original purpose find a second life in his hands. The Robotorium is located at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, Massachusetts, a creative community hub that’s home to more than 350 artists, and Bill says “it’s magic” to work in this engaging space.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Bill about how he creates his robot sculptures, why he chooses to repurpose aged industrial equipment as his prime source of materials, his approach to design, and what it’s like to live and work within the creative community at Western Avenue Studios.Say hi to Bill:  Instagram - @the_robotoriumShow mentions:  An interview with Bill Hecht at The Robotorium (starts at 4:11)  Western Avenue Studios----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

I recently published the 100th episode of the Creative Pulse podcast and I have absolutely loved connecting with creative people around the world and bringing those conversations to you. Thank you so much for being here! This episode is a little different than usual, as I take a moment to mark the milestone of 100 episodes being published and all of the awesome ideas my guests have shared. You’ll hear:six things I’ve learned from 100 conversations about creativity, using the acronym IGNITEabout my own creative journey through a Q&A, with my creative and inspiring guest from episode 30 - my husband, Paul de Burger - as the interviewersome recent reviews from listeners of the podcastOne of my goals this year is for even more people to stream and download the episodes, because I think all of my guests have shared valuable insights about creativity. So share them widely, sprinkle these great ideas wherever you can, I would really appreciate it!I can’t wait to bring you many more episodes, featuring creatively inspiring people from all over the world.Here’s to you and your creative passion!- Angela de Burger  Host, Creative Pulse Podcast----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

On the 100th episode of the podcast, Lindsay Jean Thomson shares all about #The100DayProject!It’s a free global creativity challenge and this year’s start date was announced during the episode. Taking part is pretty straightforward - you pick something and do it every day for 100 days, sharing online as you go.#The100DayProject, in its current form, celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and it’s going strong! The concept was originally developed by Michael Bierut and in 2014, Elle Luna and friends brought the project online. Lindsay started as a participant in this global art project and loved it so much she became a co-leader of the initiative in 2017. On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Lindsay about this year’s event and how you can get involved, the goals of #The100DayProject, how people come up with their project ideas and the impact of participating. Show Notes- Website - the100dayproject.org- Substack - the100dayproject.substack.com- Instagram:    #The100DayProject @dothe100dayproject   Lindsay @lindsayjeanthomson- The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna- Five Years of 100 Days by Michael Bierut----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Using fragile eggshells of all sizes as her creative canvas, Katherine Alexander designs colourful and intricate works of art. Her specialty is pysanky, the traditional Ukrainian art of writing on eggs.Katherine says her creative fire comes from discovering the limits she can push with this beautiful but challenging medium. She respects the long history of pysanky and enjoys the classic designs that have been passed down from one generation to the next over thousands of years. She also creates new patterns using bright colours and whimsical designs. She has been featured in more than twenty art exhibits and her work has been recognized with multiple awards. Katherine also uses her talents through her “Pysanky for Good” initiative, hosting fundraisers to support causes that are close to her heart.Katherine shares tips, tutorials and behind-the-scenes moments via her social media channels and website to help others get started on their own creative journey. To add to all of that, she is also a violinist who performs with the Marshall String Quartet and is the Co-Director of the Queeny Art Fair.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Katherine about why she was drawn to the art of pysanky, how she develops designs for varying sizes of eggshells, her creative process, new ways she has found to share her work, the experience of participating in art exhibitions, and her excitement about being the co-director of an art fair that supports artists in her community.Say hi to Katherine:  Website - katherinealexander.art  Instagram - @katherine_alexander_art  TikTok - @katherinealexanderart  Facebook - /KatherineAlexanderArt  YouTube - @KatherineAlexanderArt----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Stef Bastiàn is a talented and experienced tattoo artist whose love affair with tattooing began when he was a teenager. His fascination was sparked when he crossed paths with Maurizio Fiorini, a heavily-tattooed man in his neighbourhood in Florence, Italy, who was well-known and well-respected in the industry.Stef’s creative journey has taken him to the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and 16 European countries, where he’s worked in numerous tattoo parlours, gaining the technical expertise and developing the network that has enabled him to become part of some of the best tattoo studios and conventions globally.Today, he is an in-demand tattoo artist, he mentors upcoming tattoo artists to share his knowledge and he hosts his own podcast called Tattoo Tales. His recently-released book, Inferno, explores the creative boundaries of American tradition tattoo iconography. He also supports charitable causes through an initiative he founded, a collaborative effort between tattoo artists with a clear goal: to help those in need while pushing the artistic boundaries of the industry. On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Stef about his love for tattooing, how mentoring tattoo artists is a two-way learning experience, the priority he places on sharing the voices of other tattoo artists, and the way he’s honouring his cultural upbringing by illustrating book one of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy, Inferno, using tattoo iconography.Say hi to Stef:  Website - stefbastian.com  Instagram - @stef_bastian  Tattoo Tales Podcast - on all podcast platforms  Inferno book - web page----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

A lifelong love of singing and dancing took Robyn Bennett from her hometown stages to New York City and then to Paris. Once there, she performed in the musical Cabaret, directed by Sam Mendes, which played for two years at the famous Folies Bergère theatre. Now Robyn makes her own music and performs regularly with her partner in life and work, trombone player Ben van Hille. She has written and produced several albums and performs her songs live in high-energy concerts with her incredible band.Robyn draws on an eclectic group of musical influences to create a sound that’s uniquely hers. Her latest series of songs are part of a musical triptych - a 3-part series of EPs in which she affirms her strength to move forward no matter what, to stay positive and keep smiling, to share good vibes and love.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Robyn about how her creative journey led her from the USA to France, how speaking two languages enables her to tap more deeply into her creativity, her approach when writing, recording and performing her songs, and the energy she draws from collaborating with fellow musicians.Say hi to Robyn:  Website - robynbennett.com  Instagram - @robynbennettmusic  Facebook - /robynbennettmusic  YouTube - @RobynBENNETTChannel----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Jessica Marro has an unwavering belief in fairies, a serious love for architecture and is passionate about spending time in nature. Throughout her life, she has worked as an architect, an interior designer and a design instructor. Over the last few years, she followed her creative passion and became a fairy house architect! Her company is called Little Wonders and it’s where all the things that make her happy come together in one place.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Jessica about how she shifted from traditional architecture to designing fairy houses, why using natural materials is so important to her, how she collaborates with clients to personalize their creations, and her favourite thing about being a fairy house architect.Say hi to Jessica:  Website - littlewondersnthings.com  Instagram - @littlewondersnthings  Facebook - /little wonders things  TikTok - @littlewondersnthings  Etsy - /littlewondersnthings----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Lorna Dandy is an artist with a studio assistant - her beloved dog Axle - who inspired her creative journey in a big way. Her specialty is creating realistic, detailed, hand-drawn pet portraits using coloured pencils. She started out on a very different career path, studying and completing a bachelors and masters degree in law. But during her years at university she found herself turning to drawing to help reduce her stress level. And the rest is history.She’s now an award-winning, highly skilled artist with a dedicated following of fans who love her personality-filled pet portraits. On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Lorna about how she rediscovered her love of drawing, why creating pet portraits is so special to her, how she uses her talent to support causes she cares about, and the experience of her videos going viral.Say hi to Lorna:  Website - lornadandyart.co.uk  Instagram - @lornadandyart  Tiktok - @lornadandyanimalart  Facebook - /LornaDandyAnimalArt  YouTube----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Brittani Locke specializes in creating unique hand-marbled silk scarves and other accessories. She also applies marbling designs on paper and canvas to create one-of-a-kind items. Brittani is actively involved in her local community, creating partnerships and working relationships with community groups, art centres and other artists to reach as many people as she can, sharing her love for many different types of creative arts. Through her company, The Soft Asylum, she features her work, highlights upcoming workshops and an online shop. She also shares process details through videos and posts on her social media channels.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Brittani about how she discovered and fell in love with hand-marbling, the art of embracing the uncontrollable elements of her work flow, why she loves teaching and her strong connections to a creative community.Say hi to Brittani:  Website - brittanilocke.com  Instagram - @thesoftasylum  Facebook - /thesoftasylumshop  YouTube - @thesoftasylum----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Ivy Karlsgodt specializes in creating handmade, hand stitched, vintage-inspired lampshades that are works of art. What started as a hobby is now her full-time, Brooklyn-based business, with happy customers, over a million followers on her social media channels, and well over 10 million views of her content. You might have even spotted her work in the set design for Stevie Nicks’ recent concert tour!Ivy’s background is in the costume fabrication field and she began her career cutting and sewing custom costumes as well as tailoring for broadway, film and television. When productions shut down during the global COVID pandemic she found herself with time on her hands and began experimenting with making a lampshade for her home. It was a hit!On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Ivy about how she got started making lampshades, the development of her unique design style, and the meant-to-be inclusion of her lampshades in Stevie Nicks’ concert stage design.Say hi to Ivy:  Website - aceofshades.co  Instagram - @aceofshadesshop  Tiktok - @aceofshadesshop----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Isobelle Ouzman alters books to create an alternate reality for what goes on between the front and back covers. She creates detailed three-dimensional scenes that unexpectedly but instantly capture your imagination. She uses multiple techniques including paper carving, drawing and colorizing the pages. To create the 3D aspect, she has to think about the many layers of paper within the book and how she can sculpt them to reveal the scene she knows lies within. That might be an enchanted garden, or an owl tucked into a hollow in a tree. They are magical.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Isobelle about how she developed her considerable skills, the stories she tells through her altered book designs, her creative process when making a new piece, and why she loves being an artist.Say hi to Isobelle:  Website - isobelleouzman.com  Instagram - @isobelle.ouzman  YouTube - IsobelleOuzman  YouTube - Why I Love Being an Artist----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Kelsey Powless had never touched, let alone operated, a power tool in her life but one day she found herself inspired by artworks that had been made with a scroll saw. That was the moment that changed everything for her. With a supportive family and the ability to learn from people who shared their techniques online, she dove right in and the rest is history! She began creating signs for herself as a hobby but after sharing photos on her personal social media accounts of the pieces she had made, it wasn’t long before people started asking her to create custom signs for them too. With that, her entrepreneurial life as a custom signmaker began!Her company has a very important mission too, which is “revitalizing Indigenous art and languages through handcrafted decor” so that’s a big focus in her work as well. She often includes words from Indigenous languages as well as Indigenous imagery in her pieces, helping to share her culture with everyone who sees and enjoys the signs she makes with such care.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Kelsey about how she initially developed this creative passion as a means of self-care, how it blossomed into a business, the power of community, and how she is revitalizing Indigenous art and languages through handcrafted decor. Say hi to Kelsey:  Website - powlessandco.ca  Instagram - @powlessandco  Tiktok - @powlessandco  Facebook - @powlessandco----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

From an early age, Eva Luna Kodera dreamed of becoming a ‘book doctor’, inspired by a character in one of her favourite stories. Now, as a master bookbinder, she is living that dream.She developed her bookbinding skills over many years, most recently becoming a master bookbinder after a three-year apprenticeship in the craft. Her final project was complex, using a combination of materials and techniques, along with a unique presentation.Eva is creatively developing partnerships with authors and has been invited to work with a literature awards ceremony to custom-design and make the prizes that will be presented to winners. In addition to novels, she can also create many other, similar things for her clients - such as personalized journals, notebooks, envelopes and portfolios.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Eva about how she discovered the art and craft of bookbinding, the journey she’s taken to develop her skills, the relationships she’s creating with authors and why she’s excited about the doors opening in front of her.Say hi to Eva:  Instagram - @wortschmuggler  Etsy----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Hi everyone, it’s your host Angela de Burger here and today’s episode is a little bit different than usual. I usually welcome a guest and get to hear all about their unique ways of being creative. But this time, I’m turning the microphone towards YOU! Do you have a tip for staying creative? For moving forward when you feel a little stuck?For getting the creative energy flowing again?I’m asking you the same question I ask my guests on every episode:What are your tips for starting up, or keeping up, the creative energy in your life?To send me a tip, you can:record a short voicemail at speakpipe.com/CreativePulse or you can send me a message or tag me in a post on Instagram @creativepulsepodcast or Twitter @CreativePulseTWOn that note, summer is officially here and so it’s time for a short break in new episodes. I’m hard at work behind the scenes, recording and preparing lots of new episodes. They’ll be back in September and I can’t wait to share them with you.Throughout July and August, I’ll be sharing the tips you send me on Instagram and Twitter, so be sure to keep an eye on those for more creative inspiration.I hope to hear from you soon!----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram:  creativepulsepodcast  Twitter  @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Charlotte Pleasants is bringing Shakespeare’s classic works to modern audiences and forging her own creative path as an actor, producer, director and theatre company founder. Not only that, but she has taken on an additional challenge for herself by focusing on presenting English-language theatre productions in a French-speaking city: Paris, France. Born in Australia and raised in New Zealand, she earned a university degree with a double major in theatre and anthropology. After a family trip to Europe she made her way to Paris, settled in, and has been involved in the live theatre scene in the city ever since. Charlotte has served as a producer at Paris Fringe, as the artistic director of the Tapis Théâtre, as well as a producer and performer at Cygnet Theatre. There, she participated in productions of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (2021), Lear (2020), Twelfth Night (2019), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (2018). Most recently, she became a founding member of Alchemy Theatre and is co-directing and co-producing The Taming of the Shrew, which will be performed in a French château this summer.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Charlotte about her approach for telling a story written hundreds of years ago in a fresh way, her creative process when directing a play, and her focus on high levels of collaboration while working with an international cast.Say hi to Charlotte:  Website  Instagram - @alchemytheatre_  Facebook   YouTube - @AlchemyTheatre  IndieGoGo----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter: @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Lucy Butler is a sculptor who handmakes pieces that are inspired by the ruins of Irish churches, abbeys and houses that capture her imagination.She studied Model Making for Film and Media at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology and worked in that field for several years. Then, she felt a call to return to her roots. Today, Lucy specializes in historic sites and the details they offer up as she gives them time to reveal themselves. She says she is constantly drawn to fantasize about places and life, to a world without limits and a world of ‘what ifs’. On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Lucy about why she made a big shift in her creative career to become a sculptor, why she is so captured by these places from the past, her creative process when designing a new piece, and how she connects with people about her work, both online and in person.Say hi to Lucy:  Website - lucybutler.ie  Instagram - @lucybutlerartwork  TikTok - @lucybutlerartwork  Facebook - /butlerartwork  YouTube - @lucybutlerartwork----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram: creativepulsepodcast  Twitter:  @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com 

Liza Zhurkovskaya has built a career that allows her to create multiple collections of artworks - she’s a fine art curator. She develops collections for her clients, indulging in her love of finding artists, getting to know their artwork, and matching pieces to the tastes and desires of her art-collecting clients.She’s worked in galleries, provided advice and guidance to private clients, and established her own online, contemporary art gallery called Kefi Art Gallery.Liza also shares her knowledge and provides guests an opportunity to share their experiences and tips on her podcast, called Curator on the Go. It’s a show for artists and art professionals who are ready to build a thriving art career and business.On this episode, host Angela de Burger chats with Liza about her lifelong love of the arts, what exactly a fine art curator does, how she established her own online art gallery, why she created her podcast, and her passion for helping people make a living through their creative work.Say hi to Liza:  Website - curatoronthego.com  Instagram - @curatoronthego  Facebook - Curator on the Go  Podcast - Curator on the Go  Website - Kefi Art Gallery----Creative Pulse Podcast socials:  Instagram:  creativepulsepodcast  Twitter  @CreativePulseTWMusic credit: https://www.purple-planet.com