Secret Sunday 8

Do you want to know a secret?


Welcome to the fourth edition of The Pulse -- The State of the Art -- a survey in words and pictures of the online artist community. The Pulse is a collaborative project that aims to introduce you to new artists, help you get to know familiar faces even more, and allow you access into the creative hearts and minds of a very talented crew of individuals.


Over 150 (!) artists have answered a series of questions which make up The Pulse. Their responses will be presented as a series of online and print projects. And the first continues right now!

Join the The Altered Page every Sunday for "Secret Sunday." Here the secrets of all your favorite artists will be revealed. It could be a technique, a product, a secret source, a little-known website, a hidden shop, an inspiration, just about anything! If you missed any, no worries. You can find links to all the secrets on the sidebar of my blog.

Today's secret.......Inspiration!
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Joanna Olson
Blog: Joanna's Blog
Website: Joanna Olson

Not really a secret but the source of inspiration that I get is from the feeling of being blessed by the generosity of friends and acquaintances who have thought of me by "gifting" me with art tools and materials.

An elderly gentleman who was a constant coffee partner at the local café was alerted by someone in his building that the family of an elderly woman who was being placed in a chronic care facility was cleaning out her apartment and literally throwing away her art supplies. Hundreds of dollars of untouched and still wrapped Arches watercolor paper ended up in the trash. He rescued these and gave them to me only vaguely aware of their value. A neighbor who is a jewellery appraiser was moving and gave me his jewellers bench. A friend and coworker of my husbands who re-builds airplanes had bought out the contents of his neighbors garage. Knowing I would have loved to own a rolling mill, he searched through the contents of his acquisitions and quietly left one in my garage as a surprise. The cousin of a friend recently passed away from cancer and although I barely knew her, she bequeathed to me all her art supplies and how she loved her
art supplies! I will never need to buy brushes again.

I can go into my studio now and feel the freedom to experiment with the abundance of materials I have to work with. To be freed of the reluctance to try and fail and waste is a gift. It has humbled me and at the same time given me confidence...and I will remember the power behind these gifts and try to do the same...
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Terry Rafferty
Blog: Terry Rafferty

My idea board which changes constantly, but always has things from my family and friends to remind me how good life is.

The poem by e.e. cummings was embroidered for me almost 40 years ago by my sister and has hung in every home I've had. (and the gorgeous girl is my daughter.)
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Rosie Kearton
Blog: Ruminations, Rambles, Reflexions

RUST and the discovery of the old and abandoned Brick Works on the north coast of Anglesey in the UK – the place is only really known to locals and as a natural site for inspiration it is truly wonderful.

Rust itself as so many possibilities for photographs and for using as a drawing material. Found rust objects are great for art works.
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Jean Zoss
Blog: Bluebirds Living in the Meadow
Etsy: Bluebird Meadow

I have always had a large piece of old coffee table glass covering my desk area. Rather than use an inspiration board, I have always slid cards and bits under the desk glass.

My latest glass collection is of my own images, created over the last year, for the various art challenges on-line. Because my desk is in front of a 6 ft. window, the reflection of the sky and apple tree outside create an interesting effect.
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Lisa Renner
Website: Lisa Renner

Where I live, we have a wonderful little downtown square: quaint, and filled with antique shops, boutiques, small restaurants, etc. I enjoy walking around the square and going into the shops, possibly finding just the right little "rusty spring", fabric remnant, or vintage book, that might inspire a new project or workshop.
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Judith Stadler
Blog: ARTISTICANEUM

For inspiration and ideas: Never leave the house without a camera and keep your eye peeled for "treasure."

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Peggy Pirro
Website: Out of Hand Art

I don’t know if this is so much a secret as it is something we (or at least I) sometimes forget: to get out of our studios and out of our heads and spend time with other artists on a regular basis. There is something so energizing and rejuvenating about being among other creative people, and I believe our art suffers if we’re so busy or shy or focused on our own stuff that we don't open the door to other people and their amazing, inspiring, and so-different-from-our-own creative works.

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Paula Bogdan
Blog: Little Scraps of Magic

Go look at some kids’ art! It vibrates with energy and color. Kids don’t know all the “art rules” so they pretty much cheerfully break them all and the result is wonderful! I’m lucky enough to teach in a K-8 school, and I’ve been known to wander the halls and just look at what’s up on the walls…and take pics for later inspiration.

I’ve never met a piece of a child’s art that doesn’t fail to inspire and just make me smile!
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Terry Berg
Blog: artwhispers

Inspiration by walking the nearby beach on Puget Sound in Seattle, listening to the waves, fresh air, collecting beach glass, rusty metal, papers, etc.

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Debra Eck
Website: Debra Eck
Blog: Dryadart's Weblog

When I'm stuck in the studio and often times just to get warmed up I make one of these, how apt, an altered page... they work like little meditations, its just me and the page and no intention, talking to each other.

I find them addictive and very relaxing, and other people seem to enjoy the end result which is a plus!!
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