Denise Daffara - Artist - Blog

Tea

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:11:01 +1000

My daughter sneaked this pic of me at T2 in Melbourne Feb 2012.

Tea with ginger cake at a delightful cafe in Wellington NZ.

I've taken quite a liking to taking photo's at every opportunity when I have a fresh cup or pot of tea placed in front of me... the comfort and simple ritual of pouring a cup of tea is never lost on me.
If you'd love to see more... I've made an album simply called "Tea" on my facebook page
I've been formulating an idea . . . I've always wanted to combine my love of tea with an art class of my own . . . it's in the wings, I let you know when that's ready to go.

Take care, keep warm ...
love
Denise xo

Equal II Magazine... I'm on the cover.

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:03:04 +1000

Sometimes as an artist... or just as me... I feel like I'd like to just keep private, and not tell everyone my business... but then I read about other artists who share their stories or feelings and I LOVE it... I love to be able to hear and read about lives other than my own to feel the connection and resonance with other's stories and how we're not all that different from eachother really.
So.... when asked if I would contribute to this magazine... about "Speaking Your Truth" ... I said ... ok.

Open publication - Free publishing - More news

It's quite a long one... so have a look when you've got some time... or just flick through and see if there is a page just for you... today.

With love,
Denise. xo

March? What the?

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:21:19 +1000

OK... if you are sweet enough to actually follow my posts you may be wondering what the heck has happened to that woman?

Well.... nothing, and everything... and all that in between...

What I wanted to show you is a photo of the gorgeous girl who made that painting some months ago that I shared here...
Here is a photo of Emalisse the special artist who created this :

Thanks Krissy for showing me your beautiful daughter and sending me this pic of her with her very own print of "Loves Me Not, Loves Me".

Be well.

with love

Denise x

Your Life is Your Canvas

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:51:25 +1000

I share a poem I received today via email ... it's one of those show stopping... take a big-deep-breath-in ones that make you want to live your life a lot bigger. I also found it so close to my heart resonating so clearly. I believe the greatest thing I could do with this right now was to share it with you.

love Denise xo

YOUR LIFE IS YOUR CANVAS
Your life is your canvas.
You are your own greatest creation.
Don't you remember
how when you were little
you knew in your bones you would be able to do anything?
Anything that was really yours to do?
This is our chance, right now.
To move out of the place
of victim and into the place
of creating our life as if we could do anything with it.
I know you feel trapped sometimes
I know you don't see the way through
I know the mountain is so big
that needs moving.
But I also know this...
Our life is our art.
You are art.
You are the one with the brush
and the one with the colors.
Your emotional landscape
is the place to create your life from.
This isn't about it being
ALL GOOD
and there being no mistakes.
This is about continuing to
create even when you feel like you are on fire or
underwater with no way to catch a breath.
This is about opening your
heart to love one more time.
About risking being hurt,
again.
About moving the cage of
the body off and dancing
your hips back to life.
About moving the grimace
of your mouth away and kissing
kissing the very air in front of you.
This is about an inquiry
into how to be in love with anything
and anyone even when you feel
so all alone. I know you feel so all alone
some days. So do I.
But there is one thing I know for sure,
that you are with me and I am with you.
The red thread of connection
between is as strong as ever and if you
close your eyes you will see
I am your companion for the journey.
Fellow seeker on the path of life
looking to make art out of the past
and make the future into our own
greatest creation.
I once thought, not so long ago
that the best of my life was behind me.
I now know that is a lie I told myself.
It is my decision for the best of life
to be in front of me.
Will you choose with me?
Right now will you CHOOSE?
See my hand extended reaching for you.
We can do this together.
We can open to love again.
Open to light again.
You don't have to get rid of your
fear first, or your pain.
There is a divine spark
at the end of God's finger
lighting the pilot light of your
heart right now.
I see itI! I see it!
Come with me...
Come with me...
Come with me...
to the other side of the
scars of the heart.
Come with me
and together we will
paint our new legends
over cups of steaming
tea and use as much
gold paint as we feel
we need to make the world
glow again.
~ Shiloh Sophia

Goodbye 2011

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:33:38 +1000

The end of a year is another opportunity for pause and reflection. I get a little nostalgic about these things... this has not been the easiest of years...but this applies to so many of us it's almost normal now? Some of the challenging things have been some amazing artists have died leaving behind incredible paintings and memories and stories... some left untold, Margaret Olley, David Boyd, Michael Challen spring to mind ...
Personal struggles with depression and other depleting conditions have played a part...
Some of the good stuff needs remembering too :
A visit to Melbourne, staying with an old school friend and her family... exhibiting some paintings at the Canterbury Art show. Discovering the 'perfect blend' talks at Caloudra Regional Gallery... hearing from various artists and seeing their amazing works on display... and attending a mixed media workshop there. Later in the year attending a couple of arty workshops with Kym Barrett and Lynne Marshall. Hearing from a lady who lives in Singapore that a painting I donated a couple of years earlier has touched her heart.
These are the part pertaining to my art life... there will be some things I've missed, but anyhow.... farewell 2011 ... I appreciate the lessons, I hope I don't have to relearn some of them!
Of course I hold hopes for a great 2012 and I wish you, dear reader a very warm and Happy New Year too.
Each morning we have a fresh start.... I intend to enjoy my life as much as I possibly can .... and make Self Love a priority this year.
Much love,
Denise xo

Here's us heading to the Gold Coast on Christmas morning.

Aura was our Christmas Elf... just for a little while :0)

Beautiful painting by Emalisse

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:32:49 +1000

A couple of days ago I had the absolute pleasure of hearing how a little girl of just 9 years old loves my paintings, because they make her feel happy. Emalisse has some very serious health challenges in her life and she and her Mum have to be ever so courageous to get through all that goes with that. I loved her painting so much I've put it on my kindness page for keeps... but I wanted to make a little blog post in her honour as well.her Aunt said to me "Not bad for a little autistic girl with good vision in only one eye. Thank you for filling her with joy through your beautiful work Denise"

by Emalisse - Age 9

how precious.

with love

Denise.

a little bubble mail goes a long way

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:05:47 +1000

A surprise 'bubble mail' today....."Congratulations Denise! Your work is on the RedBubble homepage today yay!! One of our homepage curators picked your image because they thought it was brilliant. Less than 3 in a thousand works make it onto the homepage – so congratulations :)"

Yesterday I was so unproductive and flat... it's amazing what a lift and personal affirmation something like this can give. In these current changing times where things are often quite uncertain it seems to take larger amounts of self love and trust in the flow of love and life to move from complacency to shiny again.

I've got some new images to add to my red bubble page... they'll be available to order as cards and little prints asap.

with love
Denise xo

The little collection for Amberley Art Show

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:19:07 +1000

Here they are all finished and ready to be packaged and sent on their way . . .

If you live in Victoria and you'd like to attend the
Amberley Art & Craft Show
opening night is on Friday 18th November 7.30pm - 10pm
and the show is open Saturday 10 − 5pm and Sunday 10 − 4pm. Go along and support some local and interstate artists. We appreciate it always.

with love
Denise xo

City Chic print on Studio Special this month

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:52:27 +1000

I have this gorgeous print here in my studio... it's time she was hanging out in a snazzy office somewhere...
I'll take orders.. but if you're quick you can enjoy this one immediately.

Stretched Canvas Print ready to hang, in studio now...
80 x 60cm vlaued at $475 stretched,
Studio Special $375 save $100.

"City Chic" by Denise Daffara

See the 'add to cart' button on the Home page... or Studio Wall & Specials.

love Denise xo

Eat, Play, Love

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:30:47 +1000

They're going ok... still tweaks and things for some.... and 'pray' isn't finished yet... but here is a little look at the three that are almost done now.

Also, I just received an email today from Red Bubble ...... and they are soon to make iPhone covers part of their range!!! Woo hoo, I've always wanted to have one of my paintings be available for this. If you have any ideas about particular designs you would LOVE to see on your iPhone sometime... do let me know.

I hope you're having a great week.

love Denise xo