Denise Daffara
  • Home
    • Contact
    • Join Mailing List
    • Blog
    • Links
  • About
    • Little dd
    • Testimonials & Kindness
  • Free Gifts
    • Tea Cup Oracle
  • Shop
    • Prints
    • Art for Sale >
      • Matisse Moods woodblocks
    • Synergy Sessions
    • Teacup Cards
  • Commissions
  • Workshops
    • Painted Pages Workshop
    • Paint with Me >
      • Paint with Me Registration Page
    • Creativitea Time Online >
      • Creativitea Time for Grief
      • Online Classes

blog : another
​'sip of my tea'

My youngest fan

29/4/2013

 
She's a little darling baby girl, who can't talk just yet.. so we're jumping to conclusions here... but when my gorgeous friend Linda sent me a pic on iphone this morning with these words "Every morning after her feed she looks at your tree painting til she falls asleep! She loves it! xxx"  Awww, it brought tears to my eyes.   So... I'm naming Grace as my youngest fan. 
Picture
"Every morning after her feed she looks at your tree painting tll she falls asleep! She loves it! xxx"
Picture
Picture
Matt & Linda's gorgeous baby girl, Grace.
Here's Grace's Mummy, my lovely friend Linda below.  
Picture
I just wanted to share that adorable cuteness with you,

love Denise xo

I am an ARTist - she proudly proclaimed !

25/4/2013

 
Yesterday I received a surprise text from my dear friend Xanthe of xsentertainment, inviting me to a performance at the Power House in Brisbane... she said 'I think you'll like it' ... what a gift... to have  a friend who is willing to share an opportunity like that with me.... so I decided to say 'Yes Please'!  and off we set at 6pm last night for just over an hour's drive to watch a one woman show for 50 minutes ... and drive back home.. and I am SO GLAD I DID!
Picture
BRISBANE POWERHOUSE PRESENTS 
LE FOULARD
WED 24 - SAT 27 APR 2013
Winner Best Theatre Award 2013 Adelaide Fringe
 
This, ladies and gentlemen, is an art show, made with love by an idiot.

Starring a medley of characters, overwhelmed by a love of a show-stopping song and performed using only a scarf, British-based Lucy Hopkins brings her brilliantly crafted and hilarious one-woman show to Australian shores.



I only just noticed that tag line 'This, ladies and gentlemen, is an art show, made with love by an idiot.'  and I am struck... with a tinge of dismay... Why did she call herself an idiot?  Is is because of the huge committment of time and energy it most certainly must take to show up and do this show over and over?  
Because... I wanted to encapsulate a hint of what I received from this outstanding performance ... so very much, I may not be able to sufficiently put it into words!  
Her opening line with outstretched arms and generous scarf draped across her shoulders and down her sides was  "I am an ARTist!" and yes, it was meant to be funny... or... was it...

I witnessed one woman captivate an entire audience, draw them in and project her energy to sometimes fill that room to the ceiling.  One woman! who inhabited several characters that were each so complete and believable and the change from one to the next was seamless.  I was mesmerised, and laugh... there were so many times I just burst into laughter... face hurting laughter at some points. A beautiful song in French, with translation after each phrase the first time around so we were carried along with the lyrics that reached in and touched our hearts, her delicate voice reminscent of old French Films or cabaret, I'm not certain of which. A dramatic strong masculine like character with statuesque form was a dominant voice amongst them. By the end of the show I had been through a whole gammit of emotions and was 'full'. Like after an exquisite meal, nothing was missed, each course delicately prepared and presented with the right portion size and accompaniments.  I am in awe of this one woman who showed such absolute abandonment of concern over 'what people may think' and showed up and gave a performance like I have never experienced before.  Xanthe and I had plenty to talk about on our drive home, including glowing praise for this one woman show that had delighted us so fully on a 'school night in Apirl 2013'.


Picture
Lucy Hopkins
On my beach walk this mornng I was recreating in my mind some of her movements and segments... and it occurred to me that I am a 'one woman show' we each are... we have the opportunity right now, to show up for our life, and live it out loud, and to the fullest, and the GIFT of seeing and experiencing and feeling this woman's performance last night was that it made me want to be BRAVER. 
Picture
my lovely friend Xanthe - #I'mSoNotAPhotographer!
sigh.
with love,
Denise xo

Rio Abajo Rio ... River Beneath the River

22/4/2013

 
Picture
This is a portion of a new painting that I began along with a live streamed class at 4am on a Sunday morning a week or so ago. ... it's part of the new method I'm learning that includes some visioning and questing along the way ... 
I'm getting all kinds of juicy information coming through.. it's hard to know whether to share it here.. there is a chance some may think I'm a bit bonkers.. but I'm learning to care less* about that.  For now I'd like to share some words by an author I highly respect.. as these words were in part a crucial inspiration behind this work.

*of course I care what people think.. but not to the extent that I'm going to dim myself down 
to the point of oblivion, I value bravery and courage of ones convictions.
"Each woman has potential access to Rio Abajo Rio, this river beneath the river. She arrives there through deep meditation, dance, writing, painting, prayer making, singing, drumming, active imagination, or any activity which requires an intense altered consciousness. A woman arrives in this world-between worlds through yearning and by seeking something she can see just out of the corner of her eye. She arrives there by deeply creative acts, through intentional solitude, and by practice of any of the arts. And even with these well-crafted practices, much of what occurs in this ineffable world remains forever mysterious to us, for it breaks physical laws and rational laws as we know them."  -  Clarissa Pinkola Estes  "Women Who Run With The Wolves".

I got a clear vision of a phoenix telling the woman/muse something of great importance during the visioning for this painting... but went ahead and sketched in this rather demure looking parrot... and didn't feel very satisfied with it I have to say... and 'clear as day' I got the message "I showed you a phoenix.. we are going to need a PHOENIX here please" ... so I sketched in the phoenix.. and layered some paint on her... and immediately felt stronger, more empowered... and enlivened by that simple change/addition ... this method is challenging me.. and sometimes I'm accompanied by some anxiety as well... but the depths it's capable of touching are worth all of it.

"we are going to need a Phoenix here "

Picture

I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely lady named Stacey of Rubykite Interiors last week who asked to feature me on her blog, you can read that here : Sunshine Coast Design Post 
Picture
DD in Studio - photo by Stacey Mitchell
You'll see another painting on the easel .. "My Lady of Alchemy" ... I'll feature her on another post... omygosh I am soooo thrilled with her it's not funny!


bye for now, I just wanted to pop in and put a little more context around that painting with the rather large bird on a woman's shoulder.. 


love Denise xo

Creativitea on Good Friday 

5/4/2013

 
When I set the date for a full day 'Creativitea' I didn't actually realise it was 'Good Friday'.. and therefore a public holiday.. but this allowed for three beautiful lady's to come along who might not have been able to had it been a work day.  
I am sometimes finding it's not always suitable for people to come on the dates I set, so please be aware, that if you have at least two friends who would like to come to an artclass/tea party hosted by me, then you can always contact me to see if we can make a date that will suit you.
I am looking at doing an evening class on Friday night 12th April - 6pm til 9'ish. ... so be quick if you'd love to come along to that one. 
Picture
The idea of these current 'Creativitea' classes is really quite free... you're free to play and explore, and I am there to assist you in whatever way I can.  It's been described as very relaxing, and many women express the joy of having given themselves time out to do something creative. 
I will be introducing a more structured workshop/retreat style class in the not too distant future, so keep in touch if you'd like to hear more about that.  You can join my mailing list here. 
Picture
www.denisedaffara.com.au
I love the diversity of these artworks... all fabulous... and all so very different from eachother.  Magic happens!


with love


Denise.

Admire or Jelous? . . . what's the difference ?

4/4/2013

 
below is a little bit of 'truth telling' or 'raving on' as I have a tendancy to do sometimes... 
If at any stage I’m doing something ‘achieving’ something in my arty business... and it ‘pissed you off’ ... well... take that as a message from your subconscious that part of you might ‘want what I’m having’ .. or ‘is capable of doing it too’ ...

I’m not saying I get ‘pissed off’ so to speak with other artists I see doing really well (and that is all relative and a personal opinion anyhow) but there have been many times along my creative path that I’ve noticed someone doing something really well.. or being recognised for something and it tweaks my interest or thought process in some way.. and over the years I have learned to listen very carefully to that.

When you admire something in someone else... it could very well be that you have that very same quality inside yourself.  This has been said to me... even ... would you believe when I told a friend how I LOVE Oprah.. she asked me ... so what are the qualities about Oprah that you love?

I stopped in my tracks... and had to think about it ... 

  • Her generosity of Spirit
  • Her enthusiasm for life
  • Her willingness to listen to peoples stories
  • Her understanding of those less fortunate than herself, because she’s been there.
  • Her belief and encouragement to others to ‘Live their Best Life’
  • Her strong example of a Woman who believes in herself, and loves herself
  • Her openness to share her spiritual beliefs

and you know what my friend said.... most, if not all of those are qualities you also possess.

I was quite surprised by this... I usually don’t put people on pedestals as such... but I do have a selection of people that I admire greatly ... and I realise that having those kinds of people in my life... or in the world where I can see them.. thanks to all of the means we have for seeing the offerings people put out into the world these days; is hugely important if we are to aspire to improve our own life, or awaken dormant talents and gifts we have within us.

So... if anything I have done in my business etc is messing with you ... take a closer look at the why of that... and maybe its time you stepped over to try something new, or bigger or risky... or tricky or brave.

with love,


Denise.

Over the coming months I'll share more about some of the people in my life that I admire ... some of them I'm taking classes with this year... for that very reason.. I admire them, and want what they're having... but not in a 'copy exactly' kind of way.. but a ... I'm inspired by them, kind of way!  

Truth bombs!  Danielle Laporte rocks great info hard!
Picture
Picture
Picture

    RSS Feed

    CURRENT MOON
    moon cycle
    Picture
    Denise Daffara Contemporary Art

    Picture
    moo cards = cutest little business cards ever!
    Picture
    A Sip of my Tea - My other blog.
    Sell Art Online
    Picture
    a sip of my tea
    Picture
    Creativitea Art Classes
    Picture
    click.. and go join the mailing list
    Buy my art
    Buy my art
    Picture
    Picture

    Visit Wild Soul Arts

    Archives

    January 2016
    July 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011

    Categories

    All
    30:30 In June
    Art
    Art Class
    Art Giveaway
    Art Journaling
    August
    Bali
    Bliss
    Blogging
    Canvas
    Chakra
    Champagne
    Charity
    City Chic
    Commission
    Courage
    Creativitea
    Creativity
    Dark
    Donations
    Dreams
    Eagle
    Eat
    Emotions
    Exhibition
    Farewell 2011
    Fire
    Flora Bowley
    Freedom
    Free Spirits
    Full Moon
    Give
    Giveaway Winners
    Giving
    Grace
    Grateful
    Gratitude
    Gypsy
    Healing
    Heart
    Help
    Heron
    Honour
    Horse
    Inner Critic
    Intention
    Joy
    Leonie Dawson
    Let Go
    Life
    Light
    Love
    Loves Me
    Magic
    Mandala
    Manifesto
    Mary
    Mini's
    Mixed Media
    Morning
    Mother Daughter
    New Beginnings
    Overcoming Adversity
    Painting
    Petite Paintings
    Photo
    Play
    Pleasure
    Pray
    Prints
    Productivity
    Rage
    Red Bubble
    Red Chair
    Retreat
    Ring Of Roses
    Ritual
    Sacred
    Sadness
    Sark
    Self Publishing Website
    Sewing
    Singapore Expat Living
    Smash Book
    Speak Your Truth
    Spring
    Statement
    Stencils
    Story
    Story Board
    Strength
    Sugar
    Tea
    Telephone
    Throat Chakra
    Tim Ferriss
    Totem
    Visionary
    Wall
    Warm
    Win
    Winter
    Woman
    Wood
    Workshop
    Workshops
    Yeast
    Yoga
    Yummy


     Books I Love

    “There are very few human beings who receive the truth, complete and staggering, by instant illumination. Most of them acquire it fragment by fragment, on a small scale, by successive developments, cellularly, like a laborious mosaic.” 
    - Anais Nin

all images copyright Denise Daffara 2021
  • Home
    • Contact
    • Join Mailing List
    • Blog
    • Links
  • About
    • Little dd
    • Testimonials & Kindness
  • Free Gifts
    • Tea Cup Oracle
  • Shop
    • Prints
    • Art for Sale >
      • Matisse Moods woodblocks
    • Synergy Sessions
    • Teacup Cards
  • Commissions
  • Workshops
    • Painted Pages Workshop
    • Paint with Me >
      • Paint with Me Registration Page
    • Creativitea Time Online >
      • Creativitea Time for Grief
      • Online Classes