Denise Daffara
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blog : another
​'sip of my tea'

Inspirational - Healing - Chakra prints

22/10/2012

 
I've been making a couple of changes to my page about inspirational prints, so far there are only 3 chakra's covered... hopefully more will be added in the future... but for now some very significant ones are being represented.
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Sacral Chakra
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Peace for Me (Heart)
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Heart Chakra
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Tree of Wisdom (solar plexus)
The Sacral chakra one in particular is unique from most of my previous work 
...As I painted this I had the intention and awareness of all the healing and strength the base chakra needs in one who feels weak.  It was at a time when I myself was going through a period of deep searching and need for restorative energy.
The affirmations listed here have all been placed into the painting. 

You could say them in first person to make them your own.
You are worthy
You are perfect just as you are
Self Loving
Let your heart be your guide
Your heart knows what to do
Your birth is no accident
You are loved
Self acceptance
You are free
You are strong
You matter
You’re not broken at all
You’re beautiful
You are enough
I am
"I am worthy, 
I am perfect just as I am, 
I love myself, 
My heart is my guide, 
My heart knows what to do, 
My birth was no accident, 
I am loved, 
I accept myself,
I am free, 
I am strong, 
I matter, 
I am not broken at all, 
I am beautiful, 
I am enough."   

Prints may be ordered directly here.  Or you are welcome to email me in regard to prints etc.  With further explanation of their meaning and intention.

with love
Denise xo

a little movie, from those 3 words

21/10/2012

 
I hope you enjoy it... just a little trial of making a movie with stills,... of a piece of art I made. 
Denise xo

Facilitator of Freedom & Fun

18/10/2012

 
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I have been pondering what it is I bring to a session of Creativitea Time, and other workshops where I facilitate; encourage, support, hold space for, a group/individual to create a piece of mixed media art.

I began my painting journey 13 years ago when a friend offered to teach me how to paint, I hung out with him over the course of four years, approximately one day per week in the school terms.  Little did I know that I was unlocking a buried treasure in me that would change my whole life in the coming years.

I am now a full time artist, I was recently asked “Do you make a living from your art?” , and the truthful answer is, since 2009 “No, I currently don’t,  but I am most certainly Living because of my art.”  

I spent a lot of 2010,11 and half of 2012 in a state of ‘artist’s block’ this was at times incredibly painful and led to bouts of depressoin as well.. during that time I took several courses, mostly online, I met up with other creative and empowered souls from around the world and that is what has once again saved my Soulful life.  
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Mary watched over me at Mum's house.
In July of this year I chose to spend the month in New Zealand with my aged parents, it was the rightest thing I have ever done, and unknowingly... the biggest gift I could give myself also.  You see, (at the suggestion of a dear friend) during that time I set up an art table in my parents spare room.  I spent every spare hour in there creating.. I collaged to my hearts content and learned again to PLAY! 
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So it is this experience that has lead me to have confidence in making myself available to others, and indeed facilitate a safe and nurturing environment for them to come and enjoy creativity at its purest, for the absolute joy of it.
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I am not teaching people how to paint like me, that is not what I am inspired to do, I am offering an experience, an emmersion into a world of colourful possibilties and layers, nourished with good food and pots of tea.

If this speaks to your soul, then I encourage you to come and join me some time for a little Creativitea Time, or if you are not nearby, and would like some ideas of places you can connect with creative people online, drop me a line.

with love

Denise xo

visit the Creativitea Time page for more info

see what other participants have to say about Creativitea time.

Visit an online store for prints by Denise Daffara

Freedom, Daring, Intimacy . . . 

17/10/2012

 
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Just a super quick post... I'm super excited about... I have myself an exercise today... much like anyone could give themselves at one of my Creativitea sessions... 
I have a little deck of cards all with one inspirational word on them... today I shuffled, and got present with myself... and closed my eyes... and allowed my fingers to choose 3 cards.
I got, FREEDOM , DARING  &  INTIMACY


To begin, I wrote a few things on the board, the first things that came to mind in relating to these words.... and a few hours later.... I have a little piece of art that ... this morning, did not exist.  It might get tweaked a little bit here and there... because... that's what I dooo, can't leave things alone... until I do.  


That's my little bit of magic, and self love for the day,


with love
Denise xo

'Creativitea times' most writerly review to date . . .

14/10/2012

 
I've just received this beautiful review.
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 Monet for a Moment.  – October 2012
Mary V T. 

Christchurch, New Zealand.

When did you last paint for fun?   I'm not talking about your feature wall of the nineties or your neighbour's fence at the last working bee, but creating a picture on canvas reflecting your inner 'Angelo'.

Denise Daffara, a gifted and talented local artist, guided me on a journey back to a time when life was less complicated. Expressing yourself artistically is like looking in a mirror and transferring that into tangibility.

Sounds easy... it isn't.  Denise gently prompts with props, coupled with soothing tones designed to assuage your rising panic.  The 'unlocking' process begins and ideas start to beat their way through like hopeful sperm to the ova.

Colour palettes selected, a theme chosen from inspirational art books, and we are now ready to commence.

The 'Aladdin's Cave'/studio Denise operates is where 'Virgo meets Vesuvius'.  Attempted order reigns amongst the plethora of products at hand.  The magpie's nest brims with a miscellany of material easily alongside the iconic branded furniture and technology.

The music playlist, personalised tea set and homemade cake assist in the aligning of planets required for creative awakening.

Denise is committed to your success.  A generous quality from a stereotypically concentric role.  She flutters about the room between students, finding audible delight in things she rediscovers from her IKEA drawers gathered long ago, to assist in your creation.

The process boggles.  Basic steps are discussed and then innovation takes over.
Like a wedding cake, layers are good. A barren multicoloured canvas steadily morphs into the buzz from within your brain.  Rapid drying tools assist in layering.

Anything goes, at your 
 pace (within the 3 hour timeframe).  Denise sets her alarm, lest we forget to eat and drink, so frenetic is the action.

Our inner 'Muse' battles with our 'Critic' and reluctantly concedes. Pleasantly surprised at our prowess, we depart with our masterpieces.

We have grown today, but we feel lighter.

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just a little help with the edging . . . Mary & Denise.
Denise Daffara is an expatriate New Zealander residing in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast who paints full time.  Her works are for sale at the Tiffany Jones Fine Art Galley, 138 Burnett Street, Buderim, Queensland. Customised art classes cater for up to four participants. She can be contacted for bookings at www.denisedaffara.com.au 
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light filled studio.
Thank you so much Mary, it was my absolute pleasure to see the beautiful artwork you created.  
love 
Denise.
note : although Mary is my cousin..  I would mention she is also a Virgo (like me) so her attention to detail
and easy honesty allows me to take this as a genuine and huge heart felt compliment. 

Less fb and more painting today made me happy.

9/10/2012

 
I do a lot on my computer as part of my creative business, not least of all facebook... and sometimes it takes way too much time and energy away from me painting.  I'm learning it's not only about 'producing a piece to sell' ... it's about playing around with new techniques and trying something I haven't before... and learning all over again... I started painting over a decade ago because it made me happy... I'm so relieved to be re-finding that feeling.
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I opened the doors for the first time this spring, what a delightful feeling.
A bit of light and dark... light and shadow here... 
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'Tea with the Muse' - My Muse, painting following on from Shiloh Sophia McLeod's teaching method 'Color of Woman' that I am being deeply thrilled by. She is saying "I am here with you and for you as close as your breath."
- My Muse, painting following on from Shiloh Sophia McLeod's teaching method 'Color of Woman' that I am being deeply thrilled by. She's not finished yet... it's been such a joy spending time with this painting, and my Muse ... I've named her 'The Tea Lady'.  She may have other names but for now... this is perfect... and I get it.
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I painted this one years ago... she's meant to be a bit 'red riding hood' esq ... but she's currently in a blue dress, I thought I might do some more with this one... but the rough, raw attitude of it in its current state does it for me too. I think she appeals to my inner bitch.

I started with a bit of water spray on some golden paints ... y i k e s ... Flora Bowley and the like make it look sooo easy... I'll show you more of that when I've done some more layers and it's resembling or starting to go somewhere I like.

bye for now,
love
Denise xo

it's like Christmas here today

8/10/2012

 
I've got butterflies in my stomach... excitement pulsing through my veins... why... because after several months of information gathering (including sitting in on two 4 hour info sessions) I have dived in to the world of Golden paints... a lovely local lady has started stocking them... so today I took it over the line and purchased!
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some things finally arrived from the US and picked up a few stencils... now... it's time to get thee to the canvas and journal and use this bounty of deliciousness.

That pic there is better than any christmas pudding, easter bunny or turkey I can imagine!

I hope to have to new things created with these, to show you soon,

There will be an abundance of creativitea going on here... whether it's with the lovely groups that gather or on my own with my muse.

with love
 Denise xo

The power of layers

6/10/2012

 
I've been learning some wonderful art journaling lessons from Effy Wild, in fact... I've been meaning to share with you all the A M A Z I N G news of a GIVEAWAY prize package we all have the chance to enter.  O M G I have never been so excited about an online prize pack such as this before.  Click the link below to find out all about it. 
GIVEAWAY FROM WILD SOUL ARTS! 
FREE SEAT IN LIFE BOOK 2013 and FIVE OTHER PRIZE PACKAGES!

http://effywild.com/2012/10/03/huge-mahoosive-giveaway/
I thought I'd share a few fun pics I've been taking of my art journal pages whilst in process/progress . . . a recent page was quite heart wrenching for me, but with some patience, self kindness and understanding friends... I got through the anguish and created a page I feel really proud of.  
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It's deeply personal, but not a new story . . . and the words I've used jumped out from some random pages I took from two different old books... I was in a vulnerable place ... and just had to trust that process, that if I stayed with my feelings I would come through the other side.  It was such a gift to allow myself this time, and the peace came eventually too.
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Having trouble uploading two more pics... :0(  dammmmmitttt

I might just share them on my fb page... and see if weebly will let me add them another time.

I'm toooo tired for this... I spent 4 hours learning about Golden paints for my second time (there is so much to learn, and so much is new to me, and I'm so freakin excited about them I chose to go to another demo by the amazing art educator Nancy)

night night, lovelies
Denise xo

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    “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
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  • Free Gifts
    • Tea Cup Oracle
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    • 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