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

a creativity manifesto

1/2/2014

 
Good morning friends,

This makes me want to write one for myself… do you have one?
I shared the link to an interview in another blog post in January, but having listened again in the car this week to Jamie's and Tami's chat I heard again his 'Creativity Manifesto' and I wanted to keep it, read if often, and share it with all & sundry. 
As I begin February, and the Year of the Wooden Horse, this realllly spoke to me, I have had a shit time this past week dealing with my hyper vigilant perfectionist, mild anxiety associated with my creativity resulting in feeling frozen and not painting, it's a new month, I'll be addressing it for sure, and this kind of truth telling (Jamie Catto's creativity manifesto shared below) goes a long way towards helping me release the crappola and move into some kind of grace, a space for self forgiveness and self love.  
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Insights at the Edge.  
From a podcast called: Breaking the Approval Addiction and Expressing Our Creative Gifts
Tami Simon: " OK, here we go. So this is from Jamie Catto’s "Creativity Manifesto:"

"We need to collectively admit that we’re not fine, we’re not confident and balanced and good. We turn up to work every day pretending we’re not neurotic and obsessed and insatiable and full of doubt, and we waste so much energy keeping up this mutual pretense for each other because we think if people saw the truth, if people really knew what was going on in our heads, all the crazy truth of our dark appetites and self-loathing, then we’d get rejected. But in fact, the opposite is true. It’s when we dare to reveal the truth that we unwittingly give everyone else permission to do the same. To stop holding their breath for a moment and actually come into the room. Be here, present, vulnerable and authentic.

"We’re on a mission to make self-reflection hip for just a moment, just long enough to save us. If we can all collectively acknowledge our insanity, shrug and roll our eyes at each other at how nuts it is being a human, let alone having to pretend every day that we’re "normal," the amount of energy we’ll inherit that has been wasted on the mask will be enough to creatively solve any global crisis."

Jamie Catto: "I’m in. I love hearing you say it."

full transcript of the interview can be found here:
http://www.soundstrue.com/podcast/transcripts/jamie-catto.php?camefromhome=camefromhome
with love,
Denise.

Visionary Painting & Intentional Creativitea

17/8/2013

 
Hello creative one,
I have been mentioning the idea of 'Visionary Painting' a little more of late... and so I wanted to share a new painting I just did this week, using this visionary painting method.  I had a canvas that I'd covered in pictures creating a vision board back in 2009.. most if came true in the following 12-18 month time period. (yes, imagine that, amazing!) So... I painted over it and dripped paint, stenciled did a bunch of playing.. then set it aside deciding... uuuhm.. I've kindof ruined that, may as well throw it out.. but in true artist form... put it in a stack of 'wtf-do-i-do-with-these-canvas' against the wall in the corner of my studio.
So.. when I was given a video series in my Color of Woman course by Shiloh.. I thought .. hey.. I'll give that a whirl.. and voila this gorgeous lady appeared... I'm jazzed about her because.. the intention I wrote in behind the layers of paint was for her to find me gorgeous venues to hold my painting workshops, I am gearing up to be teaching this beautiful method of painting and it would be ever so helpful for me to find just the right spaces in which to welcome you if you would like to come paint with me and a circle of women.
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"You must give from the overflow"
I rarely use glitter... but this Lady of the Divine Spark asked for some!  She has a sparkling candle, rose and magical tea is pouring from her teapot into those cups.. and the overflow onto the saucer - reminding me of a valuable lesson... You must give from your overflow, so that you're not depleted all the time.  Fill yourself up with the things that strengthen you and keep you grounded, fueled, inspired, feeling loved.. THEN... you have so much more to give.
Secret wish... I'm sharing with you ... I have a desire to travel to New Zealand once or twice a year and teach a workshop or two.. and visit my Mum & Dad on the Kapiti Coast ... so... I'm putting that out there, with this Lady of the Divine Spark watching over top... that we will be welcomed to just the right places, meet just the people who are calling out to be able to paint a visionary painting with me... and be in circle with a red thread ceremony.  Christchurch is on the horizon for May 2014 with a friend of mine who is also a teacher of this painting method. 
I'm so big on feeling right about things.. that's what I've charged this painting with too... "May you feel loved and adored and Welcome here" is a big ask... yup... and mostly if this applies to how I feel about myself as teacher, then each individual feels it within themselves for a start... and the overflow of that... is pure bliss.  INTENTION is everything ... so why not make it your biggest, most heartfelt, intention, whether its making a painting or a cup of tea.. you can make it with this in mind/heart.
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Visionary Painting Workshops are coming... 
I'm hoping to offer one in Buderim in September.. and another in October ... this kind of painting above can be created in a one day workshop, if you have a group who already gather and you'd like to hold a red thread ceremony / visionary painting workshop with my facilitation, do contact me. art@denisedaffara.com.au.

That's about it for the minute... and I'm sorry I'm not a prolific... organised... same time same place blogger... I do write on a whim a lot of the time... that may or may not change.. and I had thought I'd share a whole lot more of my CoW journey here... but truth is... it's been really full on.... a lot of inner work has been required, and I have been tending toward going within and not writing out here all that much about it... it needed to settle in me first.  And.. I had my trip to California, which just blew me away, heart and soul so uplifted and loved up, truly amazing ... I don't think I've even written much about that here either?  see... intermittant at best... sigh... if ever you have questions about this journey of mine.. you can ask.. and I'll do my best to answer.  


with love
Denise xo

Out beyond the ideas of wrong doing . . .

6/7/2013

 
.. “Out beyond ideas of wrong doing and right doing there is a field. I'll meet you there” Rumi
As I embark on the newest little part of my creative ventures... mixed media works on wood and paper ... I hear 'those' voices... "Oh this isn't real art.. you should be painting every bit of it" ... "What... you're using cut out pictures in there" ... "this is crap... this really will not do" .... "grow up" .... Oh the list could go onnnnn and on.  
But with the strengthening of my Muse voice... or my listening to her... I'm hearing other whispers too... really quickly.... following on from the mean bitch voice... like,
"This is a new adventure"... "we're here to have fun"... "if it's bringing you joy... then... hello... do.. it" ... "this little piece of art you're making.. is not going to hurt anyone.. and if you're filling it with such enjoyment then maybe someone else might actually love it too" ... "try it and see" ... "experiment" ... I'm taking a new bunch to the framer this week... and they'll make their debut up at the gorgeous gallery that has my work.. and if anyone has a critical comment to make about them... well... let them say it to my face and hear about the 2 years of being blocked and depressed about it.. hahaha.. that'll learn them!
I'll post pics of the new ones once they've been revealed at the gallery. ... I can maybe show some snippets . . .
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I am returning to a place of play as much as I can when making these pieces... and that feels like a really good place to start.


with love,
Denise xo


ps.  They'll be on display at Tiffany Jones Fine Art Gallery later this month.

Mary watching from the corner . . .

3/7/2013

 
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This was the scene in the spare room of my parents home this time last year... I set this up to be like an alter right next to where I'd be art journaling for the month.. Mum had one of my prints hanging on the wall... and a picture of Mary.. or more than one in every room actually. I felt somewhat comforted by this Mary picture with her bunch of angels hanging out... so I gave her pride of place overlooking my artful adventure... little did I know... I would be joining the likes of Shiloh Sophia McCloud and Jenafer Joy, and Stella Mac and Effy Wild... and be part of a wild and wonderful bunch called the Cosmic Cowgirls ... and just over one year later I will be meeting many of them in California!
and Helllloooo... running a "Paint Mary with me" retreat/workshop this month too
... a few days before I leave!!
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Today... my Muse must have been with me.. along with my daughter.. I found this gorgeous luggage tag that has so many visual messages that have meaning for me... 
The colour 'limoncello' is a favourite of my dear mentor/teacher/inspirer Shiloh... I feel like I'm flying from a cage... that's metaphorical.. I did a mixed media piece a couple of years ago..and it's been profound the many layers of crappola I've been leaving behind sometimes daily.. but you know.. on the whole.. I'm in a much better place :)... and the crown!!! well Sovereign.. and I painted Queen of My Own Heart this year.. so that's a gorgeous little addition... this trip is an adventure... a loooong adventure.. and the crossing of the San Francisco... Golden Gate Bridge is part of it too.
That's about it..a short sweet post for tonight..  there are only 2 spaces left for the Paint Mary with Me retreat.. so if you are wanting to come... register at your earliest convenience.


bye for now,


love Denise..
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find out more about my Paint Mary with me retreat xo

Paint Mary with me in July

30/6/2013

 
Oh my goodness... I just hit send... if you're on my newsletter list you'll be the first to receive the invitation to join me on a very special one day retreat/workshop.
It's less than 2 weeks away... and I can't believe I'm offering it before I head off overseas on 18th July ... but these paintings have quite a mind of their own.. and I felt so moved by the creation of my Magdalene.. that I wanted to share that with a creativitea class as soon as I could.
Below is a picture of the flyer... but if you'd like more information visit the webpage here.
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I'm excited.. and even a little nervous.. this is leaping out in faith in a direction I've never gone before... but it feels like a warm summer day to me... perfect.


love Denise xo

Painting for our life.

11/6/2013

 
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I was inspired to write this as I was heading to sleep last night.
off to pick up the brush,

love Denise xo

Maybe . . . I can blog each day for 21 days . . . in May

1/5/2013

 
I have become one to really notice the habits of people I admire... and if possible, practical or worthwhile.. maybe let that inspire me to take some action in that direction.  So.. I have been very inspired by the recent 30 day blog challenge artist Flora Bowley gave herself... and ... since I am going to MEET HER THIS MONTH... (omg VERY excited) I thought Maybe.. I can blog 21 days in May.. leading up to my trip to Bali (not sure how I'll be for internet use over there.. Santa hasn't brought me an ipad yet, and our laptop is heavy and clunky.. so I'm not sure if I'd take it... ) and.. not sure if I can blog on weebly from iphone? hmm.
So.. today.. some pics from my beach walk this morning... since a very special guest made a star appearance... 
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a bit grey as we arrived.. but just over the dune the warm sun was rising... as it does
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and taking the opposite route to which we usually walk.. we were greeted with this spectacularness around a bend in the path... (usually this is shining on my back)... and I am reminded of the idea that when we do just one thing differently.. like drive down another street on the way home or to somewhere... or walk on the other side of the street.. any little shift... can change the energy.. and gift you with a little surprise.
and here's the special guest... a grey Heron... I notice heron's on my travels almost every day!  and today I loved the way our little dog Aura ran up to this one.. only to have it stare her down... then they held eye contact for a few moments... until the heron decided it was time for her to go . . .
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bye for now, 
I promised myself I would paint this morning and my love came in and 'caught me' on the computer.. and reminded me so!!


with love,
Denise xo

Looking at art gives pleasure...

21/5/2011

 
... just a little test to see how to put a you tube clip into my new blog...

"Life without art would be like a series of emails, be quite boring"  

bye for now
off for Saturday chores and things... assuming life doesn't end according to some freaked out individuals out there... bless them... I hope they're not too disappointed on Sunday or  Monday when they wake up again to life as they know it.

Denise xo

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all images copyright Denise Daffara 2021
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