starting with smaller pieces made it more 'doable' today. I've got several large canvas's that are at various stages of 'meh' .. so they're on my hit list for this month too. But for today.. some more layers on a face I'd already started in my journal, a working out of my head stuff on another journal page.. resulted in 'me' floating down the river of life on my house boat.. 'letting other peopls shiz float by' was one of the desires for that. YOU KNOW.. when you let other peoples stuff.. come on in.. and clutter up your thoughts.. well I want to LETTHATSHITGO. so… down the river… la la la… yep. Want to know what I"m talking about.. with this 30:30 thing? join us in june.. see this blog post here. and there's always tea … creativitea… today in the afternoon, some traditionally brewed Masala Chai with soy milk. Strained into the pot.. and enjoyed outside with a book for a little while.
bye for now, love Denise. Is this my 'poor neglected blog' .. or just been waiting til I had something artful to say. I have another blog space I use for my 'anything-i-want-to-say-at-all' wonderings… (A Sip of My Tea . com) but I think I've designated this one to be … just art… as it's on my 'Artist website' … allowing for a variety of personality options is also fun for me :) So today… I am sharing something that began yesterday… and I desire to bring in through all of June… and I'm not promising anything further than that, it only creates too much angst for me. I am joining in a little collective project, thanks to one of the lovely artists I met in Christchurch New Zealand earlier this month. Ruth Reid is instumental in the creative project called JOIN US IN JUNE FOR 30:30 that's a link to the facebook page. The idea is to create something each day for the 30 days of June. Anything… a painting, a page, a cake, a quilt square… anything creative … I'm going to focus on painting, whether that is large or small, or in my art journal, anything so long as I paint every day in June, and try my best to complete something every day in June too. "Create something each day for the 30 days of June" So… why do I think it takes courage to create? Well it's one of my primary ways of expressing myself - and thereby there has been many 'strings' I have attached to it for some years… but THIS WEEK… thanks to a dear friend I had some help, clearing some of those attachments that no longer serve me, and this allowed me a way in that was seemingly difficult / nigh impossible for me to bridge before. I can tell the truth loudly in the pages of my art journal, but to be loud and open on my canvas (when the need arises, inside of myself that is) maybe for the world to see.. feel.. judge… can take courage. The thing (think / thought) I have to remember : It doesn't matter what other people think of me … It matters what I think of me. It matters what you think of you. So… here's what happened yesterday… when I asked for couage to create inside just this one day (taking it one day at a time was also very sage wisdom from my healing session the other day) thanks whole heartedly to you Raelene Byrne. (Medicine for your Spirit) I love the difference it made when I opened her eyes… that took courage from her too. We're a team.. 'my wise inner self, my artist self, inner child, muse… ' it's take a bunch. This painting will be going to an exhibition in Brisbane in June 'Celebration of the Female Form' you can find out about tickets to that here. That's it for today… I better be off, to gather the 'Courage to create inside this one day'.
love Denise xo 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. 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:"
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. As some of you know.. SARK is one of my favourite inspiring people in the world… and I listended to an 'unplugged' interview she shared this week, I've listened to it twice already I loved it so much and there was so much upliftment to be gathered. (I'm doing some stencil work as part of a commission and my inner perfectionist critic would have me get all flustered if I let it.. so I distract her with great talks on podcast, or interviews like this one.) I was particularly taken with a gorgeous notion she shared … when she said "What I enjoy, are Rituals that are born out of the Moment." that alone was so comforting to me. I transcribed as much as possible word for word… I didn't want to leave anything out… earlier in her chat she had shared that she is scared about lots of things, but doesn't let that stop her from doing what she wants/needs to do. One of which was being audited by the tax dept (which actually happened) she gave a FABULOUS account of how that went, including reference to her Wise Self, and the Wise Self of the IRS agent. So, I go walking with my partner John on the beach almost everyday . . . and we will get into subjects sometimes that start being less than;… nourishing, let's put it that way, we're repetiviely talking, or we're getting into scarcity, or we're going into fear … whatever, one of both of us are, and so we started this Spontaneous Ritual … I tried it this morning with a piece of pumice at Pt Cartwright beach... it helped me shift my focus, and on our walk yesterday afternoon I told my husband about it .. and he's a love… he tried it out too, with a stray leaf on the path in front of him.
that's it for now.. I just really wanted to share that simple, yet powerful idea with you.. in case.. you might need help sometime to shift your focus…. and like me… you enjoy fun.. unusual.. yet simple ways of doing so. love Denise xo p.s. if you'd reeeeaaaallly like to hear that interview.. email me and I can forward you the link, it's inside an email. It could also be available on her fb page, I'm not sure. Far out my friends, it's by no means easy.. but wow… I've noticed the 'relief' creeping in. The sort of relaxing in my muscles.. or 'tension spots' where I carry that reflex to 'check it' 'check it' 'check it' … and Sunday while driving to Brisbane I listened in the a WONDERFUL podcast, I am such an evangelist when it comes to this kind of thing, I feel like pulling my car over and announcing to the world.. "HEYYY I'M LISTENING TO SOMETHING REALLY FREAKIN COOL… DO YOU WANT THE LINK?" … *shakes head… I knoooow.. it's a little nuts, but that must be why I feel like I am somewhat of an 'inspirer' … I can not help but share about things that bring me joy/peace/enrichment/life enhancment… etc etc. If I could find the transcript I'd have sliced out some pieces for you.. Jamie Catto spoke about turning out wounds into rocket fuel for our gifts.. or something a bit like that. and our shadow parts.. like our BITCH.. need to come out and play in a controlled environment. I wholeselfedly agree. *Oh… funny thing… he has a fb group.. which as soon as I can in February.. I'm thinking I'll join. *eye-roll. So here's the link : breaking-the-approval-addiction-and-expressing-our-creative-gifts here we go… a 'grab' from Jamie Catto's site … You can of course.. find and listen to interviews from Tami Simon via itunes as well. sounds true is the name to search. Ohhh wow… and he mentioned how Facebook is such an addictive thing because it feeds our need/desire/want for approval. Why else would we care how many 'likes' something receives. So… I'm not going to go all fb bashy… I have also noticed how brilliant it is for me to connect with people in a flash, and to share my workshops and things like that. It's become an invaluable helpful tool in my life… and… a sucktastic brain drain… both. That's why I'm off it for January.. just recalibrating myself… well.. giving it a good go at the least… and will return in February.. with hopefully a little more discipline and care about time spent. On a visit to ikea yesterday I saw this cuuute little puppet.. I'm noticing crowns all over the place of late… they remind me about Sovereignty.. and being Queen of my own domain… :) … and yes like a big kid.. I put my hand inside and took a photo of this puppet being bold. hehe. .. it tooks some self control to not buy her, and a few other super cute toys they had there. also.. a rather funky cafe/shop/display thing was set up inside ikea that I just LOVED. little video to show you. I wish… there was a funky place like this in our communities .. where we could meet and art and collaborate and create… and of course have tea… and sugar free treats.
bye for now, love Denise xo I have two workshops planned for February.. please share link with your buddies if you feel to. xoxo http://www.denisedaffara.com.au/sacred-smashbooking.html Hi friends, well… it's quite interesting my 'no facebook January' … I'd have usually shared pics on there so today I've gathered some snaps to share about my week at Woodford. I spent some time just taking in the sights and the feeling of fun and freedom that pervades woodford, 11.30pm was magical … 3 minutes silence outside with hundreds of people each holding a little candle and thinking of our loved ones and those not there… I didn't catch a photo of it… I chose to 'be' there instead. on News Years eve at midnight I was on my own biting into a giant byron bay doughnut… listening to a tribal kind of band… New Year's Eve's are charged times… so much energy about the place… I felt ok to be alone.. alone in a sea of lovely people, I didn't feel lonely. here's some pics to give you a glimpse into my week. Oh… I visited this place several times and sat to write a letter… it was DIVINE… the art of letter writing was revived with a delightful twist at woodford this year… that gorgeous posty girl… would collect the letters people had written for stangers.. perhaps only describing them by an item of clothing, or a gender and age range… and sent a letter off to them for the fun of it, to brighten their day perhaps. If we wanted to send a letter to a friend at the festival all we needed to do was write their phone number and name on the envelope and they did the rest. I LOVED THIS SOOOO MUCH.
I hope you're enjoying the start of a whole new shiny year… bye for now, love Denise xo You know there's only a little difference in the placement of letters between sacred and scared . . . creating and sharing something this close to my heart is both/and. Gypsy Rose by Denise Daffara Painted using the Color of Woman Method. May you find not scared enough to not take action. love Denise xo In December 2013, I donated this painting to a Women's Shelter as a token of love and hope for them. Over the weekend I had several paintings in an exhibition "ART FROM THE HEART" for The Lady Musgrave Trust. Even though my exhibited pieces didn't sell. I am happy to say my donated painted sold, raising $1,000 which will go towards accommodation and support for young women in need. A message from the President to those attending the auction and exhibition. Your contribution to this weekend event will enable us to further our work in providing accommodation and support for young women who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.. I LOVE this message in the catalogue by the Arts Minister Art has the power to transform lives and bring positive change to individuals and communities . . . I wholeheartedly believe this to be true. I am also donating a painting to a local Women's Shelter on the Sunshine Coast, because I believe in the power and love behind the art. I'll share more on that in another post.
with love Denise. xo How about that, I've been given the opportunity to go seeking inside to find how I want to show up in the world, how I want to run my business and do my art. (All during my Color of Woman Teacher Training course that is) How about goals being replaced with 'Vision' and 'Dream' .. and clients and those I'm going to be working with called my 'Beloveds'. Pictured below, is a little part of my actual business plan. Yep. I love how it's not boring stuffy and only on white paper with no pictures. hehe. In fact I could probably teach this as a lovely class some time.. if my 'beloveds' ever want to reframe how they look at their business, they might like to create a new Business Plan too. I delivered a commissioned painting today, wheeeee, very exciting reaching completion, and having happy clients (well, beloveds as they're more affectionately called. :) This painting is to enhance the feeling of relaxation, calm and peace as people wait in a medical reception area. my brief . . . "A sense of wellbeing, freedom, peacefulness, calming, relaxed. The day after a full moon, I am reflecting on how grateful I am for opportunities such as these. I have a blessed role to play sometimes, and I hold it close to my heart.
love Denise xo This has been unearthed.. or stirred up during the Color of Woman course... I can't even recall if I've already shared this here on the blog (sorry for repetition if I have... maybe I better get some more iron suppliments to assist memory) I've left it in an 'interview like format' because I really liked answering it in that way.. and editing down to a succint, slick, paragraph just is NOT my current happy place forte! One of the most interesting things for me to note when spending time with these questions.. was my subject choice and the feeling I desire to evoke in my paintings... I didn't know it at the time, but perhaps each one was healing a little part of me.... and I guess it goes without saying.. why there may be a tinge or more than a tinge of sadness in some of the faces that have showed up on my canvas's. It's a curious path. WHY YOU MAKE YOUR ART,
I make art to ease the agitation I feel when I am not creating something. I make art to free a part of myself that needs this to be alive. For over a decade I made art as a celebration of fun and freedom, now I am learning to explore other avenues into my creative expression and not just when I am feeling happy. WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO MAKE IT, I have been inspired by my teachers and other artists who have gone before me, there is something in me that positively lights up when I visit a gallery or exhibition, some artworks take me to a place of pure bliss and even a natural high at the energy and beauty I sense and feel in their presence. The fact that an image can come through an artist onto a blank canvas is still a mystery for me and I love that. I have been drawn to images of feminine figures long before I started learning to paint in 1999. Some I have been inspired by include : Chagall, Klimt, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, Whitely, fashion designer Valentino, and icon Audrey Hepburn. WHAT IT SIGNIFIES OR REPRESENTS, I would say most of my artwork at least in the first decade signified or represented a light and happy side of life, celebratory of feminine fun and freedom. It was in contrast to all of the negativity I had experienced in the preceding years before painting became such an integral and wonderful part of my life. Things such as alcoholism in a parent, domestic violence, hideously low self esteem, an abusive relationship, a cult-like church experience for many years, and the absolutely life shattering event of my sister being murdered. I made no place to paint any of this. I did not know how to approach it creatively. WHAT ABOUT FORMAL STUDY, I have not engaged in traditional university study of art. Partly due to fear of not meeting the standards they require and partly due to just plain not wanting to fit into the deemed worthy parameters of academic artistic value and expression. To be judged and moulded and critiqued...(my inner critic has done a pretty savage job of that already) my fragile self just wasn't up for that. As I write and contemplate this, my current leaning is that my arrogant or bold self just won’t have it. Maybe one day when I grow up I might venture in to that, maybe not. HOW YOU MAKE IT, I make my art mostly by a process of many layers, it undergoes fine tuning and transformations along the way until it reaches a place that I am satisfied to let it be. (I have had to adopt a sense of the 80/20 rule... if I can’t be 100% happy with it, then 80% is workable, and there is always another opportunity on the next canvas/board/paper). Perfectionism is a harsh master, and I cannot let her rule entirely because I would never deem anything as done or enough. In 2013 I have been studying under Artist Shiloh Sophia McCloud who has introduced me to her Color of Woman Method, which is based heavily in Contemporary Symbolism. It is a welcome extension to my previous style and subject - still working with the feminine, but in a richer, deeper, more soulful context I feel. WHAT IT'S MADE OUT OF, I began by exclusively using acrylic on canvas, guided for 4 years with lessons from talented artist Peter Hales, in recent times I have been introduced to the wild wonderful world of art journaling by Effy Wild, thereby giving way to working on paper. Another new medium I am exploring and enjoying is working on wood. WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU Painting has become my sacred practice, it connects me to Source and celebrates all of my feelings and emotions. My passion is to connect with others in ways that have us both feeling nurtured, energised, validated and liberated. It means I have found my place in the world, creative expression is home to me, it’s not always easy and comfortable, but it’s where I feel drawn to, time and time again. |
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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.”
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