Friday Night Fatigue – the good kind

04 Friday Mar 2016

Posted by Denise Daffara in being an artist, Creativitea, Denise Daffara Art

Tags

creativitea, fatigue, frida, frida kahlo, littledd, new paintings, Painting

littledd painted out

That moment on a Friday night, your (my) studio is a complete mess… (see below) and a feeling of great satisfaction sweeps over your fatigued body and you have to STOP because to keep going in this state is simply asking for trouble.

Ruining some of my last several days work is not how I want to end this extraordinarily fulfilling week.

ffrriNight

I’m drawn here to make mention of it, as a celebration for mysel really, to remind myself that THIS CAN HAPPEN… I’m experimenting with a completely new palette than I’ve used before, I’ve banished ‘red’ from the room as far as using it in a painting in this new collection.. (thanks to my friend Nancy for that helpful idea) too late for the Frida one.. she neeeeded her red dress and shoes.. and walking across the red thread/ribbon ‘tight rope’

Have you met Little dd ?

She’s my inner child who helps me express myself these days, she’s outspoken in a good way, unashamedly true to her heart .. my heart …

don't abandon yourself

You’ll find lots more of her on my instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/denisedaffara/

I will share more of my new paintings sooooon,

they’re still in the incubation phase and tender place of not quite ready to be scrutinised . . . I want to bring them to a place where I KNOW in my heart I LOVE them, and so I’ll not be so easily swayed, disturbed, pissed off or perturbed by anyone’s elses opinions be they good, bad or indifferent . . . one of the gems I learned in Tara Mohr’s book ‘PLAYING BIG’ is to not ever take too much notice of the criticism OR the praise.. let them be useful in their place, but not measures on which you base your self worth. Because that is fraught with disaster for a sensitive soul…. which most creatives i.e. humans, are.

I’ll share some little bits of larger works.. that feels doable . . .

I want to bring them to a place where I KNOW in my heart I LOVE them, and so I’ll not be so easily swayed, disturbed, pissed off or perturbed by anyone’s elses opinions be they good, bad or indifferent

framed mix denisedaffara.jpg

You may think by now that I should be over this kind of concern.. well… ever since school in my report card comments like “she’s too sensitive”, “easily distracted” … “talks too much” were frequent… so… I figure… this is just me. (hence #littledd drawings of self kindness arriving in my late forties for no other reason but to be a voice of love in my world.. and maybe the world of those who are drawn to her).

#drawlikenooneisjudging

fearExcitement

bye for now dear reader,

love

Denise xo

You’re invited to our

UPCOMING ART EXHIBITION

with two artist friends and myself

join the fb page here if you’d like to

Trio Ad 10 April.jpg

Let Go says Flora B

20 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by Denise Daffara in being an artist, Creativitea, Denise Daffara Art

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

flora bowley, intuitive, Painting, prayer, she

7 pipes 17

I have been ‘battling’ somewhat with a canvas these past couple of weeks, and thought I’d share some of that process with you.

I already ‘can paint’ and yet.. I’m completely dissatisfied with how I used to make a painting . . . so for the last several years I have been pursuing the notion of intuitive painting and having it become more of my spiritual and integrative life practice. I work out my ‘shit’ on the canvas and or page.

This example I’m sharing here.. comes very close to being a life changer for me… and… I still have the fear I’ll not be able to do it again.

I began with a tarot spread to connect with the Divine . . . and/or the Feminine.. I was so moved by the meaning of the card I wrote a passage of it down onto my canvas.. a beginning… an intention … an invitation. Going in. This one held the words of the 7 of Pipes (Carol Bridges – Medicine Woman Tarot)

7 pipes

the “Let Go” comes from this month’s prompt given by Flora Bowley … she’s one of my inspirers in the world of art making, her example/way of teaching painting stretches me to my very uncomfortable edge.

7 pipes progress A

At the above stage I’m feeling almost sticken with fear.. so much so.. I just write that on the canvas in red paint… it’s the only thing I could feel to do in that moment, staying with the process, and declaring exactly how I was feeling.

7 pipes 10

fear : I have felt this many times before, this too shall pass.

Seriously.. not joking the feeling of fear : this is ugly, what the hell am I doing, this isn’t really working, what the hell do I do next… and again I was reminded of ‘Big Magic’ words by Elizabeth Gilbert… have fear sit in the back seat.. NOT DRIVING.

7 pipes progress B.jpg

I had somewhat an image of an hourglass going on at some part..and I realllly loved the sphere like image I had going on above her head… but then that seemed to just get a bit heavy to keep holding…

‘weight of the world’ and all that . . .

7 pipes C progress

Oh, but she grew branches before I was ready to let all that go . . .

as I released her hold on that mass above her I could feel myself lightening up as well… haha… go figure!

she was naked.. then a deep blue black watery, satin like, evening gown seemed to just want to slide up from the lake..

7 pipes progress D.jpg

I feel like she’s praying,

drawing in energy from above,

and really standing in her own power at the same time…

in a lake..

in an evening gown…

as you do.

I’m not quite finished her yet,

more glazing and listening to happen here . . . but oh what a treat it’s been having her arrive, to be with me here.

She’s going to be at the Visionary Art Exhibition I’m in with two other artist friends Jassy Watson and BJ Long, 5th – 11th April 2016 ‘Dreaming Into Being’ is our theme. We’d love to meet you… if you’re in Brisbane, Queensland around that time. Visit our event page on Facebook.

I’ll sign off for now,

bright blessings to you,

and may love be at the centre of our being,

Denise x

Take yourself for a walk.

06 Friday Nov 2015

Posted by Denise Daffara in being an artist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

inner child, let go, letting go, Painting, selfkindness, tarot

I woke this morning in a groggy fog-like feeling and literally did not know what day it was. I had to go through a number of ideas in my mind to arrive at the realisation that is was in fact Friday morning.

Feeling a but under’achievey of late (read, business has been slower than a snail with a suburb on it’s back)

I frequently am reminding myself to ‘love the one in me who is afraid’ … rather than berate myself for being a not-so-fabulous-at-this-moment-business-maker …

So… today’s little inner child drawing.. is the little one in me who needs comforting and absolute pure love which she readily gets from our pet dog Aura … and who when I pause momentarily I am always able to love her, no matter what when I REMEMBER that’s kindof all she needs.

I have some fairly LARGE canvas’s on my easels at the moment . . . dancing with the layering technique championed and introduced to me by Flora Bowley and then Tracy Verdugo …. it’s a hot mess.. actually a cool mess.. of aqua’s greens and lime.. a little black as well… they’re the beginnings of who knows what…

chaos of letting go

and the writing I made on the blank canvas’s was inspired directly from a tarot spread with Carol Bridge’s Medicine Women Tarot. I was so taken with the meanings she’d written about ‘Seven of Pipes’ “Doubt overcome by Action, Spirit Freed” and ‘Five of Pipes’ “Play for all your are worth” which were the first two I drew.

Letting Go is the current theme of a class I’m participating in.

How apt . . .

onward …

thanks for visiting,

Denise x

curious runes

23 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by Denise Daffara in Creativitea, denise daffara art, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

crystal, Painting, runes, symbols

I love a wide variety of things… from

crystal chandeliers.. to viking runes..

last year as part of a class I was taking online,

I painted this ‘Talisman’ painting.. and he insisted

he wanted me to put the set of rune symbols on the painting.

today… I’ve just picked up a real set !!

I’m enjoying adding symbols to some of my paintings…

I’ll see where they take me…

‘they can help bring things into focus’

my friend Zohara said to me this morning

as we met for coffee / tea for me.

Do you enjoy using symbols in your art?

if you.. the reader are a creative too?

love Denise. xo

morning blessing

18 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by Denise Daffara in Creativitea, denise daffara art, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Art, blessing, circle, clarity, clear quartz, crystal, dog, meditation, metaphysical world, Painting, Quartz crystals

Hi friends,

The other day I made a ‘crystal drawing’ of a tea cup outside on my deck. … it just felt like a nice thing to do ..

In the metaphysical world, Clear Quartz crystals are the supreme gift of Mother Earth. Even the smallest is imbued with the properties of a master healer teacher. Ancients believed these stones to be alive, taking a breath once every hundred years or so, and many cultures thought them to be incarnations of the Divine.

information found at website : crystal vaults.com

today.. I decided to sit next to that.. and make another ‘drawing with my crystals’. And sit for a little while with the sun warming my back (it’s winter time here) and loving the thought of ‘letting more light in’.

this time I made a symbol of ‘Blessing’… a circle with three drops at the bottom..

Inside the circle I placed my smash book/art journal.. which also serves as my traveling altar.

I use it to make dedications for the workshops I am teaching, to hold a space of preparation, readiness and caring for myself to be a help to those who are coming. An energy exchange takes place.. each one who comes is meant to be there.. we never know what connections we are making.. and to be in circle, creating with other women.. is one of the delights of my life.

I so love how Aura’s shadow appears so much larger than herself… when we take her to the beach that faces East in the morning.. this happens and a long legged girl races along beside her looking so big and tall… she has a wild wonderful spirit that lets loose off leash on the beach.. it’s a pleasure to behold.

I’ve got a workshop coming up later in July a ‘Gypsy Retreaty Workshop’ and so it’s on my heart and mind.. and this was a way of giving it some kind of blessing.. letting the universe know I’d like support and to hold light for it’s creation and our time together when we gather to paint. I like to simplify things.. I don’t belong to any religion … I just want more love in my life.. to be loving, to be loved.

beautiful quote from Hafiz :

Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive

. that’s it for now,

love Denise

water wheel inspiration

25 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by Denise Daffara in denise daffara art, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Art, ceremony, flow, inspiration, intentional creativity, Painting, pixiecampbell, sacred grit, sagegoddess, water, wheel

I listened in to a great spreecast this week

with Sage Goddess and Pixie Campbell …

of Sacred Grit fame…

all about Earth Day Water Wheel Ceremony

and how to create a crystal grid to intend more

flow in your life.

An epicentre for positive thoughts around water

flow, emotion, prosperity, abundance, creativity

femininity, cups, Queen, water says Pixie.

So I didn’t have any quartz crystal points available to me

right now (making enquiries to get some though!)

so… I decided to intend ‘Being in the Flow’ for a new painting

I’m to take three paintings to an *exhibition in June, and so…

this will be no 2. *”Celebration of the Female Form” is it’s theme.

I wrote these words along the top of her dress :

I am in the flow of my every changing life. I love myself just as I am

I’ll no doubt do some more little bits and pieces

highlights and such,

but I wanted to share her here, just as she is.

love Denise xo

http://www.spreecast.com/events/earth-day-water-wheel-ceremony

Image

quirky works

24 Thursday Apr 2014

Tags

autumn, bird, black and white, canterbury art show, daughter, leaves, mixed media, mother, Painting, song

quirky works

These are some little works on wood,

a bit like my art journal melding with my canvas work

and I’m ok with that…

experimenting… ‘playing?’ … trying new things.

“If you do what you’re always done

you get what you’ve always got…”

I’ve sent them on a trip to Melbourne,

they’ll be in the Canterbury Art Exhibition

2nd – 4th May.

love Denise xo

Posted by Denise Daffara | Filed under Denise Daffara Art, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

self deprecation

12 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by Denise Daffara in Creativitea, denise daffara art

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

anxiety, disappointment, fine art, honour, meaning, Painting, self deprecation, self love

I’ve been having a hard time with myself this week, and so I made a little ‘ditty’ and posted it on my instagram :

so…

I was just sitting and playing some solitaire on my ipad and considering the point I meant, and the last couple of days I’ve had.. the creative tension, the disappointment with what I’d painted, and the mild anxiety that rampages through my solar plexus sometimes.

I wanted to clarify something, not that ‘the world’ reads this blog, but it’s going to make it ‘right’ in my head, that I’ve explained it ‘somewhere’.

I happen to think self deprecation is bullshit, I am not into that, it might sound like it sometimes, but my intention will not be that, and in this case, talking about ‘fine art’ and the attachments I had put on that… ie… I believed that you had to have done a fine arts degree to be able to call yourself a fine artist… and I’m not even sure I want to ‘call’ myself that.. (I don’t, it would seem a bit off really) but my paintings are sometimes sold in a ‘Fine Art Gallery’ …

So… I made that throw away comment, and decided to publish it “as you do” haha,

I know for myself, the way I give meaning to things can sometimes be the biggest bringer of pain I encounter in my life.

Isn’t that the truth though?

It’s not the thing that takes you down… it’s how you feel about the thing.
Thanks to my dear friend Nancy who often helps me consider things from a different perspective.

So…

On my ever quest to feel better,

I just thought I’d share that with you.

with love

Denise xo

ps. and here’s a painting in progress that I am kinda happy with 🙂