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The Joyful Artist

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I’m Cassandra

Clients call me the queen of uplifting inspiration. I’m a renaissance woman with many passions — all united by a love of providing inspiring, whole-hearted worklife solutions which spark joy. I am a creativity coach, award-winning artist and author. I am also a Reiki Master and spiritual teacher. All my work is infused with positive energy and light.

I’m super glad you found me. My best guess is you want to live a beautiful life. If you have a dream shimmering in your heart, or you want to purchase uplifting art, you are in the right place to make it a reality.

My greatest joy is helping you bring your dreams to life. One of my favourite quotes is, “passion is the fire that drives us to express who we really are.” Whether you’re 40, 50, 60+, it’s never too late to be happily, joyfully, beautifully, and authentically you.

I’VE HELPED HUNDREDS OF MEN AND WOMEN free themselves from doubt, guilt and fear to achieve the life they wanted. I’ve created art for the soul that’s changed lives. Creativity is my superpower.

I believe in the transcendent power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to change careers, elevate your health and transform your life. On this website, you’ll find art, books and my coaching services that I’ve created to uplift, encourage and inspire.

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What you are not meant to know

AS FEATURED IN

INSTAGRAM FEED

Reignite the Spark⠀ ⠀ Feel like giving up? Tak

Reignite the Spark⠀
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Feel like giving up? Take a break. Do something else you enjoy.⠀
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This is a card from The Art of Life Inspiration Deck which I am currently creating. All the images are of my artworks, accompanied by an inspiring, uplifting quote that I have written.⠀
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The text was inspired by an email newsletter from an artist who spoke about people losing their confidence and thinking about quitting their passion.⠀
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The painting is Your Love Is My Love⠀
Medium: Encaustic, NZ beeswax, crayon, gold leaf on board⠀
Size: 400 x 400mm⠀
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Inspired by Turner’s landscapes, this glimmering piece is awash with the warm shimmer of romantic rouges, sandy ochres and dazzles of misty light on water. Also inspired by Rumi, a Persian poet, who wrote: “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” Rumi⠀
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GIFTED TO A SPECIAL COLLECTOR

Have you heard the saying it doesn’t rain, it po

Have you heard the saying it doesn’t rain, it pours? Welcome to a Far North drenching. Summer anyone?

On the bright side, rtist Cathy Stougie’s exquisite garden art pieces look exquisite!

One of the first paintings I ever sold was when I

One of the first paintings I ever sold was when I first opened my own gallery during COVID in Feb 2021, this year. Three generations from one family were the first to come. I was so happy. They felt happy too and purchased three paintings. They were visiting from Christchurch and the father purchased this for his daughter who had told him how much she loved it. He waited until she was seated back in their car, and came back to buy it as a surprise gift. I had been so anxious about opening my tiny gallery...wondering, "who will come?" "How will they find me?" 'Will people like what I paint?"⠀
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It was confirmation that when you love what you do, others show up for love too—assuming they have the freedom to travel!⠀
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The painting is a tiny painting inspired by our very big view over the Bay of Islands, where my gallery is. The water, clouds, hills and sky is constant source of inspiration for me. Ever-changing and always so healing.⠀
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Link to gallery in bio. Open weekends through summer

Another fab and fun play date painting class. This

Another fab and fun play date painting class. This time we created our own colour wheel and played with values and tints… mingled with our 70 s soundtrack and whoops of laughter

INSTAGRAM FEED

Reignite the Spark⠀ ⠀ Feel like giving up? Tak

Reignite the Spark⠀
⠀
Feel like giving up? Take a break. Do something else you enjoy.⠀
⠀
⠀
This is a card from The Art of Life Inspiration Deck which I am currently creating. All the images are of my artworks, accompanied by an inspiring, uplifting quote that I have written.⠀
⠀
The text was inspired by an email newsletter from an artist who spoke about people losing their confidence and thinking about quitting their passion.⠀
⠀
The painting is Your Love Is My Love⠀
Medium: Encaustic, NZ beeswax, crayon, gold leaf on board⠀
Size: 400 x 400mm⠀
⠀
Inspired by Turner’s landscapes, this glimmering piece is awash with the warm shimmer of romantic rouges, sandy ochres and dazzles of misty light on water. Also inspired by Rumi, a Persian poet, who wrote: “Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” Rumi⠀
⠀
⠀
⠀
GIFTED TO A SPECIAL COLLECTOR

Have you heard the saying it doesn’t rain, it po

Have you heard the saying it doesn’t rain, it pours? Welcome to a Far North drenching. Summer anyone?

On the bright side, rtist Cathy Stougie’s exquisite garden art pieces look exquisite!

One of the first paintings I ever sold was when I

One of the first paintings I ever sold was when I first opened my own gallery during COVID in Feb 2021, this year. Three generations from one family were the first to come. I was so happy. They felt happy too and purchased three paintings. They were visiting from Christchurch and the father purchased this for his daughter who had told him how much she loved it. He waited until she was seated back in their car, and came back to buy it as a surprise gift. I had been so anxious about opening my tiny gallery...wondering, "who will come?" "How will they find me?" 'Will people like what I paint?"⠀
⠀
It was confirmation that when you love what you do, others show up for love too—assuming they have the freedom to travel!⠀
⠀
The painting is a tiny painting inspired by our very big view over the Bay of Islands, where my gallery is. The water, clouds, hills and sky is constant source of inspiration for me. Ever-changing and always so healing.⠀
⠀
Link to gallery in bio. Open weekends through summer

Another fab and fun play date painting class. This

Another fab and fun play date painting class. This time we created our own colour wheel and played with values and tints… mingled with our 70 s soundtrack and whoops of laughter

What is the work we were born to do? Me, to paint

What is the work we were born to do? Me, to paint with the spontaneous joy of a child!⠀
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Laughter, humour, and play are great tonics during stressful times. Taking yourself or your life too seriously only increases stress. When you learn to laugh despite your difficulties, you light up the world.⠀
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Cultivate and cherish your inner child. Act up a little, goof off, experiment, relax and detach—if you find yourself in trouble, smile. Flow creatively through life with the blissful unawareness of a tiny tot.⠀
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I experience creative flow when I play with paint or with sensual beeswax. I let spirit guide me. I never know where it’s going to go and I just trust and allow and surrender. It’s a combination of timing, talent and tenacity and willingness to flow with the joy and freedom of play.⠀
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When I paint I feel joy even when I begin the session feeling unhappy. Painting is a great pick me up.⠀
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As play researcher and psychiatrist Stuart Brown says in his book Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul, “A lack of play should be treated like malnutrition: it’s a health risk to your body and mind.”⠀
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When is the last time you played with paint or did anything creative?

“I’m so surprised I managed to do this. I feel

“I’m so surprised I managed to do this. I feel so productive.”⠀
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Celeste is a mum of four, originally from South Africa, she now lives in Auckland, New Zealand. She recently divorced from her husband and has been in lockdown, like many Aucklanders, with her children for nearly three months! Finding time to pour into her dreams has been ultra-hard, but as she shares in this video during a coach training session with me, it’s incredible what you can achieve when in 20 minutes or less. ⠀
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During a lockdown, with mentoring from me, she has been planning the launch of her passion and purpose-driven business, Dragonfly Coaching. Celeste is passionate about helping women like herself, who have suffered mental health challenges, the end of a relationship, single parenting, and surviving Covid-imposed constraints, rise above the curveballs life has thrown them.⠀
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It has been my privilege to support Celeste in her quest to inspire and motivate others to chase their dreams and truly believe in themselves. We share the reasons dragonflies and giraffes have inspired our businesses and more!⠀
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LINK TO VLOG/BLOG IN BIO⠀
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#smartthinking #MidLifeCareerRescue #joy #smartthinking #anxietyrescue #stressless #mindfulness #love #energy #spiritualhealing #soulgifts #lovewarrior #authentichappiness #depression #anxiety #success #bounce #calm #lovewarrior #prochoice #powerfulcreativity #golov-20 #cassandragaisford.com #worklifesolutions #mentalhealth #essence #selflove⠀
#QuantumTransformationalCoaching #career #careerchange

It's incredible to think how many happy memories I

It's incredible to think how many happy memories I've experienced since we converted the farm shed into an art gallery during a lockdown, Art @Rangitane. Three generations from one family, visiting from Christchurch, were the first to come. I felt so happy. They felt happy too and purchased three paintings.⠀
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One of them was this painting, Ode To Georgia O'Keeffe. ⠀
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https://buff.ly/3vFRtH2⠀
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"We both loved it," the husband shared when he purchased it for his wife⠀
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Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – we haven’t time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.”⠀
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~ Georgia O’Keeffe⠀
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Georgia Totto O'Keeffe (November 15, 1887 – March 6, 1986) was an American modernist artist. She was known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, and is regarded as the "Mother of American modernism"⠀
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She played an important part in the development of modern art in America, becoming the first female painter to gain respect in New York's art world in the 1920s. Her unique and new way of painting nature, simplifying its shapes and forms meant that she was called a pioneer.⠀
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Sotheby's smashed expectations at its American art sale in 2014 when it sold Georgia O'Keeffe's painting Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 for $44.4 million, roughly tripling the high estimate of $15 million and becoming the most expensive painting by a female artist ever sold⠀
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Check out what these kids thought of the Georgia O'Keeffe⠀
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"She liked to add in the emotion you might feel when you look at a flower," Amy, aged 9. "and to help you understand what she was feeling like."⠀
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"She found somethings boring, so she started mixing the colours up to make them more interesting," Jessica aged 11⠀
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"The green looks like it is spring."⠀
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#galleryart #bayofislandsartgallery #artistsoninstagram #art@rangitane #thejoyfulcanvas #thejoyfulartist #cassandragaisfordart #art@rangitane #loveart

Uplift Each Other⠀ ⠀ Be the light that shines

Uplift Each Other⠀
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Be the light that shines for others. Share your love generously.⠀
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This is a card from The Art of Life Inspiration Deck which I am currently creating. All the images are of my artworks, accompanied by an inspiring, uplifting quote that I have written.⠀
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The text was inspired by my partner paying it forward to a family at dinner at The Plough and Feather in Kerikeri, The Bay of Islands, last night and the delight and surprise on their faces by this random act of kindness. Sparking delight and giving gifts is a great antidote to fear during these stressful times.⠀
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The painting by Cassandra Gaisford is called Great Bright Light and is available for sale.⠀
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Acrylic on canvas⠀
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60cm x 60cm x 4cm deep⠀
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Inspired by the poetry of Pablo Neruda and a divine sunrise in The Bay of Islands, and the shift to the Aquarian energy. ⠀
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“Your memory is made of light.” – Pablo Neruda⠀
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https://buff.ly/3jCUG5j⠀
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#inspirational #inspiringquotes #inspire_me_home_decor #inspiring #inspired #inspiring_shot #inspirationalart #inspirationalwomen #inspirationoftheday #inspirationalartist #inspirationdaily #CreateForGood

One of the Astrologer‘s that I absolutely love,

One of the Astrologer‘s that I absolutely love, Bracha, said that somebody criticized her for having stuffed toys in her videos. Well guess what, Gerald the giraffe has inspired more artwork, more books, more painting, more happiness, more love than all the bottles of wine in the world. Not sure why people feel compelled to criticize people who love to keep a little bit of childish joy

My exhibition is on today and I thought I would sh

My exhibition is on today and I thought I would share with those of you not able to be in The Bay of Islands. I made a few videos where I talk about the works. Here’s one of them

Art@rangitane
174 Rangitane Road
10am to I PM today

Yay!!! The sun is shining. Make a leap for freedom. Enjoy Cathy’s garden sculptures and Uplifting abstract art by award-winning artist Cassandra Gaisford

Works can be purchased via my online store… link in bio

https://shop.cassandragaisford.com/product-category/art/think-pinks-series/

https://www.cassandragaisford.com/art-rangitane/

More Love Bubbles⠀ ⠀ Acrylic on canvas ⠀ ⠀

More Love Bubbles⠀
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Acrylic on canvas ⠀
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76 cm x 76 cm x 4 cm⠀
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I created this piece in response to yet another lockdown and the postponement of a planned and much-loved artists trial in our community. Wondering, as we all are, "When will this nightmare end?" I dialled up my happy playlist on Spotify and painted in response to the following lyrics:⠀
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“It’s my choice to be joyful. I’m giving up on sorrow”, Trevor Hall, Jupiter’s Call⠀
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This is why I’m creating happy art. You may think,” gosh how does that help anyone?” but it does …believe me I know from the 20 years I have spent as an art, couples and child therapist creating art helps with anxiety and despair and depression and I know people who receive my paintings tell me how much joy they bring to their lives so that’s how I show up. I bring the gift of colour.⠀
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More Love Bubbles were created with joy as I flowed with grace. Also inspired by Jackson Pollock's action paintings, and Damien Hirst's Blossom Series. Pure bliss inspired by the beauty of nature.⠀
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Somewhere along the way in my fifties, I discovered the work of Helen Frankenthaler… I loved the way she embraced a childlike love of beauty and her call to 'let er rip' - to embrace spontaneous joy in colour-soaked fields of colour. I devoured her bio and found a kindred soul.⠀
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I set an intention to make child-like spontaneity my new norm. Capturing, creating and collaborating with others the beauty of childlike play has become my passion and joy. I love painting on the wing and seeing people moved by spontaneity, joy, and ultimately life itself.⠀
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This painting and others in the Think Pink Series are a call to embrace happiness, love, hope and healing in our lives to live with the purpose to uplift ourselves and each other. The collection is embodied with love, positive energy, Reiki spiritual blessings and tremendous vitality which is peaceful, enlivening and enlightening at the same time.⠀
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These works of heart will bring joy to any home or office.⠀
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https://buff.ly/30P6jzr

🔴 SOLD All nine exquisite garden art pieces sol

🔴 SOLD All nine exquisite garden art pieces sold immediately that I shared them on social.

I’m super inspired to be helping out a fellow artist who was going to be exhibiting at Koast and she is now exhibiting her exquisite art sculptures at The gallery I opened this year on my property in The Bay of Islands, art@rangitane

It’s the first time she has ever exhibited so bravo to Cathy. Let’s show her some support…. my partner and I have purchased several of Cathy’s divine garden art. We just love the way they beautify the garden

I hope you enjoy Cathy’s bio and a few piccies ….all are for sale…. Only $50 each… but be quick… at these prices they won’t last

About Cathy Stougie, Artist

I have been living in Kerikeri since November 2019. I was raised in Okaihau in my earlier years so I am happy to be home in the North again.

I started pottery about seven years ago, where I attended a class run by The Quarry Art Centre in Whangarei. Jane McCulla was our tutor. In this class there were some very experienced potters, some whom have their own studios and sold their work at various galleries throughout the country. To everyone’s horror I had never touched clay before.

My eldest son and daughter-in-law were married in 2016 and I wanted to produce some pottery lilies to display at their wedding. With advice from colleagues I managed to produce some lilies I was proud of.

The lilies I am making today are an evolution of those very first lilies. I really love colour, texture and movement for the garden. I have also started making orbs and I have been experimenting with different glazes and textures, I feel they will always be evolving as well.

I am constantly learning and experimenting. I enjoy the sense of satisfaction and freedom pottery gives me to relax and to be creative. I have had to learn that things I make with clay don’t necessarily have to be perfectly formed.

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ABOUT CASSANDRA
I am an artist, storyteller, intuitive guide, mentor and Reiki master. All my creations are infused with positive energy , inspiration, and light. I believe in magic and the power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to transform your life. My greatest joy is helping your realize your dreams. That makes my soul sing!

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P: +64 (0) 21 873 833
E: cassandra@cassandragaisford.com

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