Writing Has Begun
Tag: expression
Art After Dark
Last night, I attended ‘Art After Dark’ at a local, small Art Gallery, called ‘The Alan Baker Gallery’ in Camden, N.S.S. Australia. It’s about 3 minutes drive from where i live.
This was the third (and last for now) such event held there. I couldn’t attend the first one due to illness, and the second due to a prior engagement so I was pleased to be able to attend last night.
It was an intimate gathering, featuring a local musician Ria Brcic who provided a beautiful voice accompanied by an Acoustic Guitar in the background, whilst Artists’ demonstrations like live portrait painting carried on through the night.
There were also local Artists on display such as, Verena Heirich with her exquisite wearable art and Natalie with her ‘Creations Couture, both of which added a special flavour to the event.
The event ran from 6pm – 8pm and I enjoyed it immensely. Apart from seeing the creations of local Artists, it was a great chance to mingle, chat and share artistic experiences.
Looking forward to the next local Art event!
Written by David Johnson
29 April 2023
15 Years and Counting…
As of the 1 March this year, I have been a member of Toastmasters International for 15 years.
In some ways, it seems a long time, in other ways not. In that time I have:
- Been a member of 4 clubs, and am currently a member of Gledswood Toastmasters
- Achieved the level of Distinguished Toastmaster
- Won two Club and two Area International Speech Contests
- Prepared, written, rehearsed and delivered well over 100 speeches
- Competed in numerous contests
- Served as President of 2 clubs
- Served on a number of Executive committees
- Built a new Toastmasters Club jointly with Rhys Tague, DTM
- Served as a Club Coach of Gledswood Toastmasters jointly with Rhys Tague, DTM
- Served as an Area Director
How has that all benefitted me? Let’s have a look at me prior to joining Toastmasters…
When I joined Toastmasters in 2008, I was 45 years of age. I am a born Introvert who used to get so nervous around people even into my 20’s that my hands would shake if I lifted a drink to my mouth during a conversation. True.
I used to talk around people I knew but if a stranger joined the conversation, I would clam up. True.
Prior to joining Toastmasters, my only instances of getting up in front of people related to Photography. I have been a photographic judge since 1995 and used to judge at 10-12 clubs a year from 1995 through to the early 2010. Even though I was incredibly nervous, my passion for photography, and wanting to help people, had me speaking in front of an audience, evaluating their images.
There were times when I was offered a glass of water etc whilst I was up judging that I declined because people would see the glass shaking due to nerves, so I would politely decline it, even if I was thirsty… True.
A couple of times, I was physically ill prior to judging and often would not eat dinner before I was judging sometimes as I was worried I might be ill. Also true.
Making 2-3 comments on an image is very different to getting up in front of people and delivering a rehearsed or impromptu speech.
The night before I did my Ice-Breaker speech at Campbelltown Toastmasters, I could not sleep, or eat on the day of the speech. Wendy White, DTM, President of the Club at the time and friend, reminded me that ‘Toastmasters is a mutually supportive environment’ and every member knows how you feel as they have been through it.
Some of my nerves did go and I delivered the speech and funnily enough, I didn’t burst into flames!
Joining and committing to the Toastmasters programme has helped me in the following ways:
- Gained greater general confidence
- Am able to control my nerves prior to and during speeches and photographic judging
- Can do things in front of others without getting nervous
- Can walk up to strangers and introduce myself
- Has improved my networking skills
- Has improved my business capabilities
- I have no fear of public speaking now
- I have no fear of taking up leadership roles
- It has made me a better leader
- It has made me a better listener
- I can now evaluate better
- My ability to ‘think on my feet’ (impromptu speaking) has improved
- It improved my performance at job interviews (when I was an employee)
- Has enabled me to write and deliver coherent speeches
- Enabled me to compete and win speech contests (who would have ever thought?)
- Has improved my general writing capabilities
- Gave me the confidence to start writing Poems (over 500 now)
- Opened up opportunities outside of Toastmasters for public speaking including, VIEW, Probus, Photographic clubs, a business conference and Emceeing 3 family weddings
- Has enabled me to have a positive impact on people within and outside Toastmasters
- Has helped me improve my speaking/leadership at my BNI (Business Network International) Referral chapter
Why do I stay?
I stay because of the following 4 reasons:
- Continuing professional development: I can always improve
- Paying it forward: I can help mentor those who are earlier on their journey
- Relationships: I have made a lot of good friends in Toastmasters
- Entertainment: We always have fun at our meetings
I would absolutely recommend joining Toastmasters International, even if you are only looking to improve your general confidence. In doing that, it will open the door to improving you and your performance in a number of ways.
Like everything worthwhile in life it requires discipline, commitment, being open to learning, being prepared to step outside your Comfort Zone and into your Growth Zone, and you can do this whilst having fun!
Here’s to your Toastmasters Journey!
Written by David Johnson
8 April 2023
For more information on Toastmasters International: http://www.toastmasters.org/
It’s About A Fine Story…
A Living Journal
The Organic Artist
Last weekend on our anniversary celebration, I picked a book at a store in Berrima, N.S.W. called, ‘Six Impossible Things. Last year, I purchased a double-glass inkwell at the store and was delighted to see that they had moved to bigger premises.
Erica owns the store and is very helpful. I picked up a Postal dip pen nib and the book below.
The book seemed way too interesting to leave on the shelf. A few weeks back I was talking to a gallery director in Camden and he gave me a reed and showed me how to cut it so it could be used as a dip pen. Looking at my attempt I think I have more practice ahead of me. Oh well, something is worth doing badly until one becomes better at it.
In my limited look at the book since it appears to go a lot deeper into the technical details of creating such tools. I’m looking forward to exploring it more and having some more Arty fun!
Written by David Johnson
29 November 2022
Berkeleouw’s Book Barn Treasure
As part of celebrating the anniversary of the very first time we went out to dinner (19 November 1994), we always pay a visit for a couple of hours to Berkeleouw’s Book Barn at Berrima.
Susan and I are bookworms and there is nothing better for bookworms than visiting a bookshop. Although the Book Barn has some new books, it predominantly has used books, which is part of what keeps us coming back.
This visit saw me purchase the following books:
I always seem to come away with at least one Poetry book, and in the last few years the Poetry books have outnumbered the Art-related books, but not this year.
The two Chinese Art-related books jumped out at me as next weekend, I am attending a workshop that is being run by Jo Wong Artist, who is also the new President of the Macarthur Art Group that will be joining shortly.
‘Poetry Now’ is actually a book of Poems where the authors were born within the first 30-40 years of the 20th Century and /Great Artists Explained’ was simply too good a book to leave on the shelf!
I look forward in the coming weeks to grab a cuppa and sit down and investigate all these books more.
Written by David Johnson
27 November 2022
Latest Watercolour Sketches a Day!
Well, moving house is finally over. Now it’s just continuing to open boxes, sort, and set up the different rooms.
I’m a fair bit behind in posts for this month so I had ‘better get my skates on!’
I’ve included a few of my latest Watercolour Sketches a Day. That is all the art-related endeavour I have been able to do lately. Hope you enjoy them.
I’ve been trying to experiment with layers and letting the water do more of the work and I like the effects I am getting so I think I will head more in this direction.
Written by David Johnson
25 November 2022
Life’s Canvas
Reveal
Communicating Creatively 