What is the best thing that I love about my work? I love working with my emotions and feelings while communicating through an alternative channel. I also love to encourage other people to discover themselves in art and to show them a tool for knowledge and reflection that does not need words.

What is my idea of happiness? It is linked to the idea of a harmonious life in peace with others and in connection with nature. In this way I can express my full potential and share my time along with those who share my life vision.

What is my greatest fear? I fear to stop following my dreams and to give up believing there’s a chance for a better, fairer, more respectful, ecological and human world.

What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? Anxiety.

Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? Victor Brossah, a Spanish artist who founded the “ritual art” method, and Marianne Cordier, a French art counsellor who works in Rome. Both both combine art and spirituality and the well-being of people. Their works inspire me and intimately resonate with me.

What is my greatest extravagance? I have more than one. A recurring one is that I get lost fantasizing and imagining impossible things happening around me while I’m walking or travelling. Another extravagant habit I have is to talk to plants and animals. I am convinced that even if they cannot understand my words, they feel I am taking care of them.

On what occasion would I lie? When I feel strongly threatened or in order to protect someone.

What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? My work is perfect, it’s exactly what I want to do and what I believe in. I don’t like it being underestimated. Unfortunately, people and society often have many prejudices about artists and the artistic community.

When and where was I the happiest, in my work? For the past two years I’ve lived about eight months in a forest in Tuscany’s mountains. Together with my fiancé, I managed two big holiday houses and a small eco-camping. During this experience I created a small outdoor studio where I painted with true happiness. There I’ve organized small painting sessions with guests (adults and children). It seemed to me like a
magic spell to see that space becoming a place where they felt free to create, but at the same time protected and guided. I was happy because I was following my purpose in the environment where I give my best, which is nature.

If I could, what would I change about myself? I wouldn’t change anything of my essence, I really like how I am. Sometimes, however, anxiety moves me away from my essence. So, if I had to change something about me, it would certainly be this since it limits my expression, though I think it’s a defence mechanism rather than a part of myself.

What is my greatest achievement in work? An incredible goal for me has been to show some people that they were able to create art. Many of them listened to my words and advice to welcome art into their lives as a tool for self-knowledge and well-being. My next target is to lead people through a soul healing process with art.

Where would I most like to live? Definitely in a mountain or hill community. Apart from this, I don’t have a specific place where I would prefer to live. What counts for me is to be surrounded by meaningful relationships and a natural environment.

What is my most treasured possession? My hands.

What is my most marked characteristic? Creativity and empathy in the same way.

What is my most inspirational location, in my city? My grandmother’s house in the countryside is the place where I connect to myself the most and where my love for nature flourished.

What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? There is a place in my city that I like very much, it is called Babeuf. It’s very welcoming and they have excellent craft beers.

What books influenced my life and how? Women Who Run with the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estès. This book opened my eyes to so many aspects of life that led to a true revolution. Also, it is thanks to this book that I arrived at a very particular moment in my life where I became aware of my strength as a woman. I also love One, No One and One Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pirandelllo and La profezia della curandera by Hernán Huarache Mamani

You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day? Tzen Tze Re Rei by Loli Cosmica, although if I think it twice I’d only like to hear the sound of a flowing river.

Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? The lady of the Vivian lake in the book “The mists of Avalon” or Kantu in the book “La profezia della curandera” by Hernán Huarache Mamani

Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My friend Hayat and my cousins Luana and Francesca.

Which movie would i recommend to see once in a lifetime? “La Belle Verte”, 1996 film directed by Coline Serreau

What role plays art in my life and work? My whole life is focused on art. Art is the way I look at the world around me, so I would say it is vital to me.

What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ to me? I believe a lot in this saying. I think the way we depict ourselves and our lives defines our reality, even though life often goes beyond our imagination.

Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? My mother, my friend Hayat, my cousin Luana.

Which people or companies would I like to work with in 2020?  Victor Brossah and Marianne Cordier are currently two people that I admire a lot for what they do, for the vision they have, for their approach to art and they both are of endless inspiration to me. I’d like to collaborate with them on ritual art and intuitive painting projects. I’d also like to collaborate with alternative educational schools, such as Waldorf schools or schools in the woods and art therapy centres such as Toscanalab, or with ecological projects such as a self-sufficient farms. Finally, it would be great to give my contribute to some publishing houses such as Terre di Mezzo, Il castello, Minibombo, Altreconomia and Edizioni mediterranee.

Where can you see me or my work in 2020? This year I will be in Cagliari (Sardinia) but my work is already online on my social pages and on my website: http://www.masiadaniela.com.

What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? I think it’s a very true catch. Those who make art understand that by living with their passion they can give a deep meaning to their life.

Which creative heroines should Peter invite to tell their story?
Marianne Cordier
Activando Pachamama
Stefania Lai
Belén Cervantes

How can you contact me? Through my website at http://www.masiadaniela.com, by e-mail at danielamasia.art@gmail.com or on social networks (Instagram: d.masia and facebook: Daniela Masia Art)