Back at Baldessin

Baldessin pigments
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I have settled in here at Baldessin Press Studio in St. Andrews. The Gite Cottage is complete, comfortable bed, Australian wines in the refrigerator or on the counter, fresh bread from the Saturday market, mushrooms and other produce ready and waiting to be tossed into a meal. But the best part has been the students for two days of making earthen pigments into watercolors and then using them in white line wood block prints. Kangaroos hop through the yard and birds of extraordinary color and sound move through the Eucalyptus trees. It is a bit of heaven here.

After a full week of teaching in Halls Gap by the Grampians Mountain Range with wonderful energetic and adventurous students, I have found it no different here. The Australian student is simply put – game for anything – and I come prepared to learn so much from them. I am forever feeling that I am in debt to those who want me to come back time after time. Thank you so much, Janet, Vanessa, Marion, Tess and all those who sign up for the classes they offer.

The Launch of a New Website

sandy-robert
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“It’s never finished…” – Sandy and Robert

For the last several weeks we have been designing my new website. Several years ago a fellow teacher who was also expected to give a talk about his work was asked when he wanted to present. His comment was, “Not behind Sandy. Because she always has a story and I am just making things.”  He was right. There has always been a reason, a story of why I make something. Most artist websites are designed for marketing the work and the artist. We decided to go with the work and the story behind it. The result is a comprehensive visual excursion through the best times spent pursuing an idea with passion and purpose in the studio. I want to thank my web designer, Bob DeLong of  DeLong Web Designs  for putting this all together and suggesting the addition of a blog so I can continue with the stories.