We were lucky to catch up with Sidney Allen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sidney, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

As an artist who hosts workshops to teach my technique, I feel that I should start by sharing what I learned by attending art workshops, art classes, and art camps. One of the best ways that I learned art was from art teachers who kindly and effectively shared their knowledge and techniques with me. I think that speeding up the learning process is not as important as really absorbing those lessons. Some of the most essential lessons learned relating to my art were about shape, composition, value, and emphasis. As a kid, I attended all kinds of art workshops and as I’ve gotten older I feel that there are fewer art classes offered at a reasonable price range for adults. I host painting workshops for adults to remove that obstacle.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

Sidney Rey Allen graduated from VCUarts with a BFA in Graphic Design in December 2015. She currently works as an art educator, illustrator, and freelance designer. She grew up in Lake Jackson, TX learning to paint from her mother, and encouraged in the arts by her grandmother. Sidney is inspired by processes, patterns, and nature.

Sidney offers paint & sip workshops where participants learn to paint florals using coffee, tea, and wine. She also sells her own art and prints and, offers additional services as a graphic designer. What sets Sidney apart is her positive attitude, and efficiency.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think that one of the things that society should change is the way that art is de-valued. As an art educator in the public school system, it is frustrating to hear “Art is not relevant to me” from students. Nobody wants to live in a world without art, an ugly world. We all love beauty and fashion and good design. We need it. Unfortunately, society is not willing to pay artists what they deserve. Students do not see art as a valuable pursuit. A change in the way that society values art would be the best way to create a thriving creative ecosystem.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

A book that has influenced my artistic philosophy greatly is “Art and Fear” by David Byles and Ted Orland. This book explores the perils of creating art and the rewards. A quote that stood out to me is this one “Your perfectionism denies you the very thing you need to get your work done. Getting on with your work requires a recognition that perfection itself is a (paradoxically) flawed concept.” I am impacted by perfectionistic tendencies, and reading this helped me to realize that a) I’m not alone in this feeling (of course) and b) I have to make imperfect art or I’ll just not make art for fear of it not being perfect. In my painting workshops, this is how I start the event, by addressing the perfectionists in the room. I hope to acknowledge that tendency and also allow participants to dismiss it as they see it popping up. The goal is not to create perfect artwork, but to create artwork!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.sreyadesign.com/drinking-paints
• Instagram: @drinkingpaints
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrinkingPaints
• Other: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/drinking-paints-49573481153

Image Credits
Sidney Allen