tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43297969728366133762024-03-05T02:41:46.566-05:00Purple & ProseThe art and writing of Sydney WellmanSydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-26865966200052317802015-02-11T13:34:00.002-05:002015-02-11T13:34:27.336-05:00Thank you notes
I’ve become a bigger fan of Jimmy Fallon due to nighttime
viewing—especially his thank-you notes segment. I wrote a few of my own about my
daily artistic existence.
Thank you paint –for being colorful and giving my skin different tones every day.
Thank you hands- for making my arms have perfect brush-like extensions at the ends.
Thank you studio- for housing me and holding up to Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-58063846869063127992014-05-26T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-26T10:22:52.359-04:00Rebirth, restore, resurrect, revival, rebuild, renew, refresh…
I’ve missed writing about stuff and posting
photos of what I’m working on in the studio. I’ve written as many “re” words as
I can and you get the idea. I’ve been painting my ass off and working on a series
called “Womanlike”. This series honors the female
complexity. This is not the first painting but it seems appropriate since it’s
also a work in progress.
The Beginning
Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-37032329556727525722013-04-14T16:45:00.002-04:002013-04-14T16:45:18.974-04:00Journal Pages
I was finally able to sit down with my journal. Here are
a few pages that I worked on this weekend with Steely Dan in the background ...
Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-84423064775705645712013-04-01T14:10:00.002-04:002013-04-01T14:10:48.211-04:00Real Ivory KeysPeoria, IL. My mother fractionally siphoned off weekly grocery
money for the big purchase. In the days of yore it took a long time to pay off
a Baldwin Acrosonic spinet—a quality piano with ivory keys. At my wee age of six,
I was clueless that 1958 was the last year Baldwin used the same guts as they
did for a baby grand. My new French provincial piano with real ivory keys now lived
proudly in Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-69245245846133514492013-03-28T15:40:00.002-04:002013-03-28T15:40:31.708-04:00FINALLY! After months of packing, moving, unpacking, organizing, and muddling through new account changes, I'm finally able to get into my blog! Whew! I was sweating bullets for a couple weeks, but I figured out a "work-around" with no help from the techies at Google, or anyone else on those forums! Oh sure, a couple of pseudo-techies thought they had the answer but NOOOOOO! Yours truly figured it out andSydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-81416330513413941262012-08-31T11:07:00.001-04:002012-08-31T11:07:29.807-04:00Maggie Moo Head
September 16 is the start of the Jewish High Holy Days, Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It’s the start of the Jewish New Year. Part of the preparation
is to ask for forgiveness from anyone you may have wronged during the previous
year. To whatever extent possible, we want to begin the year with a clean slate
– and without anyone harboring a grudge against us. One should also be quick to
forgiveSydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-73944059306474450802012-06-14T10:24:00.004-04:002012-06-14T10:25:34.285-04:00Instant Artist!
I had to share this. My new favorite photo app is PhotoArtista Oil. This iPhone app makes you an instant
artist! And it’s easy to master in a few
minutes. You can load your photos from your album, or take new ones. It’s not a
free app, it cost me a whopping $2.99. And there’s an add-on called Sketch that
of course, I had to have. Another $2.99. That's a bargain, right? Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-12036371855079624102012-05-31T11:56:00.000-04:002012-05-31T11:56:15.222-04:00HOW TO READ A BOOK
Hello, my name is Sydney and I am a lifetime student. This
also makes me a lifetime bibliophile. My
library is expansive. In fact, Amazon owes me a thank you letter! IMHO. When
the first Kindle came on the market, I was first in line. Ditto with the Kindle
Fire. And of course, I still buy hard copies of used books, art, and writing
books. How can you not? However, that’s not my true focusSydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0Bridgeville, PA 15017, USA40.3400563 -80.137275740.2916448 -80.2162397 40.3884678 -80.0583117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-2295975631186700802012-05-11T10:41:00.000-04:002012-05-11T10:41:46.796-04:00I Hate Mother's Day
I have hated Mother’s Day for decades. My mother was tough. She wasn’t appreciative. Other mother’s would gush at the mere thought of a child’s gift or card. They would state things like “Don’t buy anything for me!” or, upon opening a gift, “You didn’t have to buy me anything!” Not my mother. She was difficult at best. And I always acknowledged Mother’s Day with a gift, a card, flowers, and Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-55852271336275176022012-04-30T12:50:00.001-04:002012-04-30T12:50:50.762-04:00Mini RantYes. I am working. This was the answer that I gave to my friend last Friday when she asked me what I was doing on Saturday. “I’m working.” “What do you mean, you’re working?” She asked. I told her that I would be at the studio as usual. “Well, she said, “That’s not really working.” “You won’t be going to your (day) job”. I was appalled at her answer and attitude. She continued “You’re making yourSydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-58955900311618814692012-03-24T13:05:00.000-04:002012-03-24T13:05:25.276-04:00My Father's ShirtsI stole them from my father. I had too because they were fantastic. First, I slipped into the bedroom and looked in the dresser drawer. If not there, I opened the closet to peer at the top shelf. There they were, precisely stacked and wrapped—fresh from the dry cleaners. Dad wore white shirts daily when he managed a furniture store. But, it wasn’t the shirts that I loved—they were just the Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-13568270983529285282012-02-23T15:53:00.000-05:002012-02-23T15:53:45.767-05:00I am the one who ...I am the one who loves purple
I am the one who plans and organizes
I am the one who sees shapes and designs in odd places
I am the one who sees textures in a hillside of trees
I am the one who realizes there are no coincidences
I am the one who tries to pay attention to what the Universe is telling me
I am the one who wonders what others are doing
I am the one who is curious
I am the one Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-77462200175045672242012-01-31T15:31:00.000-05:002012-01-31T15:31:33.138-05:00THE BOXThe month of February is usually crappy weather wise—bitter cold wind, freezing temps, snow, ice, grey skies—plain ugly with anticipation of Spring. However, the month of February also holds blissful childhood memories of my Valentine’s Days of yore. For artist-child Sydney, the day was much bigger—it held the perfect opportunity for another art op—an altered and magnificently adorned shoebox.
Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-37018251904354402132011-12-13T10:45:00.000-05:002011-12-13T10:45:24.227-05:00Bella Buttons!One of my back-burner projects is now front-burner- worthy and cooking with a full head of steam. Recently, my manager (and friend) Andrea entered the craft market with her nimble knitting (say that 10 times fast) fingers and started creating scarves. I suggested that she knit also neck warmers because they are faster, more cost-efficient, and just a little different.
They just cross at the Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-79470140024606565912011-08-23T10:22:00.000-04:002011-08-23T10:22:50.423-04:00The ART of HikingFeeling a little exhausted from the weekend visit with my two delicious grandchildren, I went on a hike for revival. Walking up the road on my usual path, this hike was anything but usual. Oh, it started out very ordinary, but about ten minutes after I began, the usual and ordinary things looked strange and different.
The white picket fence across the street morphed into a white horizontal Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-39938168324897480182011-07-16T08:48:00.000-04:002011-07-16T08:48:53.040-04:00Saturday July 16, 2011 MOVING DAY!Stuff is percolating along at Purple Barn Studios. After way too many red-tape delays from the local zoning and planning boards, I finally got the castle keys and I’m moving in today! I have lots to do and organize before I can think about resuming sculpting, journaling, and painting.
My first goal is to prepare for my first official Open Studio night on Aug.10, 5pm – 9pm. Call or email me to Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-6677983788663419652011-06-14T11:22:00.000-04:002011-06-14T11:22:54.244-04:00I’m Cutting Up My Art Journals!I know this sounds radical and this statement may have caused you to suck in a little gasp—but really; it is not a bad thing. The continual quest to have fresh collage materials has forced this violent scissor attack on my art journals. This material pursuit in addition the yearning for my painting roots of yore has been growing stronger—and that is what started the whole dismemberment.
Lusting Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-41765882387244296292011-06-05T14:50:00.000-04:002011-06-05T14:50:34.169-04:00My Comfortable ChairAlmost every morning for a few weeks now, one of my favorite sounds blissfully awakens me—the tweeting and chirping of the neighborhood birdies that start singing before dawn. The cozy sound that makes me smile before my eyes open. Then glancing at the clock and rolling over to doze for a few minutes longer, my mind is active enough to force me up to start another busy artful day—my chosen path Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-40811176495544033042011-05-16T10:30:00.005-04:002011-05-20T11:21:22.653-04:00Call for Artists!Purple Barn Studios in Pittsburgh is accepting artist workshop proposals for one and two-day workshops (Oct 2011 – Nov 2013) in polymer clay, fiber arts, book arts, painting, collage, journaling, mixed media, or other art mediums.
Purple Barn Studios is moving into a quaint two-story house in the south hills of Pittsburgh at 717 Millers Run Rd. It is the teaching/working studio of mixed media Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-56753615884920411352011-04-09T14:01:00.000-04:002011-04-09T14:01:19.371-04:00Purple Barn Studios is moving to a real studio!On June 1, I am moving my studio to 717 Millers Run Rd. McDonald, PA! Into a cute little house that is just five minutes from my home. The studio has a gallery in front and workshop/studio space in the back with room for 10 students (each with their own table) with plenty of level parking. Upstairs are three bedrooms to accommodate five students for multiple day workshops. I'll beSydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-37681187566424050212011-03-13T12:17:00.000-04:002011-03-13T12:17:59.306-04:00Paste Paper Apps! Well, there IS an app for everything!Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-12779253882780761522011-03-13T11:48:00.000-04:002011-03-13T11:48:47.834-04:00Paste Papers Part 3Enough with the Elmer’s Art Paste. Cornstarch is now the paste du jour. It was easy to mix on the stove, and I let it cool while I changed out of my jammies. Straining out the lumps is key. Unless you like lumps. They can be brushed out on the paper, but a real pain. Or if there’s a handy blender or food processor, that does the trick, also. I used my treasured Golden Liquid Acrylics for this andSydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-4660303996482190412011-03-05T14:50:00.000-05:002011-03-05T14:50:57.683-05:00Paste Papers Part 2Continuing my experiments, I added Clear Gesso to some mixed paste colors as a thickener. This made a difference in the design on the watercolor paper—the designs held together better with more definition. I also coated some paper with gesso, using white, gold and black. The gold and black are stunning!
I feel like a mad scientist in the labORatory…Muahhhahaha…mixing more and more Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-28385848838667080792011-02-26T16:39:00.001-05:002011-02-26T16:41:45.951-05:00Paste Papers Part 1Over the last few weeks, I am continuing my experiments with paste papers. I love seeing the results of different combinations of paste, paper, paint, and inclusions. In fact, I am having a difficult time stopping this mad fun! I have papers drying all over the studio and now spilling out into the other room where I have laid down plastic to protect the carpeting. I hope.
The first day I used Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4329796972836613376.post-54660190464523852102011-02-15T15:22:00.000-05:002011-02-15T15:22:46.252-05:00Paste Papers!Here's what I'm working on in the studio. Great mess, but great fun!
Sydney Wellmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06585984708915362903noreply@blogger.com0