“In my paintings, I like to leave a great deal unsaid, allowing the viewer to fill in the rest with his or her own imagination”, says Sideman. “I like to capture an idea, suggest the subject matter up to a point, and then work away from the subject into the realm of abstract forms, movements, patterns and color relationships.”

Her palette of full-bodied yet restrained colors have no hard edges and are applied as forms, as well as shading. Her backgrounds often fade into infinity in a harmonious play that evoke calm, yet remain graceful, strong and earthy. Her images, although soft, are not subdued.

Sideman has painted professionally for more than twenty years. She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, has taught art for many years in the Oakland Public Schools and was a successful architectural illustrator. She continues to give painting demonstrations for art groups and is frequently asked to jury art shows.

Her work has been published by New York Graphics and her paintings of children are featured in a Crystal Productions publication included in nationwide school programs for art education called the Take 5 Art Prints series. Carol donated a copy of the Take 5 Art Print series to the Half Moon Bay Cunha Middle School Art Program. In addition, she also provided two original oil paintings for a raffle that was held at Galleria Luna with all proceeds going to the Half Moon Bay Cunha Middle School Art Program. Her paintings have also been published as fine art limited editions by Langert Publishing of Half Moon Bay, and are in private and corporate collections throughout the United States.