Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

A quiet Friday morning.  Came to paint sunflowers. Remembered that I painted at the same garden in winter. Now there are more plants, many of them blooming. But I know that I came for the sunflowers. Met the lady that worked there, her name was Rachal. She was doing great job which attracted me to come back. Actually it is not a good idea for me to paint too near many flowers. My eyes hurt and my nose was running, but I did it, and moved the objects around a bit to make a more pleasing composition.  (June 11 2021)

Decided to paint something different. I saw many gardens have been growing vegetables since the pandemic, thought it was a different subject to paint. So drive around and found one. Set up my workstation and found I did not have any paper with me. Drove back to get the paper. Set up my painting station again, and I didn't bring any water with me. Hahaha, I guess that is a sign of getting old and forgetful. Luckily, there was a water hose nearby. Sun was out for a short time, mostly it was gray. There were flowers still blooming, vegetables, like pees, luffa hanging on the fence, and other greens still growing. We really are spoiled by California's good weather. Inspiration and paint how I feel are more important than copy what I see exactly. That's why I keep painting loose. Moved the pot under the sunflowers, we all needed the positive feeling in life, especially during the current situation. (Jan 12 2021)

First time rushed into one of my favorite Farmer's Market, not well organized during the weekend morning. Found out that I left my phone and my hat at home after grabbing some fresh vegetables. I set up my easel, asked a photographer guy to call and texted to my husband. Lucky me to meet another an artist photographer, he showed me some of his work and his light weight camera. My husband delivered my forgotten stuff later, also delivered the vegetables home, such a supportive partner for more than twenty years. I wanted to paint the market for a long time, the booths and settings always look interesting. I kept moving myself into the shade, under the sun was too hot. The girl helping sell flowers saw me working hard, she gave a bunch of flowers at the end, how sweet!

I would love to introduce some Chinese symbols to my viewers through my paintings. Here is a still life I painted entitled "Sunflowers and Lizard". Lizard (蜥蜴 or 壁虎; ) Lizards tend to be active at night. For that reason the ancients felt that they were symbolic of protection from the hidden things in life. So a lizard is more than an animal it is a symbol of luck and vision. Lizards are also fast on their feet and can escape predators much larger than themselves. Ancestors said and noted these special qualities. Ruyi (如意; rúyì) What this means in Chinese is "as one wishes you wish". A ruyi is a long curved ceremonial sceptre used in Chinese Buddhism that symbolizes power and good fortune in countless Chinese stories. It can take the shape of a lingzhi mushroom, a cloud, a first or other representation that symbolizes power. There are nearly 3000 ruyi that are variously made from valuable materials like gold, silver, iron, bamboo, wood, ivory, coral, rhinoceros

“There's nothing sweeter than a real friend: Not only is he prompt to lend— An angler delicate, he fishes The very deepest of your wishes, And spares your modesty the task His friendly aid to ask. A dream, a shadow, wakes his fear, When pointing at the object dear.”  ― Jean de La Fontaine, Fables I believe that most of us have good friends from time to time.  Lucky ones have life time friends. After growing up, it seems that is not very easy sitting down, having a cup of tea or coffee, chatting together... I want to continue creating my Girlfriends' Teatime series, to express how much I miss them in my life, and wish our tea time could last as long as our friendship without any worries... Share some beautiful quotes about Friendship here. "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." – Marcel Proust “Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find.” ― William Shake