Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Just realized that I hadn't gone out painting for a week this morning - too much figurative study in studio. Also my annual allergies have started acting up again. Didn't go too far. I found this greenhouse tent a long time ago and today I got to paint it. After my stuff was set up, I saw two older ladies walking toward me, and the language they were speaking sounded like Russian. I said "Hello" and asked them if they were Russian. They responded that yes they were. Their faces were so interesting, instantly I thought they both could be our portrait models. I dug out my business card and passed it to one of the ladies, and told them that we could pay them if they wanted to be our models. I didn't really understand what she said, but she mentioned her daughter and her hands gestured throwing the business card away. Hahaha, I hope she does contact me and they can be models for us. I really only mean to paint their portraits. (February 18 2022)

Such gorgeous weather, about 70 degrees with no wind. Went to Almaden Valley, found this old barn to paint. I did one at the same location in May this year. and did another one during the summer in 2017. Slowly I have made some progress in my work. I like this spot, felt very peaceful. Next time I will try to add in figures, and will paint loosely. Just ordered more watercolor papers, the price increased again... (November 22 2021)

  Got up earlier than usual during the weekend because my husband wanted to try out his new toy inflatable kayak. We went to Moss Landing to get two birds with one stone. He got exercise and I did another painting at the location after having breakfast with a couple friends at the local cafe. Great to catch up with them, and they had fun together on the water. Finally, I got to paint this fishing boat on the other side of the road, which I thought I wanted to paint at least over ten years. A little struggle, it was gray and windy when I arrived, sun came out when I finished the work, haha keep the game going.... (June 26 2021)

After the Memorial day long weekend, I planned to paint at Pescadero, but it did not happen. Came to the Mission Branch Library in Santa Clara. Remembered that I painted here in the afternoon last winter and pulled out the old photo. Today I painted this scene from a 90 degree different angle, and in the shade of the morning. I was totally in the sun so soon, before I even finished my drawing. Kept moving to my left side, wondered if I would bother the residents inside the building. Instead, a couple of young guys came out and gave me a few compliments. I think  they study at Santa Clara University. Practiced not overdoing the painting and made sure my work looked painterly and loose. ( June 1 2021 ) November 30 2020, Plein Air  @ Mission Branch Library City of Santa Clara CA

It was a nice morning, my first here to paint with Julia Seelos, though more local artists were invited it wss just the 2 of us this day. After a short catch up, we found our own spots to paint. She is a more experienced Plein Air painter - for 15 years now. Her story inspired me that not too worry too much about strong wind, but it was calm anyway when we were painting there. The landscape scene was challenging for painting in watercolor, so I moved things around and created a slightly different composition on paper. So much to learn from Julia's devotion to art. She had a job, and she joined all the Plein Air event by using all of her vacations in the past, and not mention she has two artificial knees, and back surgery... Hope everyone understands that this is the spirit of a devoted artist, there is a great story behind each painting and every artist. (May 21 2021)

It was not a hot day with a light breeze. Went to Almaden Valley again. Last time I was lost and ended up finding a new place to paint. Arrived at the location and there was no parking left. Waited for a while, parked out next to the narrow road. I could never dress up to be an artist and do my work, especially outdoors. Actually, better to be a camel when doing Plein Air. There was no restroom at this location, had to be prepared. Then I started dragging my painting stuff to where I wanted to paint. Maybe about 15 minute walk when hiking, but I had to carry my tripod and Plein Air umbrella. Inside my rolling bag, was a Strada easel, which it was heavy by itself already; my color palette, a handful of brushes and two spray bottles inside the easel. Plus two bottles of water, one for painting, one for myself. a folding board for painting with several Fabriano Artistico 140lb cold press watercolor paper. a pencil bag which is full of pencils, some paint tubes, and small stuff f

(April 16 2021) Nice and quiet morning at the location. I found a spot to set up, it was a little bit too close, but it was the angle I wanted. Didn't know it was one of the busiest days of the week again. More cars brought in more customers later to this beer garden. A young guy Kyle worked and guided all the cars for parking, he stood next to me most of the time. We had a little talk that he was in his freshman year in a college. Kyle was friendly and polite, kept telling me that my painting looked realistic to him, he even took a video to share with his friend. Finally he asked me how many years I had been painting, coincidentally his age was the same as my years painting, about nineteen years. Might be his and some people's encouragement all together, I thought I did better than usual. Definitely I will be back to paint again.

  (April 13 2021) My allergies bother me, but, could not help myself, got ambitious to paint nearby flowers today. This is not my usual subject, I have to wait another year to paint if I miss it this year. There are several hundred year old wisteria vines in bloom on the arbor designed for the 1822 Mission at the east side of the courtyard at mission Santa Clara. Plus more than ten different kinds of other plants, most were blooming super beautiful this time. I found a corner spot in the morning, lighting was perfect. A couple of years ago I painted here in oils. I needed to test my new Fabriano Artisco watercolor paper. After my small sketch, I drew carefully on this newer version softer paper, didn't feel much difference. Then I was cautiously starting applying watercolors to it. Seemed like it doesn't allow me to make mistakes anymore. Might just be my "psychology issue". So far this new paper works fine for me... Hope it never cause trouble.

Planned to go to Golden Gate Park to paint but it didn't happened. Drove in a different direction, tried to find an old place to Plein Air a couple of times, but I missed the road and had to u-turn back, I instantly stopped and painted this red barn. I was so glad that I found it by mistake, a very quiet road in this peaceful countryside, only the neighbors' dog barked several times at me. Saw a beautiful cow was having nap on the way back, but caught the road work traffic on the way home.

Another gorgeous day. I drove over 100 miles to paint boats. I had to take a thicker jacket off to change a thinner one at the location. Walked around and found these two white boats that were different than all the fishing boats. Also I could be in the shade of a big tree. Struggling through with composition, colors and value, then worked in details. About 80 degrees around noon, no wind. Would be back to paint for sure. Definitely there were more cars on the road. -- March 31 2021

First time I came to this location to paint this weekend. My husband joined so he could hike. Happened to meet up with a weekend Plein Air group painting at the same place. Beautiful day, spring has finally arrived. Good thing that I finished a small sketch and the drawing before more people arrived. Didn't know how popular this place was! Even though we all still had masks on, it was very busy, seemed like no COVID-19 existed there. Saw a customer arriving on horseback, it really brought me back to over 160 year ago when the restaurant was just founded.  But only the person wore the modern cloths. And then a truck blocked my painting subject for quite a long time. Limited my color palette. Will surely come back again to paint, but not on a weekend.  -- March 27

My second visit to this old historic town in three days! A lady was watering all the plants, she guided me through the beautiful garden to find an open restroom. Everything was very peaceful in the morning. Met several local artists and several from different places, even one originally from the UK, Another was here from Missouri to visit her son. One used to live near Berkeley area with her beautiful and friendly dog Coco. I found a spot started with my small sketch nearby Coco. Overdressed again, had to take off one layer. This town has a lot succulents and cactus, so I used my imagination to replace the tree on the right with a large cactus After my work was finished, I notice the old tree I wanted to take a better photo of two days ago, but it was halfway cut down, found out sadly that it was dead. Definitely there were more cars on the road. Hope they were all good sign to prove that covid-19 is under control....   (March 24 2021)

Drove over 100 miles to paint with other artists on location. It was gray and cold in the morning, hard to believe it is past the middle of March. We still need to turn the heater inside the house. But the sun came out after I arrived. My first time visiting this quiet and historic small town. Felt so peaceful and could hear rooster crowing, can't even remember when was the last time I heard that. Might forget how to paint a on cold days, Used a little too much water, it took longer time to dry, but I was patient enough to wait. Might forget how to be creative, not very happy to paint the tree towards the opposite side of the building. Several artists came by to say Hi while painting. Spent a little bit time walking around after. Some small businesses had opened, and a few people in the town, but it was only Monday. Would like to come back to paint more, only a little but far. No traffic to go, but a little traffic going home. I guess that it is a good sign that everything is start

(March 16 2021) Overdressed today and painted at the location outdoors, just because it was very cold yesterday and frost was on the rooftops this morning. We even could see the snow on atop of the distant mountains. Airplanes flew overhead. That made me wonder when it will be safe to travel again... It has been exactly one year since the challenging COVID-19 lockdown started. Started with a small sketch, ended up to I painted a totally different angle of this yellow sailboat called "Golden Fin". So nice being outdoor with fresh air...

Not really happy with the painting I did at this location. Went back and move away a little bit from the spot I did last week. Nice day but windy, there was no clouds hanging in front of the mountains either. Tried to work the contrast. Robin another artist from San Francisco brought a box of lemons from her tree to share. She was very thoughtful, had the cute not on the box, and the paper bags. So appreciate all the lemons, I used the lemon juice to reduce my allergies.  (February 24 2021)

It was only 30 degrees in the morning, frost on the roof. Usually I paint in front of the water body at this location. Saw the beautiful landscape with the distant mountains in a veil of clouds. Closer rolling hills were green and lovely so I decided on this subject. Two young kids wanted to watch what I was doing. But they were not patient enough, then started jumping around me. I had to tell them that I needed to concentrate on painting, so they left. Painting under the sun felt warm and healing. Don't you agree? (February 17 2021)

Planned to go further today, but the news report said that coivd-19 infected numbers increased dramatically. I thought I should stay at home and maybe clean up my garden. Then the temperature went all the way up to 70 degrees, I thought what a waste of a perfect, beautiful winter day for painting outdoors. I drove around and found two almost identical houses next to each other. What attracted me was the shadow from the tree traced on the yellow house as a background. But my painting was not big enough to show the details. Good exercise to paint a residential house. Usually all the leaves on the trees block the full view of houses. Today, I spent a lot of time and tried to understand how each part of the house connected together. In the end, I had to break up the fences to make my painting not looking monotonous. A lovely afternoon being outdoors and painting!  (Jan 14 2021)

Really liked winter at the location, only 50 degrees though I was well prepared. Felt like didn't paint a boat for a long time, suddenly wasn't sure what I should paint in front of all the beautiful fishing boats. I regretted not drawing a small sketch first, because noticing later how difficult it was to work out. One thing I did learn in a hard way from my past experiences, I didn't use much water on paper in such a cold and high humidity weather conditions. Not happy with the composition too. Then forced myself to continue. Saw a couple of other artists, a seal swimming around, and a cute sea Otter was sleeping there. Wish to live closer so I don't have to drive more than hundred miles to go and paint.  (Oct 7 2020)

As much as I wanted to continue practicing figure and portrait painting, I thought that I'd better avoid the chance to get inflected by the coronavirus. Of course, always happy to paint outdoors for sure. Monday I went to Foothills park, ran into two other Plein Air artists painting there. A group of Chinese women were having a picnic at the park, their food smell delicious, it made me hungry. So I had to drag my stuff a little bit further from them to concentrate on my painting...

  Excited to experience the first rain in our location, it started at least one month earlier than usual. Even raining when I drove through the mountains all the way to Santa Cruz. Local people still brought their dogs for walks in the rain. During the time I was trying to figure out where to paint rain stopped. The lighthouse again of course, because I didn't like the one painted last September. Struggling with the rocks for a long time, sun came out, the harbor looked so beautiful instantly, I had to paint another one for sure, though I felt tired. Sat down on a bench, set up my Best Brella umbrella, enjoyed the ocean breeze while working on my second painting... Suddenly, there was a strong wind that blew my umbrella out of the connecting tube, it was blown across a steep ledge and into the ocean. Almost at the same moment I put down my brush, jumped off the bench and ran down the ledge of the water. But the umbrella was sinking fast, my arm wasn't long enough to reach