Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

It was not a warm morning, but the rain finally stopped. My husband drove me to the location, then he visited a friend who lived nearby. My first time coming here to paint.  Peaceful morning with the other artists, only could hear birds singing.  It is still our winter time in 50's and partly cloudy, I did several sketches.  Tried a German made fountain pen lent to me from another artist.  It was really a nice one, I might buy one. Sun came out later and brought the temperature up a little bit, then I did a quick watercolor sketch. Saw our friend and had nice chat with her, she introduced us to another park nearby. I would try to paint next time. (February 12 2024)

It was not a warm morning at the location. I got to one of my favorite painting spots and decided to paint again at this location. Couldn't remember how many times I've painted there before. Still, I started with a thumbnail, almost the same layout from my memory as before. I tried to use less water as it was hard to dry given the weather. One lady walked by me to complement my work, but she she surprised me and immediately apologized and told me that she was just walking by. Later some male voice was even louder behind me saying that it was a beautiful painting. That really scarred me a lot. Turned around and I saw two policemen driving by, they were kind and smiled, apologized as well. Then asked me when I started my work. I didn't really pay much attention, told them around nine o'clock. After they left, I realized that it might not have told them the correct time, they might misunderstand me and think I was not honest enough, oh, no.... Saw several other artis

We always have an "Indian Summer" and it has been hot days for weeks. I decided to go to the Port because there was a subject I wanted to paint at the same spot, but from a different angle. I set up my work station and started on the drawing, which took me a little longer to finish. Because I wanted to try a different color palette, I hesitated to start. Also, there was only one boat next to the dock when I was here before, but many were parked there this morning. I have been thinking to use fewer colors for a long time, my first time to give it a try. The result seemed OK, better than I expected. Basically I wanted to focus on the value of the scene. It was getting windy around noon, and I finished up my work and packed up. Walked a bit around the port and discovered more subjects to paint. I will be back again for sure. (August 16 2023)

It was a nice day, and I painted with local artists at the location. I set up my workstation near a cabin where a summer camp employee was watching over the lake to keep the boaters safe. I used the cabin's shade to paint comfortably. The place was busy with many kids attending the summer camp, and they all seemed happy. I noticed some teenagers working there, not much older than the kids having fun. I overheard a seventeen-year-old boy telling others that he was going to join the Navy program for college. The others looked at him with envy and admiration. The boys in charge were young but behaved like adults, helping the kids enjoy sailing and giving them snacks. After finishing my painting, I walked around to see other artists' work. To my surprise, I saw Will painting there. I went to say Hi. I had met him last May during the Plein Air event in Carmel. He was nice and kind and encouraging of my work. He helped two other artists by making little corrections for them.  He spen

It was a nice day, but quite windy at the shore. Fortunately, I found a big tree to block the wind, and it worked very well. As I painted, a lady with her very sweet ten-year-old dog passed by and said Hi. The dog was friendly and didn't want to leave. I really wanted to pet her dog, but I knew that some paints are not good for animals and I had my rubber gloves on. So, I stopped and just watched them while chatting with the lady. After finishing the drawing, I hesitated on where to start with my work on the boats. Feeling a bit stuck, I decided to change to a bigger brush and covered the small details, then worked backwards to find the detail again. It looked better than when I started. As the wind grew stronger, it was time to go home. Last year, before the Alameda Plein Air Event, I painted at the Port of Redwood City. Unfortunately, I missed the application deadline this year, so I won't be able to attend it. (July 27, 2023)

Redwood City Port seems like a perfect location for practicing painting on a windy day. A year ago I painted at the location a couple of times. It was windy in the afternoon. I found a short tree to paint under to block a little wind. Took me almost an hour to finish the drawing. I tried to paint the kayak, but it was removed from the people working there. Lucky I had my reference photo. Not sure why I love painting fishing boats Later the owner of the boat next to it came to me, he took a photo and wanted me to paint his boat someday... Rushed to the drawing class...(July 26 2022) I have to get ready for the Annual Alameda Plein Air event, so I drove to the Campbell Community Center to practice, but I didn't know what to paint. Walked around and saw the Campbell Pool, then I knew it would be a good subject to practice. Found a corner and set up my stuff. For the composition purposes, I had to "move" and "reset" several little details. It wasn't a

I canceled my dental appointment, and drove 40 miles to paint with my Chinese artist friends.  Several of them are professionally trained fine art teachers, who used to teach fine art at universities in China. Early morning I drove to the Park St bridge location and painted there.  It was my first time painting at the location.  Several other artists came.  They checked out two different locations before painting.  I realized the scene was a little complicated, so I tried to simplify it. Lan, one of female artist that lives in Alameda, she prepared a delicious lunch for us, some of us contributed some food as well.  I didn't know that there was a critique time.  My watercolor painting was next to the other artists, especially the master painters.  They were all very nice give me enough encouragement and professional advice. After lunch at Lan house on the Bay Farm Island, some of us decided to paint nearby.  But we were invited to visit Nancy's studio after four.  Less than two

Studio paintings has taken too much time of mine, I really have to do more Plein Air work.  Nice out and painted with a couple my art friends.  I instantly found this spot to paint the boat.  Later I had noticed that there were two young guys working on the boat, started to worried if the boat could be moved away.  The subject was a little bit complicated, and I simplefied them. So glad that the boat was not moved away after my work was done.  Had to leave the other two artists behind.  (April 1 2022)

After about a year, I went to Shoreline Park to paint again. It was a lovely day, and not warm, I had to have my down jacket on when I was painting. Surrounded by squirrels, geese and other birds, they were all very active. I discovered that I used wrong side of the watercolor paper at the end, guess I was distracted by all the animals' actions.  (March 19 2022)

My first time coming here to paint. Lucky I brought my down jacket, it was not a warm morning. Chose this view to practice at the picnic area. There wasn't enough rain this winter, so water level was quite low. We all have to learn how to save water in California, hope this year will be OK. (March 21 2022)

Nice weather, certainly it was getting warmer. I went back to Alviso Marina to paint a similar scene to one I did years ago. My annual allergies have started to bother me, so I used the mask for protection even outdoors. There are many paintable and historical subjects that I'd like to paint in Alviso.  I took advise from another artist that suggested toning down the colors, not easy but I practiced.  After my work done, I checked around and found my mechanical pencil on the ground.  Yes, I've learned my lesson, always double check before leaving my painting spot. (February 28 2022 )

Gorgeous day after many days of high heat. Decided to go back and paint an unfinished subject. There was some construction going on at the port. Always something new to freshen my mind, than had to change my mind to this beautiful red boat, that a guy was working on or maybe cleaning it. It started breezy, but the wind was getting stronger near noon. I hesitated whether adding some darker ocean blue was needed in the foreground of my painting till the very end. Because of countless times failing, I was afraid to do so. Finally, I added the darker color, my painting instantly looked better with depth. Took a deep breath and headed back home. (September 1 2021) August 17, I didn't manage time well to finish this one, rushed to go a birthday party...

Went to the same location again. Started with a small sketch, the drawing took me much longer to finish. It was breezy at the marina first, sooner it was getting a little bit windy than I couldn't handle it well. Geese were happy there, a guy was feeding them bread, though I was told that one should not feed the wildlife. Well, they needed more food to grow and fly back to Canada I thought. Kids were excited to learn how to sail. I felt cold in the wind, and had to put on the extra jacket that I brought. Couldn't get the fine lines of the rigging details with all the wind. So retouched it at home.  {June 23 2021}

Beautiful day in the 70s, painted at Redwood City Marina again. All the kids started earlier than me for their summer sailing lessons. Geese were happily enjoying eating the grass nearby. I found a shady spot and painted. Focused my practice on the clouds and remembered to take photos of my progress step by step for some friends' requests. Before I wrapped up, a large group of geese had almost occupied the area where I was standing. They were waiting patiently and watching for their leader's signal I guessed.  The adults were standing still, at the same time, some of the youngest geese in the group were eating or resting with their mothers watching over them very carefully, especially the ones that were very close to me. Will be back soon... (June 22 2021)

Dec. 8 This is one of those places I have passed by so many times, and each time I told myself that I should come back to paint. This location wasn't as close as I thought, but it was warm and sunny today. There was no fog or steam rising up so it didn't have that mysterious feeling even though the landscape was still beautiful. Beside a small parking area for several cars, the roads and freeway nearby, cars were driving so fast, it was dangerous to cross the street. I got a spot to set up my painting station. Suddenly saw my socks were not matching on my feet, I was in too big a rush out of door. Hahaha, who cares right? Only two Mexican guys told me that they liked my work from a passing truck window. Otherwise, on the other side fewer vehicles were passing by.

Plein Air painters do not usually have such a lovely day painting at a peaceful location. Feeling luxurious, we sat down and painted on the table in the shade. Only I wanted to paint a different subject, the buoys on the wall. They looked so interesting and simple under morning light. Never tried and never knew that they were not as easy as they looked. Struggling through another day of practice.  

Drove to Santa Cruz in the foggy morning, surprisingly caught into traffic, because of one lanes was closed on Route 17. Very difficult decision which subject to paint, they were all beautiful with very interesting reflections. And boats could sail away if I only focus one... Beautiful day but cold, air was so fresh at the harbor. Sun was strong shone on my watercolor paper and reflected into my eyes. Luckily I brought my Plein Air umbrella. My umbrella was blown into the water when I painted here last time. So I made sure it was set up properly. Tired, left before 2 pm, almost no traffic all the way back home.

A red rowboat in the water near a tree at the shore caught my eyes, instantly decided to paint it. This was my third time painting here since I started Plein Air, I only painted in oils before. It reminded me that once I spent almost six hours working on a smaller size painting here on a very cold windy day. Today was gorgeous being outside, felt a little bit chilly in the shade. I enjoyed painting with another artist who inspired me, especially to get feedback in time when the work got stuck. The red boat was rowed away, I had to paint it follow my memory, lol... Used some opaque watercolors, my work looks different.

It was beautiful in the mountains, moistness in the distance felt connected with the dramatic clouds. The temperature suddenly dropped down overnight from a hot Indian summer to winter, under 60 degrees. Luckily I brought my winter jacket, didn't feel even a little bit hot after I put it and while painting till 1pm. After the first painting, I noticed that there was a composition problem so I had to paint the second one. I didn't bring extra water, using the dirty water to paint my second wasn't easy in watercolors. I painted directly on the paper with with a brush and the left over dirty water, thought it would help me paint loosely. But it ended up another painting with a compositional issue... Time to go home, I drove the wrong direction in the mountains, but my car GPS and Google map didn't mention to me, only the time and miles showed me the extra minutes and extra miles. Maybe I should start hibernating, lol...

Planned to paint at the The New Almaden quicksilver mine. Curious about the location when I was driving by the Casa Grande, a historic building dating back to 1824. Turned around and found a perfect shady spot to paint. It was very quiet, saw a couple cars parking there. The museum was closed. Only birds were singing loud...Saw a huge green pine cone. I had to take a selfie to compare it with my head. Still felt hot near noon...