Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

They are ocellated turkeys. I first saw them when I traveled in Guatemala, but could not realize that  they were in wild.  I was not surprised that some people mistake this type of turkeys for peacocks.  Both of them are birds with similar and beautiful teal colors and patterned feathers covering their bodies, especially when a male opens his fan in order to attract a female's attention.  After day by day study, maybe the autumn feeling urged me to paint a pair of ocellated turkeys in front of a farm, because I haven't seen them in North America.  The more I got into the painting, the more I felt the love between this pair of birds.  I really didn't want to think about Thanksgiving.  I would love to create an environment where they are happy as long as they should live, no matter whether they lived in wild or on a farm. After the painting was done, I was happy for the result.  I posted a thread at http://fineartamerica.com/showmessages.php?messageid=3220021, and

My newly finished original oil painting on canvas, 36"x24"x1.5", "Jazz San Francisco", was inspired by Blues and Jazz musicians and their soulful music! I posted a basic drawing on Facebook before (https://www.facebook.com/zxling1). I am very lucky to live in the Bay Area, California.  Each year we could join many Music or Art and Wine Festivals.  We could experience the all kinds music or see many styles of art from all over the world and from the locals.  Being a part of the audience at many shows, I think Blues and Jazz music are the best.   The musicians could let us feel their souls from their beautiful and expressive playing or singing.  Slowly, I get to know more and deeper. Still, I remember that I didn't like the life here for a long time.  I was so disappointed and expressed it through my artwork "San Francisco Moments", which I created in 2012.  Far away from family and friends.  It seems that no-one could really understood my lo

"Seven Daffodils"was one of the few English songs I heard back when I still lived in China. I really enjoyed listening to it and dreamed about it... Now, I just finished this original oil painting on canvas for sale, 36"x24"x1.5, ©xueling zou. (Please click the image to enlarge) Daffodils bloom in spring time, come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes of flowers and are always surprising me, though they look very simple. The question was which type I should choose for creating the painting, I did research online, the results came out in countless numbers. Well, I decided to focus on creativity. Hope you will like this original painting in the impressionist style to express the feeling on a beautiful Easter morning... In China, we celebrate the Lunar New Year by displaying auspicious symbols. Daffodils, also water narcissus (水仙花) are one of the most popular flowers important for representing prosperity in Chinese New Year. We believed that if th

Happy weekend :)! I saw the big Red Moon last night through the windows, did you? "White House In An Oak Grove", original oil on canvas panel, was a landscape oil painting newly finished. The reason I painted it was just because the longer I've lived in California, the more I prefer spending a couple days in the countryside during weekend. It seemed that white house was my dream place to escape from the surrounding high tech. I just wanted to smell the fresh air, enjoy hiking or sight-seeing, get inspiring from the nature, a few good friends visits, have some delicious food together, no need TV, internet or computer, maybe I should turn off my smart phone! But I realized, I already get used to taking photos from my phone, hahaha... What is your favorite thing(s) to do during your weekend? Have you written it down, drawn or painted it on a piece of paper/canvas yet???

For celebrating Chinese Valentine's Day, sharing a copy "Two Lovers" - one of Van Gogh's masterpieces, which I painted ten years ago. 七夕節快樂! 分享10年前我臨摹梵谷的作品"一對恋人". Please visit for more original art @  xueling-zou.artistwebsites.com/ The Qixi Festival (Chinese: 七夕節) is Chinese Valentine's Day which is on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Chinese calendar. The general tale is about the 7th daughter Zhinü (織女) of Emperor of Heaven and an orphaned cowherd Niulang (牛郎 ). Their love was not allowed, thus they were banished to opposite sides of the Silver River (symbolizing the Milky Way). Once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, all the magpies would form a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day.

This original watercolor painting was inspired by Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and The Sea.  It is one of my favorite watercolors, and a great gift for Father's Day. (Please click the image to enlarge) I read this book in Chinese a long time ago, then I read it again in English when I was studying in Australia. Back to my overseas studying time, I had to take the ferries from the place I lived to school each day for a while. Not mention the terrible home sick I had, the ending of relationship with my first boy-friend, when I struggled with every single little detail in life. But nothing could stop my love of the ocean and I enjoyed taking ferries on beautiful and stormy days. Watching the sun-rising or sun-setting, sailing by the magnificent city landscape and the awesome boats out on the sea, I promised myself that I knew I would overcome the difficulties... Years later, I started painting watercolors after moving to Bay Area in California, and the first one in m

Each piece of artwork tells a story. When we look at one piece, we absorb and interpret the story in our own way to create our own version of it. Time can wash memories away. For me as an artist it is essential to write down a note, story or journal about the work to maintain record of my inspiration or feelings at the time I create them (also practice my English ). I hope this helps my viewers to get a more intimate understanding of my paintings. "Ballerina Dancing With A Fan" original oil painting was created on 18"x 24"x 1" canvas. I was inspired by the ballet Don Quixote, which was a romantic and witty story in 17th century written by Miguel de Cervantes. https://xueling-zou.pixels.com/featured/ballerina-dancing-with-a-fan-xueling-zou.html Please contact me if you are interested in collecting this piece, thank you!

Have you ever experienced a long distance relationship? Or to understand each other heart to heart. Could it really be that distance makes the heart grow fonder? I created this painting to answer those questions. Happy Valentine's Day! O never say that I was false of heart Sonnet 109 by William Shakespeare O, never say that I was false of heart, Though absence seemed my flame to qualify. As easy might I from my self depart As from my soul which in thy breast doth lie. That is my home of love; if I have ranged, Like him that travels I return again, Just to the time, not with the time exchanged, So that myself bring water for my stain. Never believe though in my nature reigned All frailties that besiege all kinds of blood, That it could so preposterously be stained To leave for nothing all thy sum of good; For nothing this wide universe I call Save thou, my rose, in it thou art my all

On this special day, I'd love share my story how I started painting African American portraits, because some viewers are always curious about what inspires me to paint them. I was told by many that the colors I painted were warm and soft, and the facial expressions were so well captured. I was asked why I kept painting them instead of others, or if I had a secret reason to do so... A lot of very interesting questions... First  I don't think that each artist has to have a hidden reason for painting.  I haven't been professionally trained in a real art school.  Painting Asian faces is challenging to me. I don't live in a neighborhood full of African Americans, but I enjoy their music and culture.  Their face expression can tell a story to a visual artist from China like me. One of my favorite novels is "Gone with the Wind".  I read it many times in Chinese, and watched the movie countless times.  In June 2007, I visited Atlanta, Georgia.  Of course the first

An art collector from NYC just sent me this image - He framed one of my sold original paintings. I so appreciate the support and encouragement! My best Christmas gift so far :)! I do not usually frame my original artwork I have created because no one knows the interior of the collector. But this framing job is an excellent choice for sure! I have to share it, thanks! Framing is part of art. A nice frame is the "bridge" for connecting a piece of artwork to the environment. Most contemporary paintings were framed into much wider and simpler style. I love the choice, just because the painting and the wall have complementary colors and the highlight of the gold color on the frame transfers my contemporary painting to this traditional wall color/environment in a very classical and settled way. Does my original art look like it is displayed in a museum ;)? Happy holidays :)! 'Lonely Jazz' -  http://xueling-zou.artistwebsites.com/featured/lonely-jazz-xueling-zou.h