Posts

Plein Air @ Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, CA. 加州风景水彩寫生

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Being an outdoor painter, checking the weather forecast is very important. It was a beautiful day yesterday, I didn't bother to check and was excited to find a great new nature preserve. There were many kinds of birds, the dramatic sky, distant mountains... What a perfect place to paint a landscape in watercolors. Marilyn saw me painting and took a p hoto of me, she mentioned that it was going to rain. It did start raining only a few minutes after she left. I was crazily in rush packing my staff, while a nice gentleman was passing by and offered if he could help. I should say thanks instead of "No!", and wished he were an umbrella... It is so easy to miss an opportunity to show one's appreciation. I hope to meet this person again to say a big Thanks! So far I have been quite spoiled with our lovely California weather. I really am grateful in life, no matter little thing or big, they all inspire me to paint. More original artwork @  http://xueling-zou.pixels.

Plein Air @ Santa Clara University , CA. 加州风景油畫寫生

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It was gray, not a cold day. Beautiful campus at the old mission Santa Clara. I didn't realize that school started already. It took me a while to park my car. I had been to this campus many times, so I found a lovely spot to paint. Some flowers were blooming already, the trumpet flowers and palm trees in front of my eyes. Everything looked great, but I needed to go to the restroom. I tried not think about it and focused on painting. This natural physical challenge was not easy work around... I would finish this painting at my studio. Please visit my online galleries @  https://xueling-zou.pixels.com/

Plein Air @ Moran Lake, Santa Cruz, CA. 加州风景油畫寫生.

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"Cherish your own emotions and never undervalue them." -- Robert Henri It wasn't warm, about 50 degrees this morning. There were many surfers at the beach already. Some of them were not young, still so brave. I really admire them all. Light is the source of the reality, can change the way you look at everything. Later the sun came out, felt warm, but my painting didn't look right any more... It was the challenging part of painting out. I've learned for years that creating a good piece of art, artist should respect one's own emotion first. What do you think?

Plein air @ Emma Prusch Farm Park, San Jose, CA. 加州风景油畫寫生

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Switching to oil 12"x12".  Beautiful and warm after days of rain. There were many free range chicken, who were huge and friendly. They knew they could get food from people I believe. No food from me today. First time plein air at Emma Prusch Farm Park, San Jose, CA, and the first time I painted out in oil, I had to concentrate. Still they were cute, I took some photos for future painting project😊. I'm on Instagram.com, welcome to follow@https://www.instagram.com/artxuelingzou/ Please visit my website for more original art @https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/xueling-zou/shop

Carson House - Almaden Historic District San Jose California

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This property, Carson House, located at Almaden historic district, San Jose, California. It has been placed on the National register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. The one I painted was based on the sketches I did on Christmas day 2017. After the painting was done, I did some research to view the old photos, and realized that there was no cactus in front of the house. I wonder how old those cactus are. The red color fruits on the cactus are very beautiful too. It made me really want to visit this museum as well, but it was closed. Next time I will make it. Original watercolor of this painting is available for a collector.  Please view a better image @ https://fineartamerica.com/featured/carson-house-california-landscape-6-xueling-zou.html?viewall=true Carson House 1854  One of three complete adobe house in New Almaden made of creek gravel and adobe mud. From the plaque on the wall:  In 1855 a plan of the settlement of the Hacienda, incl

Sketch and Hike on Christmas Day

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Today is Christmas, and I am back to this county park. Sketching a little bit, but ended up on a four-hour-hike in the mountain. I've learned a lot about the history of the old mine here. Nature inspires me! Enjoying editing my photos and a couple of small videos to create this short animated story on my smart phone. Merry Christmas to every one🎄!

I Wish You A Merry Christmas

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Just like many adults, I have discovered that a certain part inside me has never grown up. For example, I love Christmas decoration lights. I have to go out and see them around Christmas time, and sing "I wish you a Merry Christmas..." whenever or wherever there is one I really like. Last year before Christmas I drove by a small house, there were a couple working on deceleration. I was wondering how they were going to decorate it, it will be worth me sing the song after it was done? At Christmas Eve early evening, a well decorated bright gingerbread house caught my eye while I was driving by. I instant started singing "I wish you a Merry Christmas...". This lovely and cozy feeling house really brought me so much joy, not only visually, also I imagined how much loving care the owners put into it sharing the holiday spirit and beauty with the world, though they only lived in such a tiny house. Then I had to stop my car, to capture the moment. I realized this wa

Plein Air @ Bernal Historic Ranch Park, CA 加州风景水彩寫生

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Plein air @ Bernal Historic Ranch Park, CA. My 2nd time to paint here. Last time, a little boy came by to critique my painting, he wanted me paint a blue sky. Today, I painted a blue sky, I was painting for him... Where was he? Hope you will like my first little animated story about my plain air @ Bernal Historic Ranch Park, CA. I had fun to edit it on my smart phone by using very limited phone captures and a nice soundtrack🎬. Sure I will do better next time.

Plein air @ Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, CA 加州风景水彩寫生

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🎨Plein air @ Almaden Quicksilver County Park, San Jose, CA. It was about 50 degree this morning with wind. Followed the GPS direction, and my smart phone had no signal. I got lost for a little while, then found the park. Felt chilly for out door painting. But I did it. 加洲风景水彩寫生.

Santa Cruz landscape inspires me

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🎨Santa Cruz landscape inspires me, especially when I sketch plein air 在海邊寫生😊.