Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

  Today's 3-hour session live model oil painting session. Painted on a previously used panel 9"x12". Managed time better than last time. Tried to take reference photos for the record during each break. Needs some retouch. The light indoors and outdoors can make the same painting look so different.  Or I should say that any different environment can make the same the same thing look different.  Enjoyed doing it!  (August 31 2021)

Miss figurative studio painting so much! Back to real model figure oil study after a long break. Used an old painted panel 12"x12", didn't manage time well... Almost forgot how enjoyable oil painting was, and it was a great way to practice!  (August 26 2021)

08/18/2021 Went to paint at the same location twice in one week. Last week it was hot, I focused on painting the barn and winery. Today was gorgeous, I saw a blue tractor that was interesting, instantly decided to paint it. The owner was very kind to allow us to paint there. Two years ago I painted the fall feeling grapes and vines. Spent a little big longer time for the drawing, actually I really didn't care much for the details, but ended up there was plenty of details in my work. Think I did better last week, and played with the dog after. Not today, I added the dog into my painting later.  Nice practice again!  Which one do you prefer? 08/25/2021

Alameda Plein Air Paint Out 2021 - my 3rd time here Joined the 16th Annual - Alameda Plein Air Paint Out Event from August 2 to 7. It was my third time joining the Plein Air event since 2018. Didn't apply in 2020 as Coivid-19 changed the world. August 1 in the evening, I moved into my host lady Ros' house on Bay farm island. I was so welcome by her, her dog Sparky and three of her bunnies. Not a good first night's sleep, might be the airplanes over head or the new place. Met many artist friends while we checked into the event the next morning. Ross' friendly dog Sparky Always started my first painting at Grand Marina, actually I painted at Fortman Marina at the Alameda Yacht Club. It was a gorgeous morning, met the Club manager Mark. He showed me the watercolor  paintings his grandmother and his mother did in his office and told me that he was an artist too. People were passing by and gave me some compliments. I remembered to give them the flyers inviting them t

Watercolor pencil sketch @ Shoshone falls park.  105 degrees in the afternoon... August was a busy month, though we took several days for a short vacation after the Alameda Plein Air event. It was our first time in Idaho, and my first trip since the pandemic. Landed at Boise, rented a car and drove for hours to Ketchum. One of my husband's brothers Stephen just retired and his girlfriend Laura rented a beautiful apartment for one month and invited us to visit them there. Arrived around dinner time, and they had a welcome dinner well prepared with everything was from the local farmer's market. Of course it included the most famous Idaho delicious potatoes, barbequed lamb shoulder, and fresh vegetable salad as well. A yummy apple pie, introduced by Opera Winfred. We had our own bedroom, with a decent size bathroom attached. The quality of the building was super-good compared to California construction. Later we found out that the beautiful while house just across the street was E