Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Drawing can be fun or painful. My new drawing paper hadn't arrived yet so I had to stick with my small sketch book and found out it wasn't easy to draw on it using charcoals.  There was not enough room to express with that media. I struggled through another 3 hour session on Tuesday night. A male's body is more difficult than a female's. There are too many biological features, like bones and muscles, etc.  Just can't work on small paper for sure!  Can't wait for my new paper +!  (September 28 2021)

Caught up with some housework this morning. I had no idea why both my body and brain are trying to convince me in many ways not going out painting. But it was a gorgeous day out, I knew that I must go out and paint. Finally, I dragged myself and gear out the door around 2:30pm. Such a lovely day, about 75 degrees. Walked around in the lovely rose garden, took several deep breaths, enjoyed the beautiful garden with thousands of blooming roses. I saw a girl reading a book on the grass with the arched arbors and roses behind her, so I painted that. Of course, she had changed her position many times. Practicing figure drawing really helped me to let her fit into my work, not overdid it. (September 29 2021)

My first time coming to this part of the Pacifica. Planned to paint at San Pedro Valley County Park. Drove on Skyline Blvd, The landscape was half hiding in the foggy misty, and the part of it showing through. I really wanted to stop my car and paint excitedly what was in from of my eyes.  Arrived at the park, I realized that the mountains and trees were just too close to me, how I could manage to paint them? On the way I had noticed a church that was appealing too. There were several deer in the parking lot, nice watching them eat their breakfast. It was quiet ni the parking lot while I was painting. Didn't finish the painting, needed more value.  But it was just another practice work. Went to see 50/50 art show at Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica.  Many inspiring and creative works there.  

COIVID-19 has changed many ways in our lives. I haven't seen my family for over two years, and I don't know when I will be able to get a visa and go back to my motherland for a visit. Especially on the Mid Autumn Moon Festival when all families should be together celebrating the annual harvest while enjoying watching the brightest full moon.   My husband is a Caucasian who understands Asian Culture better than most of Westerners.  He got up earlier and baked a delicious dark chocolate cake for us, because we ate most of the mooncakes earlier.  I was supposed to go Plein Air today.  Might be my nostalgia, I didn't want to go out for an excuse of hot weather.  Didn't feel productive, but I did go to the evening live model drawing drop-in class.   Wow, I wasn't the only one Chinese there!   I guessed that drawing the live model helped us to forget homesickness.  We even went out watching the full moon during the break.  What a great wa...

Today's 3-hour session live model study, painted on another used panel 18"x14". The top left was captured outdoors. The model is an artist herself, she really understands how to stay still. Working on a larger used panel was easier, and I liked the background color showing through from the previous painting, not sure if I should painted it over again... Going to another session to complete the painting, wish me luck! (September 16 2021)  Photos were taken from the first session. In today's 3-hour session I continued to work on this work from last week.  The model did not have her make-up on like last week. She told me that she was worried the make-up would melt because it was too hot today.  Never mind, she was a very good model and showed us consistent position to last week.  Glad that I was able to finish the painting.  Only a few retouches when the paint will be dry.  Can't wait for the next session. (September 23, 2021)

Two days in a row drove miles for Plein Air. Just because I tried to figure out how to paint unique rocks at the Pacific coast. It was my first time coming here and paint. Wasn't sure where to go after parking my car. Asked how to get to Shark Fin from a guy whom I thought he was a surfer, then found out he was another painter Scott, haha... Another gray day, under 60 degrees. Only issue there was no public restroom nearby. I brought two slice of cheese, somehow they melted inside the car. The ocean view was magnificent! After my painting was done I walked a little higher and it was even better view. Definitely I will be back to paint again.  (September 15 2021) Did a small sketch from a different angle. Tried to add white wave splash on the rock, but the white watercolor paint didn't show up the way I expected, only was all over my fingers.

Celebrating 10 years of my blog today!  https://originalartstories.blogspot.com/2011/09/ Here is my first blog story on September 14 2011: A Dog's Fate - 一条狗的命运   https://originalartstories.blogspot.com/2011/09/dog-fate.html Another gray day, only 57 degrees, super cold at the location. Hiking on the breathtaking coastal trail after Plein Air last week, I discovered this magnificent outlook on the trail, but had to carry my heavy painting gear walking down about 60 big steps. No big deal but the watercolor paper wouldn't dry easily in this kind of weather condition. So I had to paint differently than I normally do. Rocks, waves and trees were difficult to paint. Overall I think my painting result was OK. About 50 miles, but there were about 30 degrees temperature difference at the location and my home. (September 14 2021)

Today's 3-hour live model session. Even a very experienced model still changes position, and the light changed too. I should have followed my original plan to retouch the work I did from last week only. Instead, I tried to correct the painting. But it was great to meet a Chinese master painter. Got some feedback from him, and reconnect my expression of feeling, then time was up. Couldn't finish it, felt frustrated...  

It was very gray and only 60 degrees at the location this morning, my first time painting here. Looking for a public restroom, surprisingly met another Plein Air painter L X (my name's short cut as XL, haha... what a coincidence) So we painted nearby each other. Then hiked after our paintings were done and happily caught up on the time since COVID-19... Very foggy, walked the rocky and windswept shoreline trail,  could not even see the Golden Gate Bridge, but there was a spectacular scene each turn of the trail even on such a gray day.  Definitely will be back and paint again. What an inspirational place!  On the way back, got caught up in a little traffic, and it was 93 degrees at home.  (September 7 2021)

Today's 3-hour session live model oil painting.  Getting better for managing time.  Not sure if I should start a new one for the next section, or if I should work on the same one to add more details? The light indoors and outdoors can make the same painting looks so different.  I like outdoors' lighting, it needs to be retouched.

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...