Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

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🎄!

Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world, with hundreds of vineyards set amid rolling hills. I have been there many times, but not every time I could capture the scenes I love, sometimes I was in a rush, other time the weather or lighting wasn't right. Just like wine tasting, not each time you could experience the most delicious taste. Autumn is always my favorite season. It is still warm, colorful everywhere with harvest, and I usually can get the most of inspiration. Once I saw a perfect wine country scenery just in perfect timing during autumn in Napa, but I forgot to charge the battery in my camera. I guess it is one of the reasons I have to go back. Ha ha ha... It wasn't easy for agriculture in California since it hasn't rained enough for years. I saw colors are different this year through the incredible scenery, the layering of lines and patterns in the valley. It had built up more ochre yellow all over, especially in those war...

This series of African American portraits I painted is based on the portraits I captured at the Art & Soul Festivals in Oakland, CA since 2009. There were a few I did after visiting New York as well. I really enjoy studying African American face expression. Please let the people know if you recognize a familiar face, it might be you, your friend or family member. Thank you. Hope you will like my portrait art.

Wine tasting is always an excitement for my husband, so he signed up for one with his company. Any alcohol makes me feel extremely thirsty, I am not as huge a fan as him, so, it is not a big deal to me.  I'd rather enjoy and always am inspired by nature!  It was only Wednesday, usually he works long hours. But today's event made both us in a very light mood. Byington is a family-owned winery, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the South Bay, California, only about 30 minutes drive from Silicon Valley where we live, if there is no traffic. There are 95-acres of estate owned by the Byington family, and it is the home of their Italian-style chateau winery and vineyard operation. While my husband enjoyed the wine tasting with his co-workers, I had a tranquil moment walking up the rolling hills between the rows of grapes and taking footage by myself, far away from the noise and busy life. What a perfect day in autumn visiting a winery, with a wonderful dry...