Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

It was a pleasant day, I went to Villa Montalvo and did a Plein Air painting. Focused on the statues and was inspired by the curvilinear nature of the beautiful landscape, and tried to avoid painting a lot of the trees in the background to create this painting. Years of painting experience has taught me that I worked too hard on the areas that were not my strengths. Being artists, we should focus on freedom of expression to create what inspires us using our strengths. LOL, it is not too late to learn... (June 15 2023)x

Wanted to paint at this location for years. It might be one of the largest farmer's market in the South Bay, it attracts many people. Finally I decided to go and quickly made my up mind to paint in the shade. I had an 8"x10" watercolor paper was left over stamp from the Alameda paint out, so it was a good to use for this small study. An old painting friend talked to me, she came to paint as well. Nice of her to take a photo while I was working on the piece. She told me that she would paint nearby the entrance. Many curious people talked and complimented my work. Not every one was polite enough to ask my permission to take photo or capture a video. A lady pretended she saw me somewhere before, her daughter took a video from behind of her. I wonder if it was the right way to teach her child? Finished my small study, bought two kinds of fresh vegetables. dragged my stuff along the market, I could not find my painting friend. Getting crowded so I decided to leave. ...

April 5 happened to be Tomb Sweeping Day on the Chinese Calendar. In our culture, people usually go to visit their ancestors' tomb with flowers and clean off the dust. No one can get visas to travel home, and our visas were no longer valid in China because of COVID 19. I haven't visited my in family almost three years. I decided to paint at Hakone Gardens Japanese Garden in Saratoga.  There were many cars already parked at the entry to the place next to the Big Basin Way.  Quickly I parked my car at the last available space, because there was limited parking near by the entrance. My instinct was right, but I had to roll my painting stuff up the hill to the entrance.  My legs felt sore and I felt short of breath for walking up there with all my painting stuff.  There were so many people, more than 95% of them were Asian, I guessed that it was free day, and many people could not go to sweep their ancestors' tombs.  Not sure how my ancestors thought about me and re...

Today was a lovely day, especially outdoors, there was no wind and it was gorgeous weather. Met friends and painted together at this nice location. Beautiful yellow mustard plants were already blooming, apricot trees didn't even have buds or leaves. We could see a church in the distance, and we all used our hatchback doors as umbrellas to make shade for painting. The church bell rang once an hour, the peacefulness made me wonder if I were in the countryside somewhere in Europe. Hahaha, miss travelling a lot...(February 10 2022)

Checked my Plein Air history, today was my eighth time painting at this location. Not only because it was a perfect day, also because another local artist would like to paint outdoors together. I suggested to start at Villa Montalvo, because there are plenty of subject choices to start a painting. I spent a longer time to draw the building, and noticed later that I didn't really need all the details after all. But it was a good practice. (October 15 2021) My first time painted Villa Montalvo on April 5 2018

(May 11 2021) I painted almost at the exact the same spot on April 5 2018. I pulled out my old work to compare with today's. Is there any improvement? Of course it wasn't painted on the same sunny day like today. I did plan to paint at San Francisco Botanical Garden today. And I found out my car didn't get enough juice to cover the mileage. So came back to paint at one of my favorite local places again. It wasn't as quiet as usual, some construction was going on. One of the guys came to check me out if I had gotten my professional photography permission, but fortunately OK to paint here. Started a small sketch, then worked on my regular Fabiano 140p cold press watercolor paper. Forgot to mention how much I liked my new purchased Fabiano paper, I can feel the improved quality of the paper, especially the "tooth" of the surface to hold on water and colors. It is getting hot here, over 80 degrees around noon. There were mosquitos flying around and botheri...

( Apr 9, 2021 ) In the morning I thought that I should go out to paint since my allergies didn't bother me too much. Arrived on location a little bit later than usual, instantly saw two people painting there, they were a mother painting watercolor and a teenage daughter painting in oil. I did one painting last November, and didn't like it. No hesitation, set up my station nearby the spot last year where I painted. I didn't realize that I was under a huge blooming tree, and at the entrance of the path from parking lot to main visiting area. More people were coming and leaving, mostly kids, I guessed they were on their spring breaks. A young girl about five years old stood next to me when my painting was half way done, she kept asking if I finished it or not... Then the leaves and flowers kept falling off the tree around me and my nose started running. Ignored it, I had my mask on. View my two paintings, not sure if I had made a little improvement yet? (November 12 , 2020 )  

Didn't go out to avoid the spring pollination. There was a watercolor group painting out this morning, I didn't want to miss it. But my eyes were super itchy, and my nose running like crazy while driving to the location... There are hundreds fruit trees blooming now, so were the mustard plant next to the library. Looked gorgeous, and it was a beautiful day! I almost gave up by driving past, then made a U-turn. I turned into a small road, and it was the parking lot of a preschool next to the orchard. There was a creek in between the orchard and the school. Got out of my car, saw the blooming trees in the distance and found this new spot to paint. Not too much pollen there to bother me either. Hasn't been much rain since the end of last year, the creek was dry. Happy to be out and able to paint, though I didn't meet a single person, hahaha...

Nov.9 Definitely it suddenly got so cold, I saw frost on the roof this morning, and snow on the top of the distant mountains yesterday. That couldn't stop me from painting outdoors. Came here and painted with other artists. Just followed my instant feeling for this angle to paint. Spent more time for a little sketch and a drawing. Thought I was ready to mix my colors. It was really hard to keep the loose feeling. I wasn't happy with the statues and the background. A watercolor artist Susan finished her Plein Art work and happened to pass by me. So kind that I had her feedback. Then my work started improving a bit... I remember that John Singer Sargent did some masterpieces of statues in watercolor paintings. My breath was always taken away each time I saw only the prints. So much to look forward to... seeing the originals someday!  

Came to paint at one of the most beautiful architectural and historic places. Gorgeous day, not too hot with a blue sky. Really learned how to appreciate the clean air and environment after experiencing the surrounding fires. Spent longer time drawing, but the light and shadows can never stop moving forward. After it was almost done, I messed around a bit, made sure the building stood out. Another vertical painting was done in the shade, got to love this peaceful place. Will be back for sure.

At Santa Cruz Art League, I was surprised and humbled that one of my Plein Air paintings has received an Honorable mention award from Juror Warren Chang at 90th Annual Statewide California Landscapes Exhibition. There are many beautiful California landscape paintings to see, please go to enjoy it if you have time. It opens till April 12th 2020. I pulled out the pictures I took on the day I painted this one "Plein Air at Wildwood Park Saratoga CA". And it reminded me that I forgot to bring my clips, so I borrowed them from other artists at the location. Thanks for all the strength it brings us to work together with other artists! This is the link of the opening reception:  https://www.facebook.com/100002905923076/videos/pcb.2717108345062670/2717108258396012/?__cft__[0]=AZX7CkCloYc9Bkzp0uQzYFtSos1MvcoQrRjdl1t_JqIXx-0imb3T6RfknNWdcGMr3elCjBRtGX1wx5k1fw2Wy51wBEy501bEeLXs2ZAop_24Lb9xQb5rgu2-hH__S2llPr-b-8fJh4F3qMQK9XCp-QKV&__tn__=*bH-R

I missed painting outdoors so much, so had to go to the location, though there was 20 percent chance of rain today. It didn't rain but it was grey most of time. I was excited to see the running water at the creek, because our raining season finally has started. But I forgot to bring my clips for clipping the watercolor paper on the board. No problem, lucky to join the group of watercolor artists painting there together today. Instantly I borrowed more than four clips from three artists. Not a very smooth beginning with my work, then I kept reminding myself that I was not here for painting what I saw. Artist should be creative by inspiration... Slowly, I had overcome my fear of paint by using darker watercolor paints. Finally my work got other artists' compliments. I believe that not because my own interpretation worked, also the borrowed clips had brought me the strength from other's. Do you agree with me? What a blast Thanksgiving break! Went to Chicago, Pennsylvania, ...

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." -- Maya Angelou Perfect weather for painting outdoors. Nice to be with the other artists and enjoyed the fresh air and peacefulness. A pretty young lady from Romania with two young kids were sitting on the bench next to where I was painting. She asked her 4-year-old son to help take pictures for her and her younger baby she was holding in her arms. I stopped painting, and took photos for her with her kids. She was so happy and kept saying thanks to me many, many times. She told me that she thought the photos I took were very professional, and she seldom had good photos with both her babies together for being a busy mother, etc.. I was glad that I helped her capture these precious moments at such a beautiful location. And I added a Plain Air painter figure into my painting. Do you know who she is?

Happy 重陽節 Double Ninth Festival! Today is Double Ninth on Chinese calendar, traditionally we usually 出遊賞秋 enjoy the autumn, 登高遠眺 overlook the high, 觀想菊花 admire the chrysanthemum, 遍插茱萸 insert the Cornus, 吃重陽糕 eat the heavy Sun Cake, 飲菊花酒 drink the chrysanthemum wine, and especially respect all the elders. It sounds a little bit complex, certainly we couldn't do much here. Came to paint Villa Montalvo was ideal to overlook the high. It was a perfect day for hiking, and I was always amazed by the creation of nature. Only saw a few people on the trail. What a great place to look at Silicon valley from the top of the mountain. It has been nineteen years since I have been living in the valley and this country. I never liked here for a long time, until I started painting outdoors I guess. I enjoyed visiting and painting here. Light had changed, roughly finished my painting, will be back again for sure.

Met another local Plein Air artist at the convention last week. So we decided to come to this beautiful location painting together in a very pleasant morning. I gave my new QoR watercolor paint another try. The white wisteria were in bloom. Did a very high contrast dark and light impressionist painting. Have found out a little more about the differences in these new paints. I'll be back to paint at this spot for sure, just love the peacefulness here.

I don't even remember when was my last visit to the beautiful Hakone Estate and Garden. Especially on a lovely spring day to see all the gorgeous plants blooming. Actually it was quite hot in the sun, 74 degrees, I was fully covered and tried not get pollen attacks, but it was not possible. Used my brush and color palette, to express my feelings about the moment using an impressionist style onto the paper. Keep practicing both my visual language and my 2nd language. I painted myself into this painting. Can you find the figure?

Gorgeous and warm day. Painted at Saratoga Heritage Orchard next to the library. Finally spring came, though there was frost on roof this morning. Beautiful apricot and cherry trees just start blooming. I have allergies and have to cover myself well outdoors. Some nice people came by to talk to me while I was painting. Thought I could paint more than one, but the allergies had made me tired... Please view this video I made that there was a coyote there before I started painting in the morning.