Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

This painting " Dreaming Beneath Umbrellas " is a contemporary interpretation on this classic Chinese Feng Shui symbol of protection. Chinese umbrellas are the earliest known umbrellas used, and have existed for over 2,000 years, where they subsequently spread across Asia. In the beginning, Chinese umbrellas were made of silk, and later paper umbrellas were created. The first waterproof umbrella Oil-paper umbrella (Chinese: 油紙傘) and the first collapsible umbrella were originated from China. Eventually, paper parasols came to be associated with nobility and other high ranking officials. According to legend, at one time, 24 paper umbrellas were carried before the Emperor to protect him from the sun while hunting. The frames of most umbrellas in China were and are made from bamboo or mulberry bark, for protecting people from rain as well as sunlight. Some of them were painted too. In old days, the royal families typically carried red or yellow umbrellas while the common people

I had this opportunity to create a booklet by using mixed media for a Japanese Twin Sister's story. This was the design for the cover and the intruction page. The story is about Japanese twin sisters who were separated since they were born, one lived in the east and other one lived in the west. Finally, they found each other after 20 years, but their destiny could not make their joyful reunion easy, or stay for long... Additional changes were required for adding the cherry blossom to the design. It was just the right timing as they were blooming in our location in April. So, I took a perfect "Twin blossom" and added to it.  Cherry trees and their blossoms in Japan go by the name of sakura and carry a great cultural meaning and significance for the people of Japan. The word sakura would translate as the Japanese flowering cherry tree in English whereas the blossoms are referred to as cherry blossoms. Originally, the purpose of hanami excursions was to ponder the tra

Like most artists, I love painting animals too:-)! No matter if they are pets or animals in nature, they all have their own expressions. Before I start to paint or draw on canvas or paper, I usually study how to capture individual or groups of any kind of living creatures. Doesn't matter in my vibrant color palette or in a duo-tone drawing or if it is in a more realistic style to more abstract. The composition is always my first priority, and then the movement, and then the expression. What I believe is always to pay more attention to everything surrounding daily life, how the animals live, where, and what they do etc.. It helps me to find more subjects to paint. Actually, I never run out of ideas to paint. And day by day, I can add up more experience, when I am ready to paint the subject, even if I don't have enough study materials, there is a lot of information in my mind already. So, I can just follow my my feeling to create them on canvas and bring them to life. Th