Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Last Saturday, October 10 was George's birthday, I brought this double portrait on a wet canvas finished only the night before to his booth at the local Farmer's Market. A big surprise for him! Everyone was happy, his two sons and a lady named Nami worked there, and some people who happened to be at the market at that time. George gave me a big beautiful bouquet of flowers. I felt satisfied by my effort. George and his wife were immigrants from Japan, raised their granddaughter Aika like their own daughter. Aika wanted me to paint a portrait for George's birthday. She told me that she loved both of them deeply. I was very grateful to get both Aika and Nami's trust, no matter what obstacles I would face, I must finish a decent portrait for them. It was only a one-week deadline for the commissioned work. Aika's grandparents were busy working, barely had decent photos together. I found that out after our agreement to paint an 11 inch by 14 inches oil painting, but actu...

This is an unfinished still life painting in honor of my father, I painted for to express the hidden emotions that I wished to express on many Father's Days past. The desk no longer exists.  My father made it for me when I was in primary school, and painted with our favorite color blue.  I studied, reading books on this desk till I started high school, also learn drawing and painting for a short while. This painting is from a childhood memory - heavy and painful, clear and cloudy all in one breath. There are two bamboo pen stands my father carved with his beautiful calligraphy, the smallest one was made for me with his words of love and wish.  The bamboo flute in the stand was my father's instrument that he played once for a while when he was alive.  Luckily, I still have those objects with me. My father hand carved the two bamboo pen stands.  The smallest one was for me with loving words and best wishes inscribed upon it.  The bamboo flute was my fath...

Let's celebrate the Year of Goat/Sheep with your family/friends and the loved ones, wish you all HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR filled with Love, Health , Happiness , Prosperity and Peace! Have a great year! 半醒半梦半逍遣, 半俗半乐半过年......

I've always loved snow since I can remember. After living in California over 11 years. I don't think I can bear the coldness any longer. As deep as I try to hide my emotion, the often this imaginary perfect winter night haunts me. Because of the fairy stories, novels and poems I had read, so there was always a beautiful European style architecture instantly came to my mind, white snowy roofs, peaceful streets, maybe a white night, still could see outside the snow. Every family had a warm cozy house, enjoying a home made delicious dinner together in front of the fire place, with happy music at the background, should be full of joy and love with parents, grandparents all together. We didn't have to grow up or older, just stayed in that perfect night forever... I had been dreaming this painting for a very long time. There might be some missing part in my life, might be a rootless feeling that urged me to create this piece. It was based on a black and white photo taken in 199...

(Please click the image to enlarge) The Chinese Moon Festival (also called the Mooncake or Mid-Autumn festival) is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, fell on September 12, 2011. When the moon is at its maximum brightness for the entire year, the Chinese celebrate "zhong qiu jie". Chinese culture is deeply imbedded in traditional festival. The Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional events, just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the West. The legend surrounding this occasion is about a beautiful lady named "chang er", who flew to the moon with her beloved rabbit named "yu tu" whose coat was pure white as white jade and they have lived there forever. Children are told the story of the moon fairy living in a crystal palace, who comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface. The moon cake is the food for the Moon Festival. The Chinese families hold reunions together spending their evening t...

In May 2009, after travelling to the beautiful old city Salta in northern Argentina, we drove to Tilcara, a small pueblo introduced to us in our tour book for its unique architecture! (Please click the image to enlarge) What amazed me was to see so many beautiful homeless dogs there. A young female tourist like us bought a bag of hot dogs to feed them, but they sniffed a second and walked away uninterested. From the eye contact, I realized they were not in need of food at the moment... Every time I see there are so many spoiled dogs, those lonely eyes, expecting only love or a caring family are appearing in my head... Please look into his eyes and see if you get the same message as I did. I thought I should paint him, but I still can not... This was one of those dogs I captured, we were not able to bring them home... Please visit my online gallery of Photography - Animals And People at:  http://xueling-zou.artistwebsites.com/art/all/photography+-+animals+and+people/all...