Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Short Pose drawings last night. Different model had a different body language. Challenging to draw fast and express the differences. Always enjoy Tuesday evening live model drawings.  Felt like I want to catchup for decades' of practice, lol...

I was tired after driving and painting in Capitola last week, decided not going to Plein Air in the morning. Besides to clean up the house, only went to the 3 hour session short-pose live model drawing session in the evening. I liked this female model, her pose was very classical, wish I can paint her as a longer pose model. Her sweet dog was accompanying her while she was modeling licking her feet occasionally.  (November 9 2021)

The first 3-hour session female live model work in progress... 16"x20" canvas panel. #2 Another artist suggested to stop. #4 was captured outdoors. Hours chatting with another long time artist friend we didn't really see and talk to each other, arrived home after 9pm, and discovered that I am invited to the Capitola Plein Air Event next week. Wish me luck!  (October 28 2021)

Continued to paint this long pose from last week yesterday, Oct 21. Our model was required to wear a mask, so were we... Corrected a little bit of the shape.  Found out that her head wasn't "plugged" onto her body well, so her face had to be erased this morning, lol...  I didn't paint the model's head at first as she was wearing a mask, and I don't think she looked perfect as a female holding onto that long stick as well.  I got to practice painting anyway.  The first three hours Oct. 14 went smoothly, I was happy with the most of body work.

Two sessions of live model study in oil, each session is three hours. September 30 and October 7 2021. Working on 16"x20 canvas panel, the angle of the model was super hard to work with. During the first session I measured the model carefully from the "real" prospective, and I wasn't happy with the result. It didn't look artistic with a big head in front. Art is not about mathematics measurement, it is about an Artists own expression. Went back to work on my painting next session, I focused on my whole design, followed my own understanding of beauty to correct and created my painting - my visual language. At least so far I felt the painting had a big improvement. Still need to work on her hand and values...

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 way to celebrate our traditional Moo

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)

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...  

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.

  Today's 3-hour session live model oil painting session. Painted on a previously used panel 9"x12". Managed time better than last time. Tried to take reference photos for the record during each break. Needs some retouch. The light indoors and outdoors can make the same painting look so different.  Or I should say that any different environment can make the same the same thing look different.  Enjoyed doing it!  (August 31 2021)

Miss figurative studio painting so much! Back to real model figure oil study after a long break. Used an old painted panel 12"x12", didn't manage time well... Almost forgot how enjoyable oil painting was, and it was a great way to practice!  (August 26 2021)

Dec. 14 Earlier this year, I started figure and portrait study.  Only did it several times, then covid-19 locked everyone at home.  Really I miss it a lot. One of the artists I met helped me to substitute for another artist  in a class today.  There were only five artists, a small private group, including me that painted in the studio.  We kept socially distant, and all had masks on.  One of us brought her dog along too.  First she sat in front of the model Clarie while we were painting.  After the second break, she found out Clarie's cloths were warm and laid down on them.  One break later, her good sense of smell guided her to Clarie's snack in a zip lock bag near by.  Then, she started chewing on Clarie's jacket, which was on the floor she was on it.  Hahaha, such an entertaining dog.  Got to love her.  Fortunately, it was the last section of this year and I got to attend it.  I will try to finish this painting before the New Year.

Add caption The model looked a very experienced one, confident and stayed still well. Found out she was a preforming artist, would act in "The Mystery of Edwin Rrood" from Feb.27 to Mar.15 at Lohman Theater. Brought a used canvas panel, red color treated background seemed to be perfect fit into painting her. Slowly learning time management on figure study, usually three-hour section. I was mostly happy for the result.

This figure study mostly was done in a three-hour section at the art studio the day before. I only brought a portrait canvas panel, but the model posed so inspiring though for a square panel... lucky I had an old one painted from last week in my car. Today, I did a little retouch, but spent a long time trying to figure out how to paint her delicate and relaxed hands. Difficult to get right without the model being present, now I'm stuck...

It was a busy week for sure! Tuesday I tried to finish the figure study at home studio, but there was still some correction needed... Wednesday, went to see Barbara Tapp's very inspirational demo organized by CWA, great way to learn from her. Did a quick sketch of her. Thursday started another new figure study, still in the very beginning process. Thanks to the model Dan for collecting the original portrait I painted. What a generous gentleman, I sincerely thanks to his support and encouragement. After that, went to a gallery opening, only chatted with a couple of artists, felt so tired and hungry, went home eat. Good night.h the figure study at home studio, but there was still some correction needed... Wednesday, went to see Barbara Tapp's very inspirational demo organized by CWA, great way to learn from her. Did a quick sketch of her. Thursday started another new figure study, still in the very beginning process. Thanks to the model Dan for collecting the original portrait

Good news is one of my Plein Air boat paintings had found a happy home. I delivered my work on Sunday which was a super windy day. And Mike who just bought my painting gave me a brand new canvas as well. Here, my week was full of random things, but I kept my painting and learning schedule firm. Tuesday and Thursday working at the art studio from live models. I did mostly retouches on Tuesday. Thursday, I had to restart another 20"x16" figure study for the same position, because it was very difficult for me to correct the one from last week. Still work in progress, more correction needed... Wednesday I went to see David Savellano's Demo in Pleasanton through CWA. David did a wonderful demo, really enjoyed watching and learning from him. Friday worked at home studio retouching two oil paintings I did during the week. Although the news is not very positive regarding the Coronavirus in China, I have been worrying so much recently for my motherland...only can hope for th

2020 Day30 Strada easel thirty one day painting challenge is almost ended. I have gone through and made my own process. Really there is so much to learn in the rest of my life. Today I was a little bit "ambitious" for my #30 work started at day 1 this year, brought a used panel 20"x16". Feeling the time was chasing me for three hours, all my concentration and energy cost had made me sweat in winter, I couldn't believe it. But I didn't have time to stop, till the end, I was exhausted... I didn't manage my time well, won't be able to get to the point I could take a break. Many corrections, I have to wait for next section later.

2020 Day23 Tomorrow night will be the Chinese New Year's Eve, I haven't thought about what I should prepare for dinner. Life is quite simple here, lucky me! Tuesday I just picked up oils again. Today I went there early and did a short meditation before the Section. I kept reminding myself to relax and follow my feeling to paint - the internal visual voice... I wasn't sure which one helped, but I was a little bit happier with the result than last time. Any feedback?

2020 Day21 Picked up oil again, struggling for three hours, not a good result...

2020 Day14 Kept my promise and came back to paint the red boat at the Coyote Point Recreation park. Mike the boat owner was there, and we chatted a little bit. It was gray with wind, and I couldn't finish it, because of another figure drawing class. Ate a cracker for lunch. Did two sketches from the model in limited watercolor pallet. I thought I could have the red boat painting completed tonight, but starving and exhausted, just wanted to go to bed...