Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

April 20 2021, the first egg was discover in the nest :). Time flies so fast, we moved in August 2008 and have been living in the same house for over twelve years now. After we moved in, I picked up a DVD from the local library about a hummingbird's story and learned that the hummingbird mother is always a single mother from the onset of pregnancy. Then I started planting some plants to attract hummingbirds. In spring of the 4th year we happily discovered a hummingbird mother had built a nest and raised her babies on a tree branch outside our window. I took so much footage, even caught one of the first flights of her babies. For the next couple of years I watched the hummingbird mothers successfully raising babies from spring to early summer, including the final training before the babies became independent. April 22 2021, the second egg was laid in the nest. For the next several years they weren't able to finish their motherhood experience unfortunately; one year the win...

To me painting still-life is difficult, I easily feel bored by staring at the same subject, prefer painting outdoors for sure. Some of my old still-lives mostly painted depending on half of my imagination. One day last month, just because I could not help myself and I picked up a wild pink lily flower (not sure the name) from the fields, put it into a cup I never used. Afternoon light made the flowers appear mysterious, I was wondering how I could express that feeling, especially because my favorite Plein air hat was next to it on the chair. Ended up I thought the shadow of the cup handle was more interesting to me - my focal point, hoped it worked out well. 🍳I had to move down to our kitchen/dining area to paint since the pandemic, because my studio is next to my husband's office and I was not used to his talking during the meetings at home all day long. Don't take it the wrong way, I think that my brain frozen when listening to all the words...Of course that was not my excus...

My last one on the last day of the Strada Easel 31 Day January painting challenge. Yes, I did paint every day, and finished 27( 8"x 6") Garden Still-life Series, plus 4 (11"x 14")landscapes. Not sure how do the other artists feel about it? But it was a great help to me as a self-taught artist, my first time to focusing on a series and painting from life each day, mostly outdoors. I could not imagine after leaving my painting comfort zone that I would draw or paint so many still-life during such a short time period, and it was a big challenge to me! So I think to keep learning, practicing, growing, creating and improving are the goals for my artwork.

Time management day. Didn't prepare to go out Plein Air. In the morning decided to see Sue Johnston's demo in Pleasanton. Thought it was a nice place to Plein Air. So started packing my outdoor painting stuff. There was only an hour before the demo after I arrived. Didn't have enough time to paint, so walked around in the Downtown Pleasanton, took photos for the future painting ideas. Went to the Demo, had learned some nice tips from Sue. She did a wonderful watercolor demo. It was lucky that the traffic was not bad on the way home. Jumped into my backyard, painted this succulent till it was getting dark. Didn't forget my frog, can you see he was smiling? But I was tired.

This is today's effort on my garden series. My first time using alcohol on my work, didn't show anything like the other artists'. How strange? Spring is really here, I couldn't stop sneezing while painting in the backyard. Unfortunately, that means my allergy season, which usually effects my body about half a year. I couldn't enjoy spring outdoors as much as most others; hiding indoors, shutting all the windows... I guess that it is the better time to me working in my studio now. But I didn't forget to express the spring feeling into my succulent painting.

I'd love to share my study with others, it is about an artist's journey of experimentation. I am not a a realistic painter, I love to express my own feeling into my work. That is why painting a photo is boring to me. Anyway, because I have joined the Strada January challenge, I paint every day. I know that it is the rainy season now, so my succulents are the series subject I choose to practice. I am struggling every day only drawing, and the colors are difficult to express. Each small work has taken me longer time to finish, and I've spent more time to study on my plants as well. I guess that is what making progress is all about. I've collected many succulents. Of those, only a few I can remember the names. Most of them are easy to take care of, though some of them have died, not sure if it was my fault, or because of the weather.

🍋This is my lovely lemon tree of nine years now. I propagated it from a one foot long branch which was in a pile of trimmings from the neighbor's tree. I could not believe that I had gotten 6 lemons at the end of the second year for a couple of following years. I learned how to trim it and changed it into a two gallons container last spring, but there were only two lemons from last year. Now, it is blooming again with a lot of flowers that brings me joy and hope each day.

The 20.1 acre property is the remnant of the California Nursery Company, a once a grand nursery operation that brought notable presence to the East Bay and was significantly associated with the evolution of the nursery industry on a statewide level. The California Nursery Company's history dates back to Jose de Jesus Vallejo (1797-1882) who served as the administrator of the old Mission San Jose and military commander of San Jose. Other notable owners were Jonas Clark (1862), John Rock (1865), Williams Landers (1899) and the George C. Roeding family (1917-1968). Information from the park website: https://www.fremont.gov/325/Historical-Parks-Facilities   (April 11 2018)

Really forgetful these days, I didn't bring my brushes, only an old rough one in my new tool box. So, I used my pallet knife and the #8 rough flat brush working on a small panel 8"x10". I was OK, I guess the Chinese Calligraphy training at young age did help me. The only issue that we had experienced a gorgeous 70 degree day yesterday, so i did not bring enough clothing for painting out, especially painting in the wind feeling chilly. And there was no bathroom at this location. Hahaha, the rest story depends on your own imagination.... My original artwork @ https://xueling-zou.pixels.com/galleries.html    OR you can find me @ https://about.me/xuelingzou

"It’s all about the journey, not the outcome." – Carl Lewis There is something in the Olympics, indefinable, springing from the soul, inspires all of us for centuries. We watch the games not because who win the medals. It is about before the dreams brought into reality through ones consistent effort, determination, dedication, and self-discipline/motivation. Especially during the Winter Olympics, there were many of tearful stories behind each champions... Believe it or not, being an artist I feel the same. Like today, it was cold and windy this morning. No one says that I have to go out painting in a cold day. But I know I must do it. No matter the result, I think it is my journey to experience and share. It was warm 78 degree from last week, suddenly it dropped down back to 40's, it was only 57 degree at noon today. Yes, I did it again! More original artwork @ http://xueling-zou.pixels.com/

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...

"It's said that All Hallows' Eve is one of the nights when the veil between the worlds is thin - and whether you believe in such things or not, those roaming spirits probably believe in you, or at least acknowledge your existence, considering that it used to be their own. Even the air feels different on Halloween, autumn-crisp and bright." - Erin Morgenstern (Please click the image to enlarge) The following image I was inspired by "Thriller" - one of Michael Jackson's most popular songs. This piece won the 1st place in Contest - Halloween on June 24th, 2013. http://fineartamerica.com/contests/1-halloween-.html?tab=leaderboard (Please click the image to enlarge) I really had fun time using my own photos to create these Halloween images by using Adobe Photoshop.  Wish we all have enough time to thin the veil between the creative expression and our imagination world... (Please click the image to enlarge)

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...

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature." ― Gerard de Nerval "Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of their character, though few can decipher even fragments of their meaning." ― Lydia M. Child "The artist is the confidant of nature, flowers carry on dialogues with him through the graceful bending of their stems and the harmoniously tinted nuances of their blossoms. Every flower has a cordial word which nature directs towards him." ― Auguste Rodin "Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul." ― Luther Burbank "Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock." ― Henry Ward Beecher...