Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Nov. 12 Gorgeous day but cold in San Francisco. Painted at the same beautiful landmark I visited a couple weeks ago. After my work was done, I felt so warm inside my car. Drove through such a charming city. GPS guided me up and down hills. I felt it fun to see the city views, tried to snap a couple of shots at the beginning. Then driving on the Divisadero St, there were a few steep roads, at the first couple of intersections. I felt like the car was going straight up, even stepping on the brake I worried my car would slip backwards. My hands and feet were both sweating. Later, going down, my car stopped at what felt like 45 degrees downhill. The views were spectacular in front of me. I was so nervous, did not dare to take a glimpse. On the way back, a detour guided me to an even steeper road, one seemed like a thirty degree angle looking down. I almost wanted to scream and closed my eyes, but there were people crossing the road, so I had to stop and keep my eyes widely open. What an e

There was little traffic inside the city of San Francisco this morning. My GPS signal got lost, I had to turn around before the Golden Gate Bridge. Gorgeous day being out and painting my one of the landmarks for the first time - Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco. Walked around this stunning architecture, saw mostly local people walking and chatting or taking care of babies; different kinds of birds flying over the lagoon, which reflected this magnificent building and surrounding landscape contrasted by the blue sky. A guy was playing guitar and sang songs to the kids behind where I was painting. A couple had their sweet memory wedding photo shoot at the waterfront. Who doesn't want a decent photo here! I knew that I should not paint it too complex when doing outdoor paintings. But I couldn't help myself and tried to squeeze in as much as I could into an 11"x14" painting. Beside the falling autumn leaves, a caterpillar jumped on top of my palette. I tried to

I really love boats and architecture as well as nature, though I love to paint portraits too. I believe that I just cannot separate them from our life and emotions. Italy's architecture and the lifestyle of the are one of my most favorite subjects. I would love the introduce some of my oil paintings here, hope you will love them as much as I do, thank you! This piece won the 1st place in the Contest - Impressionism and Post Impressionism Influenced Masterpieces on January 22nd, 2013.  Please visit my Oils - Landscape And Still Life Art Gallery at:  https://xueling-zou.pixels.com/collections/oils+landscape John Orley Allen Tate's poems (November 1899 to February 1979; was an American poet, essayist, social commentator, and Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congressfrom 1943 to 1944.), who wrote this beautiful poetry about "The Mediterranean". Here is the link:  http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15304

“This was Venice, the flattering and suspect beauty - this city, half fairy tale and half tourist trap, in whose insalubrious air the arts once rankly and voluptuously blossomed, where composers have been inspired to lulling tones of somniferous eroticism.” I am not sure who wrote it, but I felt the same when I was there. There are some my watercolor paintings to express the beauty of Venice: Here is link for viewing my watercolor gallery:  http://xueling-zou.artistwebsites.com/art/all/watercolors Or join me at: FaceBook Instagram Twitter Pinterest