Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

I didn't plan to paint at Pigeon Point, instead of going to meet other artists at Pescadero Village. Driving on the Highway #280, listening to the Mozart's Piano #21 in C concerto on the Classical music channel KDFC. I enjoyed the scene so much, especially on such a gorgeous day, white clouds floating on the blue sky, there were dry golden yellow, bold hills against the blue and white. Clouds here are precious, we usually don't see them for half the year. Thinking of how beautiful the state is that I live in! It took very long time to like it here, I believed that I had started to love California after I learned to Plein Air. Four years now, and I had found out so many unique and beautiful places nearby, felt very grateful... I had to turn the radio off for not hearing the clear sound and kept driving... I only saw a few cars, seemed like I was the only one driving on the Highway #1. And my car GPS told me that I arrived at Pigeon Point. Well I decided to walk around...

🙏Say a prayer for those killed at the shooting in San Jose today! Planned to paint at Pigeon Point Lighthouse for a while now. Because it is always super-windy, I kept checking weather report, my instincts told me many times not to go. Quickly checked it again this morning and it was OK to paint during my usual Plein Air hours. First my car wasn't fully charged, but i had enough juice to cover the miles. Loaded my painting gear into car. Then my car GPS directed me to an unusual way, seemed a little bit further. It was not a big deal. Only myself driving on the dappled sunlit road, I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful redwood trees. Only a person in front of me drove super slow later, and I had to pass by when I had the chance. Enjoyed the magnificent ocean scenery. Finally, got into a big line waiting for the road work only 2.8 miles before arriving at the Lighthouse. No matter how much I wanted to start my painting earlier, I had to wait patiently... It was cold and windy, only ...

After arriving at the location, I walked around, but didn't see any other artists there. Thought I remembered the wrong day. It was a gorgeous warm day with a breeze. The mist came out of the ocean and made everything look mysterious. Set up my stuff, not sure why my Plein Air umbrella just kept falling down. I tried so many times, couldn't make it work properly. Gave it up, kept painting... Chose this unique angle, there was a lamp post next to the light house. I liked it, and painted it into my painting. By noon, the sun had changed its angle, and more people came. Just love to paint at this location, only a little bit too far away from where I live. (Nov. 16 2020)

Over 100 miles and about 3 hours driving around trip, just because I was caught in a little bit traffic in the morning. Thinking to paint the lighthouse for a long time, it was too windy or it was raining... But today was a hot day. After my dental appointment, driving on windy CA highway route 84 in the hills, I really did want to arrive the Pigeon Point as early as I could. There was an SUV Volvo car in front of me driving only 15 miles/hr. I was very patient at the beginning, because usually I am a slow driver, always let most of the cars pass by me if it is possible. After a couple of miles, I realized that his brakes were on all the way, so I sent him flashing headlights since there was only one lane, with the occasional shoulders. But this guy would not let me pass. After a while, I started honking gently with flashing, he still drove very slow for miles... Finally he pulled his car on the shoulder, so I was able to arrive the location past 11am. Beautiful breezy day aroun...

  Excited to experience the first rain in our location, it started at least one month earlier than usual. Even raining when I drove through the mountains all the way to Santa Cruz. Local people still brought their dogs for walks in the rain. During the time I was trying to figure out where to paint rain stopped. The lighthouse again of course, because I didn't like the one painted last September. Struggling with the rocks for a long time, sun came out, the harbor looked so beautiful instantly, I had to paint another one for sure, though I felt tired. Sat down on a bench, set up my Best Brella umbrella, enjoyed the ocean breeze while working on my second painting... Suddenly, there was a strong wind that blew my umbrella out of the connecting tube, it was blown across a steep ledge and into the ocean. Almost at the same moment I put down my brush, jumped off the bench and ran down the ledge of the water. But the umbrella was sinking fast, my arm wasn't long enough to reach...

I did 3 paintings today. Which one do you prefer? I have been to Santa Cruz countless times, Santa Cruz Harbor is one of my favorite places. Finally, I went to that location to paint today. Of course, I would never feel tired of painting boats, and painted from 9am till 4pm, had a lunch break at the new location of Aldo's restaurant. People were very friendly, talked to me or questioned about my work. A couple of them would like to know how long takes me to finish one painting. Well, it has been a long time, and took 15 years to me painting today's level and speed. Does it make sense to you? (Updating from September 10, 2018)