Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Planned to paint at Alviso. Suddenly I saw this park while driving to the location, so I made a u-turn and instead painted at this historic park. It was a hot day, so I painted in the shade under a big tree. There are many big trees in the park. I have been noticing that there is no way to run out of painting ideas, just so many subjects and I could barely get enough time to practice them all. Of course, to just keep doing it is most important. The power of an artist is that you can see things from a different perspective, create something new or unusual, or even move things around those are impossible to move to a different locations in the painting. I often "move" mountains, the ocean, or buildings, trees, etc,... Today I "moved" trees in a little different location for my composition layout and even brought a dead palm tree back to life. Came home and searched for but couldn't find any history about this park. Wonder why it is called "historic&

Hard to believe that a half year has gone by. Where did all the time go? Checked the weather this morning, it was not too windy during my outdoor painting time. Went to the location and found out that I didn't bring my tripod. Drove around, and there were so many new painting ideas. Instead of being mad at myself, I guessed that I had to accept my aging process, or blamed all the pollen that has been beating me down for months... This pile of red dirt caught my eye, it reminded me of the Grand Canyon, which I haven't been to yet. There was only a very limited area to park my car and I had to set up my station on the trunk.  Not an ideal spot as I had to keep leaning over to peer through a spot in the wired fence that wasn't blocked by bushes or and other materials. Well, I thought it was a good practice anyway. The light shone on my paper with all the branches shadows which was really confusing for my eye and brain. Started with my little sketch, ended up an unusual

  Got up earlier than usual during the weekend because my husband wanted to try out his new toy inflatable kayak. We went to Moss Landing to get two birds with one stone. He got exercise and I did another painting at the location after having breakfast with a couple friends at the local cafe. Great to catch up with them, and they had fun together on the water. Finally, I got to paint this fishing boat on the other side of the road, which I thought I wanted to paint at least over ten years. A little struggle, it was gray and windy when I arrived, sun came out when I finished the work, haha keep the game going.... (June 26 2021)

Went to the same location again. Started with a small sketch, the drawing took me much longer to finish. It was breezy at the marina first, sooner it was getting a little bit windy than I couldn't handle it well. Geese were happy there, a guy was feeding them bread, though I was told that one should not feed the wildlife. Well, they needed more food to grow and fly back to Canada I thought. Kids were excited to learn how to sail. I felt cold in the wind, and had to put on the extra jacket that I brought. Couldn't get the fine lines of the rigging details with all the wind. So retouched it at home.  {June 23 2021}

Beautiful day in the 70s, painted at Redwood City Marina again. All the kids started earlier than me for their summer sailing lessons. Geese were happily enjoying eating the grass nearby. I found a shady spot and painted. Focused my practice on the clouds and remembered to take photos of my progress step by step for some friends' requests. Before I wrapped up, a large group of geese had almost occupied the area where I was standing. They were waiting patiently and watching for their leader's signal I guessed.  The adults were standing still, at the same time, some of the youngest geese in the group were eating or resting with their mothers watching over them very carefully, especially the ones that were very close to me. Will be back soon... (June 22 2021)

Didn't feel well for days, my fist time painting at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont in the afternoon today. It was very hot, 102 degrees. And it was quite windy! But no matter what kind of weather condition it can not stop Plein Air painters. So happy to see some of my painting friends from California Art Club, Elle Howard, Richard Lindenberg, Paul Kratter, Robyn Leimer, Abby Zhang, etc. Finally, we could hug and shake our hands, fifteen months of lock down time was over. After a short catch up, we found our own spots to paint. The wetland was not my typical scene to paint, it was challenging for me. I forgot to bring my clips, borrowed two from Abby. I kept the painting loose. Great to have Paul Kratter's professional feedback. Always so much to learn from other artists! What a fun afternoon to catch up with others!  (June 18 2021)

Drove to the location, walked around in the morning. Felt I could be here and paint more often, and excited to discover a new place to paint boats that isn't too far from me, compared to other piers in Bay Area. There were many geese nearby the port, they looked like they are living there peacefully. But there was too much poo everywhere. So I decided not to paint nearby them today. Found a sailboat to work on. It was a little windy and I hadn't painted boat for a while.  Not a smooth day, and not a easy subject, will be back to practice for sure... In the end, I tried to find a restroom to use. An older guy very cautiously guided me to the other side of the building but none of them were open. Luckily it was lunch time, I asked for help from a lady working inside office with the door open. She lead me back to the other building to use the restroom. I thought that everything is back to normal started on June 15 today, but seemed the facilities are not ready to the public y

It was a nice morning, my first here to paint with Julia Seelos, though more local artists were invited it wss just the 2 of us this day. After a short catch up, we found our own spots to paint. She is a more experienced Plein Air painter - for 15 years now. Her story inspired me that not too worry too much about strong wind, but it was calm anyway when we were painting there. The landscape scene was challenging for painting in watercolor, so I moved things around and created a slightly different composition on paper. So much to learn from Julia's devotion to art. She had a job, and she joined all the Plein Air event by using all of her vacations in the past, and not mention she has two artificial knees, and back surgery... Hope everyone understands that this is the spirit of a devoted artist, there is a great story behind each painting and every artist. (May 21 2021)

It was not a hot day with a light breeze. Went to Almaden Valley again. Last time I was lost and ended up finding a new place to paint. Arrived at the location and there was no parking left. Waited for a while, parked out next to the narrow road. I could never dress up to be an artist and do my work, especially outdoors. Actually, better to be a camel when doing Plein Air. There was no restroom at this location, had to be prepared. Then I started dragging my painting stuff to where I wanted to paint. Maybe about 15 minute walk when hiking, but I had to carry my tripod and Plein Air umbrella. Inside my rolling bag, was a Strada easel, which it was heavy by itself already; my color palette, a handful of brushes and two spray bottles inside the easel. Plus two bottles of water, one for painting, one for myself. a folding board for painting with several Fabriano Artistico 140lb cold press watercolor paper. a pencil bag which is full of pencils, some paint tubes, and small stuff f

(May 12 2021) Summer time really has arrived in the South Bay Area. Drove to Half Moon Bay this morning, definitely felt like traversing from summer to winter in about one hour. It was pretty cold, only 52 degrees at the location. And I didn't have any trouble to find the farm this time.  Painted watercolors on a grey day, so I decided to do a vertical one, only the easel were not designed for a 15" tall painting size, that was the reason I don't usually work in verticals.  It was a little challenging, besides the wind, I couldn't barely put any tiny bit weight on the painting for fear of it falling over.  Over all, I like my vertical layout today.  The hostess, KC Branscomb has been very kind in allowing us to paint at her farm, but we have to follow her very strict rules for parking, not to close to the horses, because these are breeding horses at the farm, and young horses in training, etc.. Anyway, we only were allowed to paint in certain area.  In the end, she

Last week while painting at Sue's farm, the owner of Branscomb farms invited us to come paint. Last time I forgot to charge my car, but saw I had enough electricity and gas to cover the total mileage today. I followed Google maps this time to the address, because my car GPS didn't even show the address. After Cabrillo highway, I turned onto a street and got lost after over a mile up a dirt road. Finally Google told me to u-turn so I circled back and followed the new directions to a narrow private road where there wasn't anyone around and I arrived at a locked gate. A pickup truck suddenly pulled up from behind with a young guy and 2 dogs, he pointed me back down the dirt road again. I was worried to get a flat as we just changed to new tires so every mile counted... I thought I'd rather go paint boats at Johnson's Pier so headed out. On my way I saw a guy opening an unmarked gate and it turned out to be the farm. After over half an hour of goose chasing it was

(April 21 2021) Not like last week, only 50 degrees at the location. Very cold to paint watercolors, the paper refused to dry. And not to mention that I tried to painted too much detail for a Plein Air work. Really should simplify what was there. Maybe it would look better if only I did a greyscale. Good thing was I had no allergies to bother me today at Half Moon Bay.  Drove back, it was 70 degrees.

(April 16 2021) Nice and quiet morning at the location. I found a spot to set up, it was a little bit too close, but it was the angle I wanted. Didn't know it was one of the busiest days of the week again. More cars brought in more customers later to this beer garden. A young guy Kyle worked and guided all the cars for parking, he stood next to me most of the time. We had a little talk that he was in his freshman year in a college. Kyle was friendly and polite, kept telling me that my painting looked realistic to him, he even took a video to share with his friend. Finally he asked me how many years I had been painting, coincidentally his age was the same as my years painting, about nineteen years. Might be his and some people's encouragement all together, I thought I did better than usual. Definitely I will be back to paint again.

(April 14 2021) A gorgeous day at the location, even my allergies didn't bother me much. Got there and walked around, there was a red barn, a horse barn and horse trailers with horses in and out, chicken coop with roosters and hens, a mustard field and distant mountains. They were all nice subjects for painting, but I had to make a quick decision before the light changed too much, So I painted this red barn, and replaced the further broken fences in front. I probably could design a better composition that will work better... Next time, I will be back for sure.

Planned to go to Golden Gate Park to paint but it didn't happened. Drove in a different direction, tried to find an old place to Plein Air a couple of times, but I missed the road and had to u-turn back, I instantly stopped and painted this red barn. I was so glad that I found it by mistake, a very quiet road in this peaceful countryside, only the neighbors' dog barked several times at me. Saw a beautiful cow was having nap on the way back, but caught the road work traffic on the way home.

Another gorgeous day. I drove over 100 miles to paint boats. I had to take a thicker jacket off to change a thinner one at the location. Walked around and found these two white boats that were different than all the fishing boats. Also I could be in the shade of a big tree. Struggling through with composition, colors and value, then worked in details. About 80 degrees around noon, no wind. Would be back to paint for sure. Definitely there were more cars on the road. -- March 31 2021

Beautiful morning on location. Looked like everything was back to normal. Every time I feel lost to choose a boat to paint. Took a while to find one on the pier. Set up my painting station, but it was not early any longer. Felt hot in the sun, and used my Plein Air umbrella. People passing by complemented my work. Even a group of school boys kept saying "Bravo! "Thanks for all the encouragement. Suddenly it became very windy, first it blew my umbrella down, I screwed it down a couple of times. But I stood on the pier with nothing to block the strong wind. So I used my arm to hold my umbrella steady. Then the wind kept blowing little items off my painting station, like testing paper, small brush etc.. Almost finished my painting, I tried very hard to draw lines, but my station was shaking in the wind. Had to pack and leave. Finished the rest details at home.  --March 30

First time I came to this location to paint this weekend. My husband joined so he could hike. Happened to meet up with a weekend Plein Air group painting at the same place. Beautiful day, spring has finally arrived. Good thing that I finished a small sketch and the drawing before more people arrived. Didn't know how popular this place was! Even though we all still had masks on, it was very busy, seemed like no COVID-19 existed there. Saw a customer arriving on horseback, it really brought me back to over 160 year ago when the restaurant was just founded.  But only the person wore the modern cloths. And then a truck blocked my painting subject for quite a long time. Limited my color palette. Will surely come back again to paint, but not on a weekend.  -- March 27

Didn't go out to avoid the spring pollination. There was a watercolor group painting out this morning, I didn't want to miss it. But my eyes were super itchy, and my nose running like crazy while driving to the location... There are hundreds fruit trees blooming now, so were the mustard plant next to the library. Looked gorgeous, and it was a beautiful day! I almost gave up by driving past, then made a U-turn. I turned into a small road, and it was the parking lot of a preschool next to the orchard. There was a creek in between the orchard and the school. Got out of my car, saw the blooming trees in the distance and found this new spot to paint. Not too much pollen there to bother me either. Hasn't been much rain since the end of last year, the creek was dry. Happy to be out and able to paint, though I didn't meet a single person, hahaha...

Not really happy with the painting I did at this location. Went back and move away a little bit from the spot I did last week. Nice day but windy, there was no clouds hanging in front of the mountains either. Tried to work the contrast. Robin another artist from San Francisco brought a box of lemons from her tree to share. She was very thoughtful, had the cute not on the box, and the paper bags. So appreciate all the lemons, I used the lemon juice to reduce my allergies.  (February 24 2021)