Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

It is the first day of our Chinese New Year.  After my hesitation as to whether I should go painting, I finally decided to follow my passion and go paint.  Though in our culture we celebrate new year for 15 days usually, lifestyle has to be adapted to living in a different culture.  Our model was a very tall and beautiful professional African American model, she was from a very artsy San Jose family.  She sat very still and had kept her facial expression too.  I'm still trying to work on my duotone style in oil, struggling through for 3 hours.  Our model liked the result, it made me happy. (February 1 2022)

Four Chinese artists including me decided to go out and Plein Air together. In the morning it looked like a gorgeous sunny day from where I live. Drove into the park though and it became super-foggy and mysterious. There were two trees that looked very familiar, I realized that I painted at this location before and that today wasn't my first visit. We painted nearby the parking lot, which was a different prospective. Also shared our ideas to help each other improve the painting. The sun came out before we left the park. (January 20 2022)

Nice day, felt relaxed after seven days participating in the Capitola 6th Annual Plein Air Event.  My first time painting at the location. Met several artists I hadn't seen for a long time.  One even said "Nice to meet you", because she could not figure out who I was under my mask. Only two hours parking permitted, happy with my quick work. Went home tried to catch up with all week's house work. (November 8 2021)

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...

Caught up with some housework this morning. I had no idea why both my body and brain are trying to convince me in many ways not going out painting. But it was a gorgeous day out, I knew that I must go out and paint. Finally, I dragged myself and gear out the door around 2:30pm. Such a lovely day, about 75 degrees. Walked around in the lovely rose garden, took several deep breaths, enjoyed the beautiful garden with thousands of blooming roses. I saw a girl reading a book on the grass with the arched arbors and roses behind her, so I painted that. Of course, she had changed her position many times. Practicing figure drawing really helped me to let her fit into my work, not overdid it. (September 29 2021)

My first time coming to this part of the Pacifica. Planned to paint at San Pedro Valley County Park. Drove on Skyline Blvd, The landscape was half hiding in the foggy misty, and the part of it showing through. I really wanted to stop my car and paint excitedly what was in from of my eyes.  Arrived at the park, I realized that the mountains and trees were just too close to me, how I could manage to paint them? On the way I had noticed a church that was appealing too. There were several deer in the parking lot, nice watching them eat their breakfast. It was quiet ni the parking lot while I was painting. Didn't finish the painting, needed more value.  But it was just another practice work. Went to see 50/50 art show at Sanchez Art Center in Pacifica.  Many inspiring and creative works there.  

Two days in a row drove miles for Plein Air. Just because I tried to figure out how to paint unique rocks at the Pacific coast. It was my first time coming here and paint. Wasn't sure where to go after parking my car. Asked how to get to Shark Fin from a guy whom I thought he was a surfer, then found out he was another painter Scott, haha... Another gray day, under 60 degrees. Only issue there was no public restroom nearby. I brought two slice of cheese, somehow they melted inside the car. The ocean view was magnificent! After my painting was done I walked a little higher and it was even better view. Definitely I will be back to paint again.  (September 15 2021) Did a small sketch from a different angle. Tried to add white wave splash on the rock, but the white watercolor paint didn't show up the way I expected, only was all over my fingers.

Gorgeous day after many days of high heat. Decided to go back and paint an unfinished subject. There was some construction going on at the port. Always something new to freshen my mind, than had to change my mind to this beautiful red boat, that a guy was working on or maybe cleaning it. It started breezy, but the wind was getting stronger near noon. I hesitated whether adding some darker ocean blue was needed in the foreground of my painting till the very end. Because of countless times failing, I was afraid to do so. Finally, I added the darker color, my painting instantly looked better with depth. Took a deep breath and headed back home. (September 1 2021) August 17, I didn't manage time well to finish this one, rushed to go a birthday party...

After the Memorial day long weekend, I planned to paint at Pescadero, but it did not happen. Came to the Mission Branch Library in Santa Clara. Remembered that I painted here in the afternoon last winter and pulled out the old photo. Today I painted this scene from a 90 degree different angle, and in the shade of the morning. I was totally in the sun so soon, before I even finished my drawing. Kept moving to my left side, wondered if I would bother the residents inside the building. Instead, a couple of young guys came out and gave me a few compliments. I think  they study at Santa Clara University. Practiced not overdoing the painting and made sure my work looked painterly and loose. ( June 1 2021 ) November 30 2020, Plein Air  @ Mission Branch Library City of Santa Clara CA

Happy Mother's Day! Especially for those loving and caring for others unconditionally! Went to paint at the Japan town a little late this morning, just wanted to be close to a temple or a church for saying a prayer for my ancestors, especially for my two grandmothers and my father, since I couldn't visit their graveyard for the tomb sweeping day in China. Found a shady spot across the street, started to paint and think... Because of the COVID-19, I haven't see my old mother for two years now. Mother's Day is coming, even though I have my vaccination done, I still am not allowed to go to see her in China. Then I started felt quite sad about my situation... A guy came by and told me that he saw me crossing the street this morning and wondering what I was doing. Seemed like people were quite alert regarding their neighborhood. Saw two red-vested people walk by, looked like they were helping older people walk around. Before I finished my work, one of ladies wearing a red ve

(March 16 2021) Overdressed today and painted at the location outdoors, just because it was very cold yesterday and frost was on the rooftops this morning. We even could see the snow on atop of the distant mountains. Airplanes flew overhead. That made me wonder when it will be safe to travel again... It has been exactly one year since the challenging COVID-19 lockdown started. Started with a small sketch, ended up to I painted a totally different angle of this yellow sailboat called "Golden Fin". So nice being outdoor with fresh air...

Planned to go further today, but the news report said that coivd-19 infected numbers increased dramatically. I thought I should stay at home and maybe clean up my garden. Then the temperature went all the way up to 70 degrees, I thought what a waste of a perfect, beautiful winter day for painting outdoors. I drove around and found two almost identical houses next to each other. What attracted me was the shadow from the tree traced on the yellow house as a background. But my painting was not big enough to show the details. Good exercise to paint a residential house. Usually all the leaves on the trees block the full view of houses. Today, I spent a lot of time and tried to understand how each part of the house connected together. In the end, I had to break up the fences to make my painting not looking monotonous. A lovely afternoon being outdoors and painting!  (Jan 14 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.

Nov.5 Don't remember when I last came to this park. Today I followed the watercolor group to come here again. Driving through the hills and saw the spectacular views of Santa Clara Valley. Saw three females riding their horses walking on the hills, looked like they had a good time together. After paintings were done. we had lunch together at the park, everyone wore the face masks, and kept distance. We gave feedback to each other. Happy to meet other artists, old and new, great time we had together. Not sure how this year went by so fast - almost gone. I painted outdoors everyday this week. So enjoyed the good weather, and painting. Raining season is coming. One thing I had noticed is that my supply of watercolor paper is running out, have to order more...

Came to this 5.5 acres historic Rose Garden during a gorgeous autumn day. There were about 189 varieties, 3500 rose bushes, and this regional park won the national awards. There were only few people in the park, because a weekday I guessed. There would be a lot more people during weekends, sometimes there would be a wedding party. Been here so many times, but my first time to paint here. Found a good spot in the shade, focused on painting the water fountain. Could not finish the painting at the park. There was a guy following me. He asked me if I was a famous artist selling super-expensive paintings. Not sure how I could satisfy his curiosity, so I kept silent... Then he asked why I kept my face all covered. I wore a hat, a sunglasses and a face mask. I only answered that was my outdoor protection. Actually, some other people where covered up the same like me. Got home and retouched the painting a little bit.  (  Nov. 3 2020)

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

It was raining a bit this morning when I was driving to the location. Rain stopped and it was gray, disappointed to see the water lilies were not blooming after I was expecting to paint them since my first time painted here. I guess that could change my mood to paint. Sun came out, and it was getting hot. Then I saw water lilies started blooming, ducks swimming around, koi fish jumped out of the water once a while... Actually it was a quite clean day after weeks of polluted air. Didn't think too much but kept working on the water lilies. Got stuck and got good feedback instantly from another artist friend. Felt lucky and always enjoyed painting with other artists together. I had no idea why I painted it so dark by using Monet's color pallet, except mine was watercolor. Maybe spend too much time in all the museums I had possibly to visit all the greatest masters work. Does it mean good or bad to be Influenced by others?

My 3d time painted at this location with an other local artist today. As usual did a small study first, took me much longer time to paint. After stepping back to view my work, I realized that there were not enough values in my work (The top one). Came home continued working on the painting (The bottom one), not sure if it has improved or not. Fall is coming, there were leaves and little branches falling on my painting and on me while I was painting today. Could see leaves started turning colors in distance. What a challenging year!

  I almost saved about 45 minutes on #101 to the location because of the pandemic and light traffic. Spent a lot of time drawing this "Harbor Patrol" boat, still I didn't get it right. I forgot that I moved a couple of times to my right so I could paint in the shade. Sun kept rising, finally I had to stand next to a big garbage bin. Took three hours to paint up to this point. I am not happy with the result of today's work, the composition and perspective bother me, but I am quite tired to fix it. My husband has working at home, going to prepare dinner earlier, not mentioned that I didn't have lunch...

It is a good time for me to slow down a little bit. Cleaning up my studio, at the same time reorganizing my physical work area and myself mentally as well. I stacked my Plein Air watercolor works together (some of them were painted both sides) since I started my outdoor painting journey about two and a half years ago. These don't include about 100 oil outdoor paintings, a couple of sketch books with drawings, still-life, figure and portrait studies, some have been mated or framed or are exhibiting now, and some works sold...