Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

It started a grey day, went to this paintable ranch, felt chilly. Did a small study sketch, it didn't help me for some reason. Well, I guessed that it was one of the days I just could not paint, two paintings in a row all failed. Sun came out, walked around the property, took some photos, young cows nearby looking at me. One goat mom with two kids they were calling each other... A wonderful Californian ranch life, the moment inspired me to paint the third one, and I added the goats into it after came home. (May 6 2019)

Nice day but windy. Drove through a very winding road, my first time at this location. Found a spot in the shade, felt chilly while painting. Relocated the objects on the paper for a better composition. Tried these QoR paints, my work came out grayish and muddy. Judy did a beautiful glowing California landscape in oil. She said to me that it was always hard trying new paints. It did help me feeling better a bit. So I used limited watercolor pens did a quick color sketch. There were only over 30 miles each way, but I felt so tired and barely drove back home through a much narrow and winding road. It took me over an hour. Many times I thought I was lost, because both my smartphone and the car GPS didn't talk for a long time. Can't believe that time flies so fast, May already. Viewing today's work, wondering if I should stop trying the new paints...

Drove down to the location, I was attracted by the red barn for my landscape plein air. It was on a private property, so the best I could do was drag my outdoor painting stuff through the grass making a fresh spring trail. It was a beautiful sunny breezy day after days of rain. I saw the cows grazing off in the distance on the rolling hills, and could hear their lowing. There were rosters and hens song drifted by from the nearby villages, What a peaceful morning in the countryside in California! I enjoyed painting the trees and the red barn I liked and ignoring other things I didn't want them in my work. Yes, I'm proud that I am able to have the freedom to be a creative artist instead of copying others, or copying what have been seen in exact sense. My painting went smoothly, I didn't have to retouch much after returning home.

"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/