Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

From May 18 to 20, plein air on the California Coast along Cabrillo Hway #1.  The first day was beautiful, we drove to Point Lobos State Natural reserve about 10 am.  There was not a parking spot left, so we couldn't get in.  Instead we painted along the Cabrillo Hway #1.  Nice view but it was noisy.  Afternoon, painted on the hill, I found a further view of a house on the rock through the "window" of a big tree. We learned our lesson, drove into the park earlier the next morning.  Felt ambitious and brought our gear and set up near the Bird Island Trail near China Cove.  It was beautiful but too windy, had to pack the gear up, and felt "defeated in battle".  A photography couple we met on the trail told us that they could not get into the park yesterday too.  So they came in earlier this morning just like us. Then we painted at the bottom of China Cove because it was less windy, at the most popular Sand Hill Cove parking lot, overlooked the lonely tree on top o

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.

What a gorgeous day came back to paint, though it was windy and chilly. There were a couple of beautiful pine trees and surrounding rocks on the edge of the cliffs were beautiful, especially under the morning light. I was so focused on my work, constantly stopped, backed up to view how I did... Once I backed up a little further, suddenly I noticed that I was standing on the very edge of the cliff, lucky me that I didn't fall, lol... Yesterday I planned to paint at Pigeon's Point Lighthouse, but the weather report indicated very strong winds there, so I didn't go. Then I went to San Jose area, found a historical warehouse I wanted to paint, but there were three small dogs barking next to me endlessly, I had to give it up...  (April 10 2019

🎨Santa Cruz landscape inspires me, especially when I sketch plein air 在海邊寫生😊.